Category: My Blog

10 Tips for Writing an Effective Law Firm Blog Post

The internet is full of exceptional legal content. More and more law firms publish regular blogs and if you do not provide your website visitors with well-written and educational content, they can just go elsewhere. So how do you capture your audience’s attention? What makes a good law firm blog article?

There are certain characteristics of effective, impactful blog posts that legal marketers should keep in mind. Here’s our breakdown.

1. Start with why.

Every blog post you write should have a purpose – just like your blog overall. Before you put pen to paper, consider your end goal and work backwards. Is it to inform on a specific topic? To drive traffic to a certain landing page? Know what you are hoping to accomplish and work from there.

2. Understand your audience and what they want to read.

Once in a while, talking about what’s going on in your firm can be interesting. But generally, your audience is going to be looking for legal information, checklists for complicated legal processes, or updates on legislation or cases. In general, it’s a smart marketing practice to build out personas of who your target audience is. Then, build out a section on their interests and what they’d like to read – and create posts based on that.

3. Listen to your clients. 

One of your greatest resources for new blog topics is your clients. They come to professionals seeking advice, answers, consultation and reassurance on a daily basis. Take note of their questions and pay particular attention to the language they use to describe them. These will make great fodder for relevant, useful and search-friendly blog posts.

4. Write for readers and for search engines.

Speaking of search-friendly, you want to make sure your target audience can actually find your law firm’s content, and SEO (search engine optimization) is the bridge that’ll help you get there. The better visibility your blogs have in search results, the more likely you are to garner attention and attract prospective and existing clients to your website. Make use of keywords (without keyword stuffing), craft an engaging meta description, and follow the rest of these tips to write blog posts that rank well on search engines like Google and Bing.

5. Write what you know.

If your firm specializes in certain areas, write about those. Write about what you are an expert in and have significant experience in whether it be energy law or divorce law. This positions you as a thought leader, and builds credibility and loyalty. If you try to fake it with other topics, people will see through that and you’ll lose their interest and their trust.

6. Use evidence.

This is something lawyers should be comfortable with! The best blogs have strong research backing them up, and the citations to prove it. This is a big reason Google favors content with several links and citations. The more research you perform on your topic, the more credible your information will be, and the more likely it is to rank in search engines. You can also set up free Google Alerts on specific topics in your area of expertise and review them daily. If something is breaking in the news, you’ll be on top of it.

7. Take a fresh approach.

As you perform your research, you are going to find no shortage of posts that share the sort of information you’re writing about. It’s important to avoid “herd content”. That is, content that others have written about extensively, or are trendy right now. It’s certainly smart to write about subjects that are trending – but take your own approach and add a unique perspective. Don’t just replicate what someone else has already said.

8. Be helpful.

This might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many corporate blogs do not do this. When people are searching online, typically they’re looking for answers to a question or help with a certain scenario. Provide the information they’re looking for. Answer their questions. Offer solutions.

9. Don’t focus on length.

Though some studies show that articles with 2,000 words or more tend to rank better, that doesn’t mean you need to meet that number all the time. Research shows you should focus on saying what you need to, without filler or fluff. If that means that your blog is only 500 words, that’s ok. If it’s a complex topic that takes 3,000 words to explain – that’s fine too. Make your law firm’s blog as long as it needs to be to get your point across.

10. Avoid walls of text.

Especially with longer content, this can be hard to do. However, it’s critical to keep the reader interested and visually stimulated. Be sure to include images, headlines, graphics, and bullets with your text. Break up paragraphs into only a few sentences. Keep bullets short. The new standard in content is visually interesting pieces with a variety of media formats.

For a comprehensive guide on crafting a content strategy, tips on measuring the effectiveness of your content distribution and plenty more, download our eBook: The Law Firm Guide to Content Marketing.

Takeaway

Lawyers and law firms derive many benefits from effective blogging – but if no one reads your blog, you’re wasting valuable resources that could be applied elsewhere. Taking the time to research timely topics that are of interest to your target audience is key. Keep these 10 tips in mind for more compelling content. 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of the latest developments in legal digital marketing and learn best practices and tips to enhance your marketing and business development efforts at your firm.

How to Create a Good Attorney-Client Relationship

Don't Minimize The Importance Of Managing Your Side Of the Attorney-Client  Relationship - ALPS Blog

As an attorney whose practice is exclusively dedicated to family law, I have learned that maintaining a good working relationship with a client is critical to the ultimate success of the case – and an essential component of achieving the client’s goals during the representation. The importance of establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with your client, from commencement through to conclusion, cannot be overstated.

Establishing a good attorney-client relationship starts during the initial consultation. At the outset, the attorney should create an atmosphere of trust, identify the potential legal issues involved in the case, elicit facts and circumstances from the client that is relevant to the legal issues, and most importantly, assess the client’s credibility and make a determination as to whether the attorney and client can work well together to achieve the client’s goals. Trust is earned; it takes time to build trust and create a comfort level for the client, and that process starts at the commencement of the engagement.

Creating a Good Attorney-Client Relationship: Start with the Initial Consultation

The initial consultation provides an opportunity for both the attorney and prospective client to get to know one another and decide whether the relationship will be effective and productive. Attorneys have different styles and “bedside manners” in terms of how they interact with their clients and work with them on legal matters. Not every attorney is a good fit for every client, and not every attorney will share the same opinion or perspective on how best to handle the client’s matter. It is critically important – both during the initial consultation and throughout the case – to set and continue to manage the client’s expectations as to the outcome of contested issues.

During the initial consultation, clients often ask the attorney to render a legal opinion regarding specific issues in their matter. An attorney can provide a general framework of potential outcomes, but at the inception of a case, it is difficult (if not impossible) to render a legal opinion with certainty as to the ultimate outcome. Clients will rely on their attorney’s opinions and analysis, so be judicious when discussing possible outcomes. There is no benefit to anyone in the process if you simply tell the client what he/she wants to hear and fail to fully explain possible outcomes – and what it may take in terms of time and money to pursue the client’s goals. The attorney’s obligation is to assess the issues and to provide the client with the most accurate analysis possible, including an honest assessment of all the potential outcomes in their case –favorable and unfavorable. Tread lightly, but honesty really is the best policy.

Technology and Divorce

The technology boom has had a significant effect on how clients choose their attorneys. Prior to a prospective client even stepping foot in your door for a consultation, he/she has likely already conducted legal research online concerning his/her case, consulted with other attorneys and/or family and friends about the case, and learned about your professional background and experience practicing law. This can result in the client already having a specific opinion as to how you should handle the case. You need to manage the client’s expectations regarding how you intend to handle issues in their matter – and ensure that your client understands and agrees with your strategy.

Much of what can be found on the Internet by way of attorney websites, legal blogs, and open forum discussions are effective in providing a general overview and framework concerning a legal issue or body of law, but lack specificity in regard to the variables and different facts and circumstances that ultimately dictate the outcome of a client’s particular legal issues. Given that there is easy access to this kind of general information, today’s litigants self-educate more than ever – but the attorney still has the ultimate responsibility to make sure the client fully understands the issues in their case and the relevant statutory authority and case law that will impact the determination of these issues.

