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1. |
Talk to friends and family. Ask about attorneys they
would recommend or avoid. Contact attorneys you have
worked with and liked. Ask whether they handle divorce
cases. If they do not, ask for a referral to an attorney
who does. |
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2.
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Call your county and state bar associations. Many have
lawyer referral programs and can refer you to an
attorney in your area who is experienced in the type of
case you are involved with. |
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3.
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Make a list of what you are looking for in an attorney.
Do you prefer your lawyer to be a man or woman, young or
old? Do you want someone who will work to settle your
case or someone who will fight to the end? |
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4.
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Schedule free consultations with attorneys you have been
referred to. Determine whether you feel comfortable with
them and trust them. |
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5.
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Find out the answers to the following questions when you
meet with any attorney. What will the fee be? Can you
pay in installments? What kind of outcome does he or she
expect? How often will he or she be in contact? How
quickly are phone calls returned? If the attorney is not
in the office, is there someone else who can handle
emergencies and urgent questions? |
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6.
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Look around the office when you are there. Is there a
receptionist, and is he or she pleasant? You will be
dealing with this person a lot, so make sure he or she
is helpful. Does the office seem professional? Is it
disorganized? Is it overly busy? |
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7.
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Find out how experienced each attorney is by asking how
many divorce cases he or she has handled. |
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8.
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Request references. If you were not referred to the
attorney by someone you know and trust, ask for the
names of past or current clients you may call for
references. The attorney will be able to give you this
information only with the clients' consent. Many
attorneys may be insulted by this request, but you
wouldn't hire a babysitter without references, so why
would you hire any attorney without them? |
