Choosing the best Family Lawyer
If you are facing a divorce or other difficult personal matter that requires the assistance of a family lawyer, it can be a very demanding and stressful time – one that requires you to do a lot of research and navigate some very complex legal topics. It is vital to get the best support in these situations and find a professional capable of helping you through a difficult time.
In this guide, we’ll lay down what to look for when choosing the best family lawyer.
Are they a specialist in Family Law?
Many people assume that a solicitor always knows what they’re doing, but nowadays law professionals tend to specialise in specific areas of the law. Law is a broad field and Family Law is only one area (though it is a massive area, which is constantly changing).
While many lawyers will cover Family Law as well as other areas of the law, it is often best to go with a solicitor who is an expert in family law and is a specialist in the area. A firm which specialises in family law will be able to provide the best possible assistance.
Who will you be giving instructions to?
This might seem like a weird question, but in some cases, you may first meet a partner and then have your case delegated to either a junior solicitor or paralegal. You will want to know exactly who you will be instructing. Always make sure to find out who exactly you will be working with.
What is their experience?
Once you have an idea of what their expertise is – i.e., if they are a specialist in family law – the next step is getting an idea of the experience they have; you will want to know what experience they have regarding family law and the kind of cases they have handled.
You will always want to go with an experienced solicitor – while an experienced solicitor may expect greater pay, they will be able to help you reach a resolution far faster than an inexperienced solicitor would.
What is your relationship with the family law solicitor?
It is important to have a good relationship with your solicitor. You will need to consider if you like the lawyer, and if you believe you’ll be able to develop a
While it isn’t necessary to like our solicitor, it helps to be able to get on well with them and have a close relationship with them – since you will be working as a team and because of the personal nature of the case need to be frank and open about both your personal and financial affairs and your confidence in the solicitors’ abilities.
Getting on well with a family solicitor will make it much easier to reach a settlement when it comes to children or financial matters. This is because a solicitor who you have a good relationship will be able to suggest a compromise you are comfortable with – since you will be able to frankly discuss both pros and cons – and can have an honest, clear-cut discussion about the best kind of deal you’ll be able to get.
A solicitor is an advisor who is present to offer advice, support, and clear guidance to resolve the problem.
How do they plan to resolve your case?
This is a very important question to ask any solicitor; how does the solicitor plan to resolve the case? If they view court proceedings as the only possible option, then you should be wary; court proceedings should always be understood as a last resort.
An experienced solicitor will make clear that court is a final resort, and other resolutions will be sought. Court proceedings are an expensive, stressful, and very demanding task – and while a solicitor will be necessary to guide you through them (if it comes to that), a good solicitor will attempt a negotiated settlement while still accomplishing your intended goals.
You should always go for a family lawyer who is experienced in settlement negotiations as well as experienced in a court room. You should still make sure that your family lawyer is experienced in court situations – since you should always be prepared to deal with potentially difficult situations.
Have a Meeting
You will want to meet, or talk, with a solicitor – once you feel you’ve found one who is a good match. A meeting is a key part of developing your relationship with a solicitor, as it allows you to establish a sense of trust and honesty.