Consider providing clients with specific references to statutory authority and/or relevant case law concerning their matter so they have an opportunity to read and review some of the authority and information you may be relying upon in assessing their case. I encourage clients to be invested in their case: to educate themselves, and to ask questions whenever they are uncertain about any aspect of their case. You should always keep an open line of communication with your client.

Developing and Maintaining a Good Attorney-Client Relationship

client relationships

After the client has retained you, the focus shifts to further developing and maintaining a good attorney-client relationship. Maintaining the relationship requires diligence on the attorney’s part, and also on the part of the attorney’s staff. Your staff serves as an extension of you, and your client expects the same professionalism, courtesy, and respect from your office as they do from you. When your staff falls short of meeting these expectations, this reflects poorly on you. Having a good support team is critical to effectively representing and keeping clients happy.

I am often interviewed by clients seeking to hire new counsel to represent them. The principal complaints I hear from clients relate to their frustration in not being able to communicate directly with their attorney, the lack of timely response(s) by the attorney, and difficulty in gaining access to the attorney. Clients expect that their attorney and his/her staff will respond promptly to inquiries or questions, including providing correspondence and/or pleadings received, and keeping them apprised of the status of their case. With the proliferation of email and text messaging, clients expect a rapid response to their inquiries.

Set ground rules with your clients regarding how you will respond to their queries; establish an easy and expedient method of communication between counsel and staff, and specify the manner in which your office will provide correspondence, pleadings, and other written materials received during the pendency of the case. Setting expectations as to how communication will be handled will greatly reduce the possibility of misunderstandings – and help prevent clients from looking for a new attorney.

You need to remember that clients often come to a family lawyer’s office at the worst of times. They are nervous, anxious, looking for guidance, and paying for effective legal counsel. To create an effective and productive attorney-client relationship, you need to foster an atmosphere of mutual trust and honesty, establish ground rules for communication, and manage the client’s expectations regarding the potential outcome of their case. Ultimately, your responsibility is to advocate on behalf of your clients, provide guidance and recommendations to them, and formulate a plan to achieve all realistic goals. Successful representation requires establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with your clients.

5 Digital Marketing Tips for Family Lawyers

While you always want to employ general marketing best practices for your law firm, it is important to also implement focused strategies that work for your key practice areas. If you are a family lawyer looking for a few effective digital marketing strategies for your practice area, then this is the post you have been waiting for.

You already know that you need to employ good legal marketing practices to help your law firm grow. You likely already have a website, know SEO is important, understand the benefits of a good testimonial, and more. However, you also know you want to make sure you are using strategies designed to work for your main practice areas.

For instance, personal injury lawyers often find success in advertising large jury verdicts. But when you are a family lawyer representing clients through a divorce, they probably are less excited by the dollars and cents they may need to pay their soon-to-be-ex-spouse to fully divide their property. So, if you are looking for a few digital marketing tactics just for you as a family lawyer, then keep reading.

What Sets Family Law Apart?

Divorce Decree

What largely sets family law apart from other specialties is the type of client you are serving. First and foremost, you are generally dealing with someone that is going through a high-stress situation.

While many legal issues are stressful, the stress of family law matters is likely even higher than other run-of-the-mill cases. Instead, these people are dealing with highly emotional situations, such as divorce from their spouses, waging custody battles over their children, coping with the trauma of domestic violence, or facing end-of-life decisions. Sometimes they are managing all of these problems at once. These are clients that often require a greater degree of compassion and empathy than those you deal with in other practice areas. Furthermore, in some circumstances they may even harbor an unusually high level of animosity or resentment towards the opposing party, making resolution of the matter highly contentious.

In addition to the high stress of your client, they are not always going to be repeat customers. You may frequently encounter one-and-done customers. These are clients who likely only need your services once – such as for a single divorce without children or to set up a power of attorney for an aging parent. You may never see these clients again.

This does not mean that you won’t necessarily have frequent fliers. Some people have multiple custody and support issues that pop up throughout their child’s upbringing or may experience various familial issues where you become their go-to attorney.

However, even if you help the same client repeatedly – such as through two, three, four, or more divorces – it is still unlikely that those representations occur in back-to-back months or even years. Instead, there is probably some time between each representation in which you need to find new clients.

Another key distinction between family law and other practice areas is the level of competition within the practice area. Family law matters are common. There is always someone that will need a family law attorney.

This also means that there are lots of lawyers practicing family law, whether they be general practitioners who happen to take family cases or dedicated family law specialists. An abundance of lawyers means increased competition for the same pool of business. You need to be aware of this competition when creating your marketing strategy.

Tip 1: Share Everything You Have To Offer

Ethan M. Weisinger - Services Offered

When you develop your website and update your profiles on the various lawyer directories, you want to make sure you are marketing the full range of services you provide. Unfortunately, many lawyers often fall into the trap of assuming that “family law” and a few key services, like divorce and child custody, are enough to reach their potential clients.

However, many clients only think in terms of their specific problem, such as “I need a child parenting agreement.” They are not necessarily thinking of the different types of lawyers who can provide that service.

This means that you need to highlight the many different services you provide. Of course, you want to list the basics, such as alimony, child custody, child support, divorce, etc. However, also think of the more niche issues you handle.

Do you take grandparents’ rights cases or represent non-traditional families? Do you help with adoption matters? Do you handle appeals? Are you a family mediation specialist? Do you write prenuptial agreements? What about powers of attorney or wills? Highlight them all on the services page of your website and all of your attorney profiles.

Tip 2: Prioritize Local Marketing

Local marketing matters for most practice areas but is crucial for family lawyers. When your potential client searches for a divorce attorney, you want her to find you. Your local clients likely want a lawyer near them. They do not necessarily want to drive an hour or two (or more) to get assistance with their family matter.

Start by fully optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) profile. This includes completing your GMB profile set-up and updating your information. Make sure your core name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct. Link your profile to your website. Choose the correct categories that describe your practice. Set your hours and pick your primary location(s). Update your attributes, such as any Accessibility information, required Appointments, or Health & Safety measures undertaken in response to COVID-19. Finally, add pictures and videos to your listing. Once you have updated this profile, make sure you keep it up to date.

Google Local

After optimizing your GMB profile, you want to focus on your lawyer directory profiles. Various lawyer directories offer free profiles, such as our Justia Lawyer Directory, and other lawyer directories, including AvvoFindLawLawLinkLawyers.com, and Martindale. On these directories, you want to ensure that your NAP is consistent with your GMB listing. You also want to complete your profile fully so that it is more useful for your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, as well as any potential client who views your listing. Remember, vary your biography on these different profiles so that you don’t inadvertently hurt your SEO ranking by creating duplicate content issues.

Justia Lawyer Directory - Free Profile

You should also update other local business directories. You can leverage services like WhiteSpark and Yext to help you fully optimize your NAP data in these local business directories across the web.

