Knowing where to turn to for legal advice when you’re in the midst of a divorce can be a challenge in its own right. So how do you find a good divorce lawyer?
First of all, ask your friends. Everyone knows someone who has got divorced; you probably know more than one. Ask them if they’d recommend the solicitor they used (or perhaps even the solicitor on the other side). If you have an accountant or a financial adviser, ask them who they would recommend; they are bound to have dealt with divorce lawyers in the past when acting for their own clients.
Secondly, check out the solicitor online. Look at his or her firm’s website and see what sort of experience they have. You may be able to glean some idea of how they work; for example are they an old-fashioned type who does everything through the courts or are they the newer type who use collaborative law or mediation as well as litigation.
Thirdly, check to see if the solicitor is a member of Resolution, a solicitors’ organisation which is dedicated to the constructive resolution of disputes. The fact that a solicitor is a member is a good sign as it means that he or she will comply with Resolution’s Code of Practice. If they are listed, it also means that they specialise in family law and don’t just dabble in the occasional divorce. The solicitor may also be a Resolution accredited specialist, meaning that he or she is a proven expert in family law.
Finally, call the solicitor. Most solicitors will be wary of giving free advice during an initial telephone call as they won’t be able to until they have met you and discussed your case in detail. However, they can give you information about how they work and about options like collaborative law or mediation, as well as providing details of what they charge. More importantly, it gives you a chance to size them up and to decide whether or not you’d like to consult them face to face. Most solicitors will be happy to arrange an initial consultation for a discounted fee so that you can find out what your legal position and options are without being committed to taking matters further unless and until you are ready to do so.