what imperative questions to ask a divorce attorney during interview

by Myles West 5 min read

  1. Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? How long have you been practicing family law? ...
  2. What is your strategy for my case? How long will it take to resolve my case?
  3. How long do you take to return phone calls? ...
  4. Will anyone else in your office be working on my case? ...
  5. How will you charge me? ...

More items...

Questions to ask your divorce attorney might include:
  • What proportion of your cases involve family law?
  • How long have you been practicing family law?
  • How many family cases have you handled?
  • How much of my case will be handled by other attorneys or staff and what is their experience?
Jan 14, 2020

Full Answer

What questions to ask a divorce lawyer?

Communication File security and access References and reviews Delegation of responsibility Cost of divorce Reasonable expectations Your living arrangements Temporary orders Child custody and parenting time Spousal support Child support Attorney's fees requests Divorce process Community and separate property Contested versus uncontested issues

What questions should I ask when hiring a lawyer?

Jan 14, 2021 · Ask your lawyer how they’ve helped clients reach an acceptable outcome when they’ve worked in similar situations in the past. This article, This is why you need a strategy for your divorce, might also help prepare you for this conversation. 2. Ask about communication.

Is it proper to ask a divorce attorney for a first impression?

Jun 07, 2017 · Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer. Here are some questions to ask before hiring a divorce lawyer, during your initial interview: 1. What percentage of your practice is devoted to divorce or other family law matters? There are a lot of lawyers out there, and many of them advertise as “divorce” or “family law” attorneys.

What to ask a divorce attorney about a move away request?

How to Interview a Divorce Lawyer. What exactly do you need to know before you hire a lawyer? Here are some questions to ask before you write a retainer check or sign on the dotted line. Concerning general experience, ask these questions: How many matrimonial cases have you handled? How many of those cases went to trial?

What questions should I ask in an attorney interview?

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ... What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ... What are the risks if the case does fail? ... What are the odds of a settlement? ... How long should I expect this to take?

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•Apr 13, 2018

What are some questions about divorce?

Most Asked Divorce QuestionsQ: What is the difference between a Joint Petition and Uncontested Divorce? ... Q: What needs to be decided in a divorce? ... Q: Do I need a reason to file the divorce? ... Q: How long does a divorce take? ... Q: Should I file first? ... Q: How much does a divorce cost?More items...•Oct 9, 2021

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.Oct 28, 2020

How do you answer a law question in an interview?

Below are some common legal interview questions—plus suggestions on how to approach them.Tell me a little about yourself. ... What attracted you to our firm/organization? ... Can you describe a challenge or conflict you have faced at work and how you overcame it? ... What is your biggest weakness? ... Do you have any questions for us?Mar 20, 2021

What to ask yourself before getting divorced?

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You DivorceWhat Has Gotten You to the Point Where Divorce Is the Option?What Have You Done to Try to Fix the Problems?What Will the Impact Be on Your Children?What Were the Best Times in Your Relationship?Sep 21, 2020

How do I prepare for a divorce?

Steps to Take When Preparing for Divorce - Here are three tips to help keep it peaceful:Seek Support. ... Maintain Civility. ... Stay Focused on The Goal. ... Don't panic! ... Learn about family mediation. ... Stay safe on social media. ... Do research BEFORE starting the process. ... Get your life lined up BEFORE you divorce.More items...

What is a contested divorce?

A contested divorce is just what it sounds like: one or both spouses contest (dispute) some aspect of their divorce. Therefore, the divorce proceedings take much longer to complete and typically involve greater stress and increased legal fees.

What is the importance of a divorce lawyer?

A divorce attorney’s ability to communicate and get along with other divorce lawyers, and the court, is imperative to the resolution of your case. A lawyer who promotes conflict in your case is not someone you want representing you.

What is retainer deposit for divorce?

Retainer deposits are money that is placed into a client trust account (called an IOLTA), and when the attorney earns those funds he or she can place them into their own business account. The retainer deposit may or may not cover the entire cost of a case. Be careful of an attorney that requires a very low retainer deposit – if the deposit seems low to you, your instincts are probably right. Look for an honest, straightforward discussion about the overall cost of your case.

What do lawyers teach?

Lawyers who are experts in their field often teach legal courses and seminars regarding various topics of family law. Typically, top-notch attorneys are involved with teaching continuing legal education seminars.

Is Massachusetts an equitable distribution state?

Massachusetts is an “equitable distribution” state, which means that property and debts are fairly divided between the parties. There are several important statutes that discuss equitable division, the most important being M.G.L. c. 208, Section 34.

Can a Massachusetts divorce lawyer practice in more than one area of law?

Some Massachusetts lawyers practice in more than one area of law. While this does not mean they are not effective advocates, it is very difficult to have a complete knowledge base of more than one area of law. Be careful of a divorce lawyer that practices in multiple areas of law, such as personal injury, estate planning, and so forth.

Here are the top fifteen interview questions to ask a divorce attorney

There are many different questions to ask a divorce lawyer. You should always interview several divorce lawyers before choosing one, and bring some questions with you to your first meeting. This guide will help.