Make a concerted effort to get reviews and testimonials. These are the new word-of-mouth advertising online. Ninety percent of consumers read online reviews before they decide to visit a business and 88% of consumers trust those reviews like they would a personal recommendation. This means that positive reviews can work wonders in generating leads for your firm.

You will want to solicit Google Reviews, as these will be most prominent in the Google search results. You will also want to keep an eye out for reviews on Bing Places, as well as Yelp. You can get reviews on some lawyer directories, such as the Justia Lawyer Directory and Avvo, and various social media sites.

Once you have started receiving reviews on the different platforms, be sure to monitor your reviews. You will want to flag fraudulent reviews to initiate an investigation process. If you receive negative reviews, you will want to react accordingly to mitigate any potential harm. We have some tips for managing your reviews in this post.

Gathering testimonials for your website is also important. This allows visitors to your site to connect with real clients who have worked with you before. It increases their confidence in your abilities when they see satisfied former clients. Furthermore, these (and your other online reviews) are great for overall digital reputation management purposes.

Tip 3: Build Helpful Content and Answers

You want to build out original, quality content on your website that will be helpful to the types of clients you serve. This means creating evergreen content that helps people faced with divorce, custody issues, and other family law matters in your jurisdiction. You can share this content on practice area-specific sections of your site, landing pages, or even your blog.

This content is good for SEO – which helps you perform better in search engine results – and also helps establish your authority and expertise in this area of the law and promotes trust with potential clients.

Remember, regardless of where you post this content (your site, a blog, or somewhere else) make sure you keep it up to date if the law in your area changes. Otherwise, you will be undermining your efforts to help clients and build trust.

You also should consider adding FAQs to your website if you have not already done so. This is a prime area for answering some of the most common questions you receive as a family attorney. It is likely to be a high-traffic section of your site for people looking for a simple answer (who are great potential clients) and these snippets of information are also good for SEO.

Finally, you will want to participate in various Q&A forums online. Answering questions in these forums help you reach clients who have a legal question now and helps you continue to reach clients searching for similar answers in the future. Similar to creating quality content, giving good answers on Q&A forums allows you to build your authority on the subject matter and boost your reputation.

Justia - Ask a Lawyer

You can answer questions on general Q&A sites, like Quora, as well as dedicated legal Q&A forums, such as Justia Ask A Lawyer and Avvo. For more information on the marketing benefits of Justia Ask A Lawyer, check out our recent Justia Onward post, Using Justia Ask A Lawyer as a Great Tool to Reach Potential Clients.

Tip 4: Leverage Paid Ads

As discussed above, your clients need to be able to find you when they are looking for a family lawyer. This means you are shooting for first-page visibility on Google.

You know there are multiple ways to appear on that first results page of Google: the local pack, the organic listings, and, of course, paid ads. While you can prioritize SEO in an effort to increase your organic ranking and can implement strategies to help your performance in local search, only paid ads to allow you to offer money in exchange for the opportunity to get that top spot.

Furthermore, the Google results page seems to consistently have an increased percentage of paid ads relative to organic search visibility. Even if you otherwise have great organic visibility, adding paid ads to your marketing plan helps you adjust your marketing strategy to this reality.

LSAs (Local Services Ads) are sponsored advertisements that appear at the top of the search results. These relatively new ads have the benefit of achieving the “Google Screened” designation and incorporating a law firm’s Google reviews. Another unique benefit of LSAs is that they are pay-per-lead, instead of pay-per-click (PPC). This means you only pay when you get a phone call or text message contact from your ad. With LSAs, you can decide to target states, counties, cities, or individual zip codes.

Family Law LSA

You can also leverage PPC ads to reach more clients. These are the ads that display the above search results but after any LSAs. Notably, LSAs do not appear for all search terms, so traditional PPC Ads may sometimes appear in the top spot of the search results.

To set up a PPC campaign, you will not only need to develop ad text and landing pages and optimize the campaign but also need to choose keywords that you will bid on. Each time someone searches for those words, a behind-the-scenes auction will occur to determine which ads are shown to the searcher.

Family Law PPC Ads

You likely want to bid on the keywords that most directly describe your practice, such as a family lawyer. However, you do not want to stop there. In family law, you are likely to have potential clients that do not necessarily think of the lawyer they need as a family lawyer. Instead, these clients are thinking through a narrower lens.

For example, if your potential client has a child custody issue, they may search for a family lawyer. However, they are also very likely to search for a custody attorney. If someone needs a divorce, they are likely to Google the term “divorce lawyer”. Thus, you want to make sure you think beyond just “family lawyer” and bid on keywords that more closely describe the common issues you deal with.

You can also reach more local clients with your search ads by targeting them within a certain radius of your office or defining narrow geographical regions that you would like to reach while excluding locations that are outside of the sphere in which you practice.

Tip 5: Make Contacting You Easy

Lyttle Law Firm - Contact Information

You want to ensure that it is very easy for your potential clients to contact you. When they decide they are ready to call a family law attorney, you do not want them to reach out to a competitor.

Make sure your NAP is consistent and accurate across your entire digital presence, from GMB to social media, directory profiles, and your website. You do not want a potential client to find an out-of-date or disconnected phone number when they want to call you now. Also, if you offer extended hours where someone is available by phone this is a great benefit to promote to potential clients.

Consider implementing a chatbot or live chat form on your website. This helps potential clients feel like there is someone they can talk to now who is ready and willing to help them start working towards a resolution.

Make contact forms prominent in various locations on your website. You can also include a Call to Action (CTA) on every page of your website. This CTA can be a small button in the navigation or some other prominent place that says something as simple as “Contact Us” and links to a contact form or allows your phone number to pop up for a mobile user when clicked.

Consider including a contact form (or perhaps a V-Card) on the biography pages of your law firm website. If a potential client decides your law firm is a good fit for his matter after reviewing the background of a certain attorney, then it is easy for him to reach out at that time.

Remember, if you include actual email addresses on your website, you are increasing the odds that you will receive spam at your law firm account.

Finally, consider offering free consultations or inexpensive strategy sessions where you can discuss the core legal matter facing your potential client. These types of meetings grab the attention of prospective clients who are still unsure about hiring an attorney. Having this type of personalized session is more likely to convert them from a prospect to a new client. Advertise these sessions clearly on your website and directory profiles. Bonus points if you offer these consultations via video conferencing!

Final Thoughts: Why Do You Care?

No one wants to waste their time and money on meaningless marketing. Instead, you want to be sure you are allocating your digital marketing resources to strategies that are tailored for your firm. Marketing your family law practice has a slight nuance to it that makes it different from marketing other types of law firms.

The Benefits of Working in a Small Law Firm

The Benefits of Working in a Small Law Firm

Most attorneys in private practice are employed by small law firms, defined as those with fewer than 20 lawyers. The majority work in even smaller firms. Almost half of all lawyers in private practice are solo practitioners. Another 20 percent are employed by firms of 10 attorneys or fewer, according to the American Bar Association’s 2016 Lawyer Demographics report. Employment in a small law firm presents a unique set of advantages. 

