For many people, their first contact with the legal system is through a divorce. This means it is also their first time hiring an attorney. There are several simple and effective ways to research any family law attorney and choose the best professional to meet your legal needs.
One very important consideration for those new to hiring attorneys is to choose a lawyer with a specialization in family law. This may seem obvious, but there are quite a few attorneys that will market their practice areas as everything from criminal defense to personal injury as well as family law.
If this is a large law firm with different divisions, this isn’t surprising, but with a sole attorney firm, the level of specialization in family law is highly unlikely. Family law is a complex and complicated field, and it is highly recommended to only use attorneys with a practice focus in this area.
Referrals and Online Reviews
A good place to start in gathering the names of the best family attorneys in your area is to ask colleagues, friends, and relatives. This allows you to ask specifically about the level of support and legal services that were provided.
Online reviews through different legal forms as well as through the respective state bar association are also helpful. Verify the family law attorney has no complaints through the State Bar and make sure they are board certified in family law.
Review the Website
Take the time to review the website of the short list of attorneys. Websites that are informative and professional looking will provide you with a relatively good idea of what you can expect when you meet with the attorney and visit the practice.
Many of the top firms will provide full bios and information about each family law attorney with the firm. This is also helpful in reviewing the professionals and choosing firm for your upcoming divorce, child custody, alimony, modification or child support case.
