A divorce is one of the unpleasant and stressful events a person can experience, which is why hiring a good divorce attorney is very important. However, finding a reliable attorney can be difficult. Here are some qualities you should always consider when looking for a divorce attorney.
1. Credentials
Checking the attorney’s credentials may help you evaluate his/her professional appropriateness and competence for your case. Although simple membership in a professional organization may not actually mean a lot, regular participation in the organization’s activities shows that the attorney is actively involved in the specialty.
Publishing books, treatises and articles on family law as well as teaching other law practitioners are even better indicators of good reputation, experience and competence. Other crucial criteria you should consider are attorney’s years in active practice and his/her level of family law experience.
2. Personal Compatibility
You must always feel comfortable and free with the attorney you hire, particularly if you’re to work together effectively. If you’re not free and comfortable with an attorney you interview, probably you should trust your instincts and keep looking – even if you can’t isolate the real cause of your discomfort. When it comes to family issues, the relationship between client and lawyer is very important. You will probably be telling your attorney intimate facts of your marriage life and he/she may have to give you information and advice that you may not like.
3. Referrals from Other People
You may probably have relatives, friends or even colleagues who have gone through a separation or divorce. These people are a good source of information about attorneys. Every case and client is different, so it’s difficult to evaluate the lawyer’s performance in someone else’s case. In addition, the attorney-client relationship can be highly personal. Therefore, while the impressions of a previous client about a given divorce attorney are very useful, it is a good idea to meet the attorney in person and make your own judgment.
4. Consider the Location
Finding the location of the attorney’s office may or may not be necessary, depending on certain circumstances.
However, it will be good if you can be able to visit the lawyer in his/her office to discuss about your case.
Moreover, if the attorney’s office is far from where you reside, you will likely to pay for the attorney’s travel time. It’s very important to hire someone who you can easily reach and whom you can easily meet at any time.
Meet with Several Divorce Attorneys
Schedule appointments with several different attorneys for consultations, and inform them that you are actually in the interviewing process. Keep in mind that many separation/divorce lawyers, because they would be offering advice, may charge a consultation fee.
By keeping all these factors in mind, you will definitely find the right divorce attorney in Atlanta.