Your Work May Be More Varied

Lawyers in small law firms are often generalists and engage in challenging, varied work across a broad spectrum of practice areas. This can be a marked contrast to the high degree of specialization seen in many large law firms. The exception for small firms is the boutique law firm, which usually focuses its practice on a specific, niche area of law. 

Small Law Firms Offer Flexible Work Schedules

The cozy, adaptable environment of a small law firm can lend itself to more flexible work schedules among lawyers and staff. There may be fewer hands to contribute to those inevitable all-hands-on-deck emergencies that mark some areas of law, but a sense of camaraderie and teamwork often provides balance.

Small Law Firms Offer Flexible Work Schedules

The cozy, adaptable environment of a small law firm can lend itself to more flexible work schedules among lawyers and staff. There may be fewer hands to contribute to those inevitable all-hands-on-deck emergencies that mark some areas of law, but a sense of camaraderie and teamwork often provides balance.

You’ll Gain More Hands-On Experience

The Benefits of Working in a Small Law Firm

New attorneys and paralegals may perform more substantive legal tasks with less supervision than their mega-firm counterparts because the staff is more limited in a small law firm. This may lead to more errors that could put the law firm at risk unless safeguards in place, but it generally produces a faster-paced learning environment. 

You’ll Have Significant Client Contact

Associates in small law firms may operate with greater autonomy and have more client contact than those working in large law firms where client contact is often reserved for more senior lawyers. This situation might be your ideal if you’re a people person and enjoy one-on-one contact with those you’re helping. 

Small Law Firms Offer Informal, Relaxed Atmospheres

Unlike more conservative mega-firms, the small firm culture is often more relaxed. Dress codes are less formal, and socializing among employees is often more common, from major events like a daughter’s wedding to Friday evening happy hours. Everyone knows each other on a first-name basis in a small law firm, which can foster friendly, comfortable working relationships.

Small Law Firms Have Abbreviated Partnership Tracks

The road to partnership in a small firm may be shorter than that of a large law firm because there are fewer attorneys and layers of management. This can be particularly advantageous if you prefer a faster track to success. 

With fewer employees vying for assignments, promotions, and a slice of the profits, legal professionals in small law firms face less in-house competition than their big-firm counterparts. 

Small law firm employees can more easily prove their worth to those in power, making it simpler to garner recognition and reward.

You’ll Have Greater Input Into Firm Processes and Management

Working for a small law firm may allow legal professionals greater control in the direction and management of their firms. Hierarchies are often less carved in granite, so senior partners may be more willing to hear suggestions and opinions from staff.  

Best Practices for Family Lawyers

Best practices for family lawyers: from how to work with clients, excel in the field, & grow your practice to the value of acquiring complementary designations.

Family law is often overlooked as a weighty and important area of practice, but the truth is that it is a vital and complicated legal area. Think of the fact that when people marry or start a relationship they believe it is forever. Sadly, approximately half of all marriages end in divorce. This is not even counting the many relationships that fail without marriage but leave children to be dealt with after the breakup or a one-night stand.

Everyone is unhappy in a divorce and it can be one of the most stressful and traumatic events in one’s life. Some psychologists rank divorce among the worst possible events, second only to the death of a child or spouse. Divorces are difficult. Whether settled out of court, through mediation, or through a trial, a divorce can result in the following scenarios:

  • Parents spend 50% or less of their time with their children.
  • If one parent is paying child support and the other is receiving it, both sides are often dissatisfied with the amount; one feels that it is too little and the other feels that it is too much.
  • Similarly, if spousal support is ordered, the recipient feels that it is too little and the payor believes that they are paying too much (especially since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act removed the tax deduction for spousal support)
  • Spouses must divide marital debts as well as property
  • There is a tremendous emotional cost to every divorce or custody battle.
  • Attorney fees can be a delicate issue. Although usually untrue, many clients feel that they got a lousy deal and could have achieved the same result without having to pay for a lawyer.

Best Practices for Family Lawyers: Family Law Requires Broad and Deep Expertise

Do you outsource portions of your family law cases because you lack the experience or training to complete them yourself? Do yourself and your clients a favor by taking relevant seminars and courses and acquiring designations outside the law arena, such as:

  • Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®)
  • Certified QDRO Specialist (CQS)
  • High Conflict Institute (HCI)

If you find yourself regularly dealing with high-conflict people (clients, their ex-spouses, or even opposing counsel in some cases), consider registering for webinars and online courses from the HCI.

To excel in the divorce arena, an attorney must have a wide variety of legal know-how and must be versed in a diverse array of legal principles that go beyond divorce, custody, and support laws. A divorce attorney must also be familiar with:

  • Real estate law. Not only to deal with the marital home, but also to deal with investment property, commercial real estate, or a family farm in some cases.
  • Business and corporate law. This can be very important, especially in high-asset divorces where one spouse must be compensated for the marital portion of a family business or multiple business entities.
  • Tax law. Also, being able to read a spreadsheet, balance sheet, or a complicated tax return – whether business or personal – can be critical in many cases.
  • Retirement assets (including Social Security). Some divorces will involve gifts, inheritances, or tort claims.
  • Family trusts and wills. These could be key issues, especially when property has been accumulated over generations.
  • Ante- and postnuptial agreements.
  • Criminal law and personal protection orders. Domestic violence and alcohol or drug abuse are increasingly important factors in many divorce cases.

Consider the Divorce Variables

Every divorce will have numerous variables that can impact it to a greater or lesser degree. The first variable to consider is the reason the client (or their spouse) is seeking a divorce. The second is the client’s personality, outlook, and ability to make reasonable, intelligent decisions. The third the other spouse’s personality, reasoning, and idiosyncrasies. The fourth is the attorneys: how competent each one is, their personality, and attitude. The fifth variable is the judge: their personality, attitude, and biases.

Combined with these variables are several other factors that have an impact on the result. A wide variety of experts can be crucial. These can include therapists involved in counseling or psychological evaluations, or guardians for the children, or a “friend of the court.”

Where there are businesses, you will likely need to bring in a forensic accountant to help with a business evaluation or to establish true income for a self-employed spouse. There can be real estate appraisers for both commercial and residential real estate. Appraisers may be needed for art, jewelry or antiques, as well as collectibles. There can also be vocational experts, certified divorce financial analysts, and financial advisors.

Some divorcing clients prefer to work with mediators, arbitrators, or a collaborative divorce team in order to avoid court; the process they choose is another variable in a divorce case.