Here are the top fifteen interview questions to ask a divorce lawyer

What areas of law do you practice? This will ensure the lawyer actually specializes in divorce and family law. Lawyers that practice in multiple areas of the law probably do not have the requisite expertise you need.

What is the goal of hiring an attorney?

For many women, the ‘goal’ of hiring an attorney may simply be “get me outta this marriage!” But honing in on what you want your life to look like after the divorce dust has settled can be a useful tool for identifying how you want to work through the process of ending your marriage.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Most states allow individuals to represent themselves in the divorce process. And, it’s more common than you think: 80 percent of divorces involve at least one party representing themselves. Lots of people go this route – which means you can, too.

Is it a good idea to talk to a lawyer about divorce?

If you’ve made up your mind and there’s no alternative but divorce, talking to at least a few lawyers is always a good idea. The first consultation is usually always free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. But, you can gain a lot of information during attorney interviews if you head into the conversation armed with the right questions.

What to ask before hiring a divorce lawyer?

So one of the questions to ask before hiring a divorce lawyer is what the costs might be and how they will be paid.

What should a divorce attorney do?

Of course, every case is different and there's no one-size-fits all answer. There's no way to know exactly what’s going to happen, how difficult your spouse will be, if there are additional complexities like a complicated business or property issue, or a contentious custody battle. Nonetheless, you should have a general understanding of how they’d handle your case

How to contact Jody Fisher?

Fisher today to schedule a free initial consultation. Call (352) 503-4111, email, or complete our online form.

What to do when you leave a meeting with a divorce attorney?

When you leave a meeting with a potential divorce attorney, you should have a good idea of what you should do next to move forward with your divorce, some advice on how to proceed, and a good understanding of the potential consequences of potential action you might consider taking.

How much does a divorce cost?

Divorce can be expensive. The average cost for a divorce involving children is $20,300, and the average cost for a divorce without children is $13,000. But there are thing you can do to help control the cost of your divorce. Some divorces are more complex than others. But setting aside the complexity of dividing your marital assets, the more contentious a divorce is, the more expensive it will be. So the best way for you to control the cost of your divorce is by finding as many things that you and your spouse can agree on.

How to Interview A Divorce Lawyer: The Right Questions to Ask

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Filing for divorce or being served with divorce papers is perhaps one of the most daunting experiences spouses can ever go through. For the average person, this is usually a very confusing and troubling moment as they suddenly find themselves in unknown territory with no idea on how to proceed. While some may immediately …
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Get Recommendations

  • This should ideally be one of the first moves you make as you search for a lawyer to represent you. Get in touch with a family member or friend who has gone through a divorce and speak with them to ascertain whether their lawyer or even their spouse’s may be right for you. While this is a great starting point, it’s even more important to get a personal feel of a potential lawyer via an in…
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Do Your Investigation

  • Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential divorce lawyers to hire, you’ll need to carry out a personal investigation about them and eventually carry out an initial consultation. Look them up online and find out as much as you can before putting a call across to them. When you eventually call the lawyer, try to observe their approach towards you. Do they listen? Are they in a hurry to o…
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Prepare Yourself For The Interview

  • You should ideally prepare all relevant information pertaining to your divorce proceedings before meeting with any potential lawyer. Details regarding your personal assets, possible custody arrangements, and any other information you consider important should be readily available during the consultation. This information will enable the divorce lawyer to make informed decisi…
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Be Open

  • Hiding any critical information regarding your divorce may hinder the lawyer’s ability to critically assess your situation and offer the appropriate advice. At this point, be honest and open during the consultation. Share all the key details surrounding the divorce even if you do not feel they are relevant. You may have to reveal intimate and personal details regarding your relationship with y…
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Consider The Fees

  • During the consultation, find out what fees you will be expected to pay for their service. Is there a fixed price or hourly price for representation? Is there a minimum charge if they bill you hourly? These are some of the questions you should ask regarding what you’ll be expected to pay. You should also find out about a breakdown of what exactly you’ll be charged for to avoid any surpris…
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Avoid The Sweet Talk

  • If the lawyer is promising you the world and telling you everything you’d like to hear, be cautious. No lawyer can really promise you 100% success in a divorce case as there are too many variables involved including how a judge will decide, the duration of the case proceedings and subsequently the costs involved.
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Ask More Questions

  • Asking the right questions and getting the appropriate answers will help you decide whether or not to hire a certain lawyer, so don’t hesitate to ask anything you believe may be relevant to your divorce or working relationship with them. The following are some of the key questions you should ideally ask when interviewing your potential divorce lawyer.
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What Next?

  • Once you’ve decided on which lawyer to hire to represent you, they should ideally send you a written agreement that spells out the terms of the retainer and the fees involved. Choosing the right lawyer is no guarantee on the outcome of your divorce case but it certainly gives you a better footing in the proceedings. The tips and suggested questions above should help you prepare an…
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