Best Practices for Family Lawyers: Tips for the Initial Consultation

  1. Do not oversell a case. There will be problems when you cannot deliver what you promised.
  2. Remember that the potential client is evaluating you just as you are evaluating them.
  3. Block off plenty of time for a new client’s initial consultation; never make them feel rushed or unimportant.
  4. Do not take phone calls or allow interruptions during the consultation.
  5. Answer questions honestly. If you do not know the answer, say so and tell the client that you will look into the issue.
  6. Elicit as much information as possible so that you have a good grasp of the case and potential problems at the end of the consultation.
  7. Discuss fees, including how time is billed for phone calls, office work, e-mails as well as work done by other members of your staff.
  8. Always present a written retainer agreement to new clients.
  9. Provide the potential client with an outline and overview of the process as well as what to expect.
  10. If you think there are potential problems, let the client know about them.
  11. Beware of “shoppers”; some unscrupulous people will try to eliminate all of the leading attorneys by conflicting them out with a perfunctory initial client interview.
  12. Similarly, do not become a potential client’s fourth or fifth attorney if you can avoid it. I was the first attorney on an infamous case where the client ultimately ended up going through more than 16 attorneys. In some divorces, there are personality issues or a breakdown of the attorney-client relationship – however, there is almost always a problem with a client who hires and fires his or her attorneys regularly.
  13. If you have a team working with you, have the potential client meet the other attorneys or paralegals who will be working with you on their case.

Best Practices for Family Lawyers: Working with Your Client During the Case

  1. Timely communication is critical, so try to return all phone calls the same day. Surveys have shown that most clients expect to have a phone call returned within three hours. If that is not possible, instruct your staff to apologize and explain that there will be a delay in returning their call due to court or other pressing matters. Respond to all e-mails and texts in a timely fashion as well.
  2. Document everything, copying clients on all correspondence including letters, e-mails, pleadings, and any other information that is part of the case.
  3. Face-to-face meetings during a divorce or custody battle can help to reassure distraught clients.
  4. Divorces go in stops and starts. Sometimes there may be weeks or even months where little is happening. Check in with your client to make sure that he or she knows what is going on.
  5. If there are court appearances or hearings, make sure that the client is prepared. It goes without saying that you must be prepared, too.
  6. In court, be succinct. Judges do not want a long-winded presentation that never gets to the point. Pleadings and oral arguments should spell out what you want for your client and why.
  7. Your client should be present at all court appearances if possible. This is important for four key reasons. First, decisions are often made that are critical to the case and the client must be involved. Second, if the motion goes well it is important for the client to see that. Third, if things do not go well the client must be there so that there is no third-hand information and so that you can do damage control. Finally, it sends a poor message to the judge if your client is not there.
  8. Have your client keep a diary or journal to develop a case history as events unfold.
  9. Have a closing letter at the end of each case and or a final meeting to go through any remaining issues and make sure that all of your client’s concerns have been addressed.
  10. A well-informed client will be able to make more educated decisions throughout the divorce process. Always remember that the client must live with the results for many years – perhaps for the rest of their lives – so you want to help them make the best possible choices during the process.

Building Your Family Law Practice

Unlike other areas of the law, family law practice has few, if any, institutional clients. Thus, a family practice must “reinvent the wheel” every day: every time we finalize a divorce or other family law matter, we have to replace that client or case with a new one. The goal is to build a broad network for future referrals – and that requires satisfied clients. Remember that a satisfied client can help to build your practice while an unhappy client can do damage to your practice.

  1. Don’t forget that your clients are real people with real problems, and some may be scared to death about what the future holds. Listening to a client’s issues with empathy rather than a tunnel-vision focus on the facts has been shown to increase client satisfaction – and the likelihood of positive reviews and referrals.
  2. Work hard on every case and referrals will follow.
  3. Get or maintain a modern, professional website and hire a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert to improve your rankings. A good website is useless if people cannot find it.
  4. Maintain a regular blog on your website and/or on a top-ranked divorce blog such as DivorceMag.com/blog.
  5. Write articles for or pitch story ideas to your local media. Establish yourself as their “go-to” expert for all family law and divorce-related stories.
  6. Network and find opportunities to market in areas that are underserved.
  7. Join a country club or other social organization and practice your “elevator speech” to let people know what you do in a succinct statement.
  8. Give seminars and lectures, and attend seminars and lectures. Keep up to date on state and federal laws pertaining to divorce.
  9. Network with other professionals who deal with clients in possible need of a divorce. Possible resources can include accountants, therapists, financial planners, realtors, and even people who run your local fitness club.

A Team Approach to Family Law

A “divorce team” might consist of secretaries, paralegals, as well as attorneys with complementary expertise. But you should consider including a therapist or divorce coach as well for three reasons:

  1. A therapist can determine if a marriage can be saved.
  2. If the marriage cannot be salvaged, a therapist or coach can help the client work through their emotions so that they are able to recognize a good settlement proposal when they see it.
  3. A therapist or coach can help a client move on from their divorce and provide a support system going forward.

Cultivate relationships with financial professionals – forensic accountants, valuators, etc. – to call on for high-stakes or financially complex cases.

Include other experts on your team as needed; do not hesitate to seek outside advice early and often, so that there is still plenty of time to prepare for all contingencies.

Best Practices for Family Lawyers: Problem-Solving vs. Scorched-Earth Family Law Attorneys

More and more attorneys litigate with a “take no prisoners” attitude; they will shade the truth to get an unfair advantage for their clients. But in a family law practice, more so than other practices, reputation is critical. For this reason, in family law, a scorched earth tactic is wrong and harmful. Thoughtful representation is a better approach. For example, you should remind your clients that, as parents, they will have an ongoing relationship with their ex-spouse regardless of how the case resolves. Having a working relationship with their ex-spouse will be necessary to raise their children long after the dust has settled.

In the long run, being a problem-solving attorney rather than one who antagonizes the other side will make you and your family law practice more successful.

Fun facts about lawyers and the practice of law

Practicing law is a very serious business.  But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot about it that’s quite interesting, fun, and even sometimes funny.

Every once in a while, it is a good idea to step away from the solemnity of it all and think about the lighter side of our business. Accordingly, we’ve compiled the top 10 fun facts about lawyers and the practice of law.

#1: How many lawyers does it take?

There are currently 1.34 million lawyers in the United States. The entire population of the U.S. is 327,522,508. That means that there is roughly one lawyer for every 240 people in this country. With numbers like that, you wouldn’t think it would be so hard to find clients.

#2: The first lady … lawyer

The first woman in U.S. history to become a lawyer was an Iowan named Arabella Mansfield. She had to sue the State Bar of Iowa in order to sit for its bar exam – a privilege that had been exclusively reserved for males. Born in 1844, Ms. Mansfield passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1869. Though the law had always been the province of men, women began to study and teach the law during Ms. Mansfield’s era because so many men were called off to fight in the Civil War.

#3: Out of the mouths of babes

Nearly 150 years later, another female is poised to shatter barriers within the practice of law. A 15-year old girl from Ohio named Danya Hamad is reportedly on track to become the youngest lawyer currently practicing in the United States. Ms. Hamad has modest goals. In her own words, “My goal is to become the youngest lawyer in America and from there I want to change the world.”

She will not, however, be the youngest lawyer to ever practice law in the States. That distinction belongs to a man named Stephen Baccus who graduated from Miami Law in 1986.

#4: That’s not fair

Since 2002, the Institute for Legal Reform has surveyed corporate litigators and senior executives to rank the litigation climate in each state within the U.S. The survey is aimed at determining the reasonableness and fairness of litigation practices. The five states that rank as the most reasonable and fair? South Dakota, Vermont, Idaho, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. And the least? Florida, California, Illinois, Missouri, and Louisiana.

#5: Any correlation?

Why Do You Need an IT Lawyer?

Interestingly, the state that was determined to have the most fairness and reasonableness in its litigation climate nearly has the fewest number of lawyers per capita of any state. Only Arizona and South Carolina have fewer attorneys per capita than South Dakota, which boasts just 22.2 lawyers for every 10,000 residents.

In case you’re wondering, the District of Columbia has the highest number of lawyers per capita. In fact, Washington, D.C. has 788.1 lawyers per 10,000 residents.

#6: Who said lawyers are dramatic?

There are a surprising number of celebrities who attended law school. Among them are John Cleese (Monty Python), Geraldo Rivera, Ben Stein, Gerard Butler, Jerry Springer, Ozzie Nelson (Ozzie & Harriet), Jeff Cohen (Goonies), and John Saviano (The Wonder Years). Imagine having your closing argument delivered by Geraldo and Jerry Springer!

#7: Worth their weight in gold

Lawyers in America earn vastly different salaries depending on where they live. While top attorneys are reportedly charging upwards of $1,500 per hour, that is certainly not the norm. Across the country, lawyer salaries are highly dependent on location.

The highest wages for lawyers are, not surprisingly, earned in California, New York, and Washington, D.C., where attorneys average $168,693 per year. The lowest wages for lawyers are in Montana, where attorney salaries average $83,330 per year. Per-hour rates also vary wildly within states. For example, in Arizona, attorneys in the Phoenix metropolitan area earn an average of $65.44 per hour, while lawyers across the state average just $49.22 per hour.

#8: How a bill becomes a law

Historically, lawyers dominated the Congressional halls. In fact, in the mid-19th century, nearly 80% of Congressional members were lawyers. Today, however, lawyers account for fewer than 40% of Congress people. History will tell us how that trend impacted lawmaking but the final analysis should be fascinating.

#9: Lawyering isn’t for everyone

Practicing law is such a labor of love. Law school isn’t easy, passing the bar exam isn’t easy, and practicing law is probably the hardest thing of all. Perhaps not surprisingly then, lawyers leave the profession all the time. Whether it is to become a pastry chef or a writer (guilty as charged), lawyers seem to find great success in other careers.

#10: They really love us

Factors to Consider if You Want to Become a Lawyer

Perhaps more than any other profession, lawyers seem to be disliked by the public at large. As it turns out, however, they hate us because they envy us. According to one study, the reasons people aren’t fond of lawyers are: (1) they’re smarter than everyone else; (2) they have their own language; (3) they are intimidating; and (4) they’re expensive. Taken separately, those aren’t really bad qualities to possess.

We hope you enjoyed our brief escape from the day-to-day practice of law. Time to get back to work.

Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Family Law Attorney

5 Things to Know About Hiring a Family Law Attorney | Attorney at Law  Magazine

All lawyers hope to help their clients, but few do so with the emotional, personal impact of family law attorneys. After all, the things often at stake in family law cases—like a child’s welfare or justice for an abused spouse—have a gravitas many other areas of the law cannot match.

Of course, family law is about much more than those heavier topics. But wherever you find family law attorneys, they play a vital role in helping people navigate some of the more poignant periods of their lives, using vast legal expertise and extraordinary empathy.

Sound like the kind of lawyer you want to be? Keep reading for your guide to becoming a family law attorney.

First things first: what do family law attorneys do?

As the term implies, family lawyers focus on issues that have an impact on families. They deal with matters such as divorce proceedings, adoptions, and child custody. Common tasks include drafting custody agreements, wills, prenuptial agreements, and other documents. While some family lawyers engage in litigation, it is a less prevalent aspect of this practice.

But family law is also a surprisingly broad legal area, says New England Law | Boston Professor Monica Teixeira de Sousa, advisor for the school’s Family Law Concentration. It touches upon everything from constitutional law to tax law to real estate. “The best way to think about it is, what are the legal issues that are likely to impact the family unit?” she says.

In divorce cases, for example, considerations may include whether they are handled on a fault or no-fault basis, how assets will be divided, and various possible grounds such as irreconcilable differences, mental cruelty, or desertion. Child custody and support may be major factors as well. Some family law attorneys also delve into criminal law, dealing with individuals who have been accused of abuse or neglect. Finally, as society changes and technology advances, new aspects of family law are likely to emerge. Applications in genetic engineering of human beings, for example, may bring a host of new legal questions that family law attorneys will help address.

Beyond the specialized knowledge, succeeding as a family lawyer requires the same basic skills as other legal areas: strong written and verbal communication, time management, critical thinking and analysis, etc. Moreover, strong “people skills” are especially important for family lawyers. Given the deeply personal issues inherent to family law, the ability to relate calmly and constructively with people who may be emotionally vulnerable is a must. 

Another reality of a family law practice that should be recognized, Professor Teixeira de Sousa points out, is that dealing with people in these situations (divorce, custody battles, etc.) can be personally challenging. “You’re dealing with all the most intimate personal details of other people’s lives” she says. “No matter how thorough a job you do as an attorney, you may not be able to make them happy. Basic best practices such as promptly returning client phone calls are particularly important in this type of practice too.”

Despite these challenges, family law has much to offer, and supporting clients in even the most difficult cases can be deeply rewarding. Family law also remains a crucial legal specialty, covering issues core to a society’s culture and values.

“There’s a rich body of [family] law,” Professor Teixeira de Sousa says. “Students are often fascinated by the way in which the common law [cases] reflect evolving gender roles and societal expectations of the family, and how there is always a new and exciting legal development around the corner.”          

How to become a family lawyer

How to Choose a Right Family Law Attorney | Attorney at Law Magazine

The first basic requirement in becoming a lawyer is, of course, earning a bachelor’s degree. However, it’s worth noting that there is no single degree or program that leads to law school or even a family law career in particular. Students who aspire to attend law school major in a variety of areas such as political science, history, economics, or business. Even more technical fields such as engineering or nursing can be good precursors to a legal career. The same is true of graduate degrees in any number of fields. 

After successfully navigating the admissions process and enrolling in law school, the courses you take will help determine your future career options. An array of basic courses is required for all law students, but over the duration of your studies, you’ll also be able to take classes that will prepare you more specifically for family law. At New England Law, for example, students may complete the concentration in family law by earning ten credits from a selection of courses such as Children and the Law, Divorce Law, Domestic Violence, Family Law, Juvenile Law, Law and the Elderly, and more.

Law students can gain early exposure to family law through volunteer work, internships, fellowships, or part-time employment. Students also gain valuable experience through clinics and externships. In the Family Law Clinic at New England Law, students get to help real clients with such vital work as filing restraining orders against domestic abusers. They also work under the supervision of two attorneys who have decades of experience in family law.

These hands-on experiences are especially important in helping students determine if becoming a family lawyer is right for them. “Get experiential training early to see if you’re really cut out for it,” Professor Teixeira de Sousa advises. “It’s one thing to learn about [family law] in the classroom, but you won’t know if it’s the right fit for you until you roll up your sleeves and begin interacting with real live clients.”

It’s one thing to learn about family law in the classroom, but you won’t know if it’s the right fit for you until you roll up your sleeves and begin interacting with real live clients.

Like so many lawyers just starting out, a fateful experience early in her career exposed Starlene Alves to family law, setting her on a path in this legal niche. “I was young and had an amazing opportunity to work for an experienced [family law] attorney in my hometown,” Alves says. “She practiced predominately divorce, custody, and support cases, so I was exposed to that type of family law for nearly eleven years.”

Alves eventually enrolled at New England Law | Boston, looking to expand her career options. “New England Law prepared me to be a well-rounded attorney by giving me the opportunity to explore other areas of law and to be involved in different internships,” she says.

After graduating, Alves started a family law firm with another New England Law graduate, Sania Santos: Alves|Santos, LLP. “We both had very different tracks in law school and experiences post-graduation,” Alves says. “When we decided to open a law firm together, we were able to combine our experiences and offer a variety of services.” Today, the partners delve into everything from personal injury to juvenile law to employment discrimination to immigration.         

“If you’re thinking about opening up your own family law practice, there are many things to learn,” Professor Teixeira de Sousa adds. She suggests taking classes in areas you might not otherwise consider such as taxes, modern real estate, and wills, estates, and trusts. These diverse experiences can round out your legal skillset. But she adds, “Don’t let the number of discrete topics that fall under family law scare you away, as you’ll have a lifetime to build your expertise.”

After passing the bar exam, future family lawyers often go on to work with nonprofit organizations, small to mid-sized firms, or government agencies. For example, state or regional associations that advocate for survivors of domestic violence may employ attorneys with a background in family law. Or they might start their own firms like Alves and Santos. Individuals with the required credentials and experience may find teaching family law to be a rewarding experience as well.

Where to learn more

Choosing Between a Divorce Lawyer and a Family Law Attorney in NC

Ready to explore a possible future in family law?

Start by taking a closer look at law schools with family law programs; their websites can provide a great introduction to what this career path entails, as you explore related courses and experiential learning opportunities. Then try visiting the schools themselves, scheduling a meeting with a family law professor if you can. You might also contact the admissions office to see if they can connect you with family law faculty, students, and alumni via phone or email, so you ask them your questions and learn firsthand about becoming a family lawyer.

Similarly, for a personal view on studying and working in this field, you can conduct your own outreach to family lawyers in your local area. Many lawyers are quite receptive to polite requests for brief informational interviews, which can be informative and motivating. (You may be able to make this connection through a family friend or relative too.)

Of course, there’s also no such thing as too much online research, and you can learn more about becoming a family lawyer through professional organization websites. For example, The American Bar Association offers a “Section of Family Law” that features information not only for working lawyers but also students and others interested in the field. Their resources include conferences and webinars, magazines, email updates on recent family law cases, and online access to archived cases. Other organizations of interest include the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys.

As you review information from these and other sources, you’ll find that family law offers many challenges and rewards. Perhaps this multi-dimensional field will be part of your own future as well.

9 Skills Of A Successful Lawyer

There are some who have it and some who don’t. Having the right set of skills of a lawyer can lead a career of abundance and great success. If you’re looking to brush up your skills, here’s a list of 9 skills to become a better lawyer.

1. Strong Communication Skills

Lawyers must have strong oral communication skills and written communication skills to accurately relay critical legal information. As well, a significant portion of a lawyer’s job is to create strong and convincing arguments which are presented in the courtroom. Judges and juries all have their own opinions, beliefs, and backgrounds so a lawyer’s ability must be able to reach out to all of them and convince accordingly.

In addition, good listening skills are found in a successful lawyer. Every client has their own version of their situation. Lawyers must listen carefully to the details and analyze what their clients need and how to take action.

2. People Skills

Lawyers are in constant contact with people with is why people skills are required. The entire system of law has engagement with people. Judges, clerks, senior partners, barristers, and other legal workers are just some of the people lawyers will encounter on a daily basis. Being able to be relatable, polite, respectful and interesting some skills to consider.

If this is a skill lacking in a lawyer, it can lead to some very nasty situations with clients seeking retribution for their perceived mistreatment. Regardless of how good a lawyer may be at formulating arguments and winning cases, maintaining good relationship develops a deeper sense of professionalism

3. Time Management Skills

Lawyer’s have a heavy workload and can experience demanding deadlines at short notice. Having the right time management and organizational skills allows for a lawyer’s work to be performed more effortlessly and efficiently.

Time management is the core of a lawyer’s work ethics. Lawyers who prioritize their work and stay ahead of their tasks can lead to more time to enjoy extracurriculars or taking on more cases.

4. Research Skills

Lawyers will spend a lot of time digging around in archives and reading up on old cases. Research skills include the ability to read large amounts of information in short time, understanding facts, figures, and charts, and analyzing matter in a way that can be used later are vital features of a lawyer.

Research skills should be honed early in a lawyer’s career. To do so, make a habit of summarizing a few important points from large documents and articles. This is extremely advantageous when caseloads increase which require more background details, legal document drafting, and preparation advice for clients.

5. Detail Oriented

All lawyers have to have an eye for details. Accuracy and precision is needed to become a successful lawyer. If a lawyer makes a mistake on a single word it can change the entire meaning of a contract or a clause. Lawyers must ensure all their communications, such as email, letters, lawyer websites and legal documents, are always perfect for giving them to a client.

Small mistakes can lead to a bad impression on a client and a bad experience for a lawyer. The worst case scenario would be a lawyer getting sued for malpractice for mistakes that could have been avoided.  

6. Creativity

The fundamental part of a lawyer’s job is to win cases for their clients or protect their client’s interests. Being creative is a skill needed by successful lawyers because it allows for flexibility and a wide range of possible solutions when working on a case.

Lawyers have to be both logical and analytical. However, they should not ignore their creativity. Having that creative edge allows for a lawyer to outmaneuver any situation, in and out of the courtroom.

7. Judgement

Although creativity is important, a lawyer also requires strong judgment at the core of their practice. Lawyers need the ability to logically and reasonably draw conclusions based on the limited amount of information they receive.

Throughout a court hearing, lawyers must be aware of the arguments their opponents are making which finding weaknesses and flaws in logic through the hearings.

8. Stress Management

Lawyers spend a great amount of time listening to clients and trying to solve their problems. There are some clients who have often experienced an extreme incident that creates a difficult and stressful situation for themselves and the lawyer. Mentioned early was the importance of having both people and communication skills. It is during these high-stress situations that these skills are needed to help handle a client’s stress.

In fact, these same skills are critical for lawyers themselves. Lawyers will occasionally take on the stresses of their clients. Having the ability to manage stress, both in clients and within themselves, is a valuable skill to maintain a long-lasting career as a lawyer.

9. Business Skills

Every lawyer, whether working at a firm or solo practitioner, must be aware of the business side of their practice. Law is a billable service that receives the majority of their income by the hours they can bill. If lawyers lack the necessary business skills to bill their clients accordingly, it could lead to significant losses for the firm or personal practice.

Being able to explain your hourly rates, additional charges, and contracting with clients is critical for a lawyer to continue to practice law. However, billing is just one aspect that has to be learned. Marketing, networking, and accounting for lawyers are equally important.

Choosing the Right Family Law Attorney

Choosing a family law attorney in Raleigh, NC can be a very difficult decision. The right lawyer can make a real difference both in the outcome of your divorce and how you make it through the very emotional process. You want a trusting relationship. You want a lawyer who is serious about your case and listens to your needs. You want a lawyer who moves your case forward to the conclusion. Here are some tips on choosing the right lawyer.

Our family law attorneys offer tips on how to pick the right family law attorney.


Whether you’re considering a divorce, attempting to work out custody and support issues, planning an adoption or facing another family law issue, choosing the right family law attorney can ease your mind and produce better results. Your lawyer becomes your partner in the process, helping you achieve the outcome you want within the boundaries of the law.

Here are some tips to help you select an attorney whom you can trust, who listens to your needs and who keeps your case moving forward until it is concluded.

Find an attorney you can work with.

Your lawyer will be your partner throughout your case. You may need to confide sensitive or embarrassing information to your attorney – things you would prefer not to tell anyone. You’ll be speaking to your attorney frequently, and you’ll need to be able to provide information and understand your lawyer’s explanations of certain steps in your case or how the law applies in your situation.

Consequently, choosing a lawyer you trust and can communicate with is crucial. While a law firm’s website and other materials provide a good start, don’t base your decision solely on the law firm. Instead, speak to each attorney you’re considering. Ask questions like: Does the attorney have experience with cases like mine? Do they explain things in a way that makes sense to me? Do they answer my questions? Do I feel like I can trust this person?

Interview prospective attorneys with your needs in mind.

Interview prospective attorneys with your needs in mind.

When you contact a law firm to speak to a prospective attorney, be as clear as you can about what you’re looking for. Many lawyers will agree to speak to you for no charge so that both of you can determine whether you’ll be a good “fit” for one another.

While speaking to a prospective attorney, keep the following issues in mind:

  • Does your personality mesh with the attorneys? No matter how experienced a lawyer is, if you do not get along, your case will be more difficult.
  • Communication and promptness. Ask each lawyer how you can contact him or her and how long it will take them to get back to you. Excessive delays or “radio silence” from your lawyer can cause unnecessary aggravation, so choose an attorney who is dedicated to regularly touching base.
  • Willingness to work within your budget. It’s important to talk about money, so that you can get the results you need without draining your bank account. Most attorneys are accustomed to discussing fees and costs up front and will appreciate meeting a prospective client who also understands the need to budget wisely.

Ask for advice, but make your own decision.

Asking friends, family members and co-workers to recommend an attorney is one way to collect information about family law attorneys and law firms in your area. Attorney guides like Martindale-Hubbell or Avvo can also point you to local law firms, as can reading law firm websites and reviews.

No matter where you gather your initial information, however, speak to the lawyer before making your decision. Remember that every family, and every family law case, is unique. Your needs are different from the needs of friends or family members, even if they faced a similar problem. Also, remember to take online reviews with a grain of salt. It may be impossible to tell who posted them or what agenda the writer had when they made the post.

Get help from a family law attorney to get you through troubling times to a brighter future.

 Contact us today to learn more about us and how we can help you.

Pick a lawyer, not a law firm.

The most important relationship is not between the law firm and the client, but between the law partner and a client. Seek out a relationship with an individual partner in a firm as your lawyer. Never have a relationship with a law firm — have a relationship with a lawyer. Make it that partner’s responsibility to manage your case. If your case is passed off to an associate, demand an explanation and demand to know the associate’s experience. If the law partner that drew you to the law firm wants to pass off your case to an associate, then you should be thinking about another firm. Ask the lawyer you meet with this question: “Will you be handling my case?”

Ask yourself: “Do I like this lawyer?”

You must be able to get along with your lawyer. The initial interview is as much about deciding if you can have a working relationship with your attorney as it is finding out about how the law applies to your case. If the lawyer you are meeting with is abrasive, distracted, disorganized, or acts in any other way that does not give you confidence, consider how you will feel later on in the case if you chose this lawyer.

Demand expertise and experience.

It used to be common for North Carolina lawyers to handle all manner of cases from divorce to traffic to real estate. More and more lawyers are limiting their practice to specific fields, including family law. You would not go to a general practitioner for open-heart surgery, and you should be very hesitant about going to a lawyer who does not limit his or her practice to family law matters if you need a divorce.

Fees: Don’t give your lawyer a blank check.

You should be able to get a very good idea of the cost of your case from your Wake County lawyer. Ask if there is an option for a flat fee so you will know what the case will cost you. Unless a lawyer can offer you a flat fee option, you have no way of knowing how much legal representation will cost.

Settlement and litigation.

Settlement and litigation are two sides of the same coin. Most family law cases settle out of court. Some do not. You need a lawyer that is equally comfortable in settlement negotiations and the courtroom. Ask your lawyer what training and experience he or she has had in family law negotiations, mediation, and collaborative law. Ask your lawyer if he or she has the experience to handle your case in court should attempt at settlement fail.

How Courts Work

Steps in a Trial

Civil and Criminal Cases

The law deals with two kinds of cases. Civil cases involve conflicts between people or institutions such as businesses. A civil case usually begins when a person or organization determines that a problem can’t be solved without the intervention of the courts. In civil cases, one (or more) of these persons or organizations brings suit (i.e., files a complaint in court that begins a lawsuit).

Criminal cases involve enforcing public codes of behavior as embodied in the laws, with the government prosecuting individuals or institutions. In a criminal case, the government brings charges against the person alleged to have committed the crime.

What types of cases are civil? Divorce and related lawsuits (child support, custody, and the like) account for a very large number of civil cases. Cases involving contracts are also frequent. Automobile collisions account for many tort (personal injury) cases, another common kind of civil case. An auto collision gives rise to a civil case if one driver sues the other, or if a passenger in one of the cars sues either driver. An auto collision might also lead to a criminal case, if it involves allegations of a crime such as drunken driving or leaving the scene of an accident.

In many parts of the world, civil and criminal legal actions are combined into one case, but in our country they are not. If there are serious civil and criminal aspects of an event, there will be two (or more) distinct cases. An example would be a crime leading to a criminal trial of the defendant, with the victims filing a separate civil suit against the defendant to recover damages caused by the crime.