8 Things to Know Before Hiring a Family Law Attorney

When you’re looking for a family attorney in Austin, TX, you need someone who’s not just skilled in dealing with this aspect of the law but also someone with experience in the local Austin, TX area. More than that, you need someone with the demeanor and outlook that will make the whole process as smooth as possible for you and your family. Here are some things to look into before you hire a family law attorney.

8 Things to Know Before Hiring a Family Law Attorney

1. The Attorney’s Area of Specialization

The law is very broad, and an attorney who would be great helping you prosecute a personal injury case will not be the one who can best help you with your divorce, domestic violence issues, or adoption. Look for a firm that specializes particularly in family law and dedicates itself solely to this area.

This means that not only will the individual lawyer assigned to your case have the experience you need, but also, when they seek counsel and advice from other lawyers in the firm, you’ll know everyone involved has experience in family law.

2. The Attorney’s Approach to Cases

Attorneys will always take different approaches depending on their experience, personality, and the types of family law cases they tend to work. Some are likely to work more on domestic violence and restraining orders or contentious divorce. Others will have special experience in mediation for child custody or property division. Still others will particularly enjoy working on adoption cases.

You want an attorney whose approach to the case is going to align with what do you need done and what you hope to accomplish, and this is another benefit to working with a family law firm. With multiple lawyers working within the firm, and all in family law, it’s easy to find someone with an approach that works well for your case.

3. Availability and Communication

Family law is often one of the most emotional areas to work, and a lot of the issues involved are very time-sensitive. What if you needed help getting a restraining order against an abusive spouse, tonight? Would your lawyer be there for you? You want a lawyer who is available and whose communication style works for you.

Before you hire, ask about how the attorney and the firm communicate with their clients, how frequently you can expect updates, and what happens if you have an emergency need. As you get answers to these questions, note the communication style being used right from the beginning, as this is likely what you can expect through the rest of the process.

4. Fee Structure and Billing Practices

For your own peace of mind and for clarity moving forward, be sure to ask about the fee structure and billing practices before you make a commitment to work with any particular firm or attorney. You want to understand how all the fees will be calculated, what services will be included in the fee, and any additional fees or cost that the attorney thinks might possibly be required. These might include fees for expert witnesses, for example, if you were involved in a divorce and needed help with asset division.

5. The Attorney’s Reputation and References

A good family law attorney who is well established in the San Antonio, TX area will not only have former clients who can provide insight into the kind of service they render but will also have a presence in the larger legal community. The state bar association will speak well of them. You will be able to find positive reviews and testimonials easily online. They will likely have awards from their peers. Take your time and do your due diligence here, so you can have confidence you’re working with a well-established, credible, and accomplished firm.

6. Compatibility and Comfort

Because family law cases require the discussion of very personal information, it’s more important here than almost anywhere that you be able to completely trust your attorney to keep your information private, to work always in your best interests, and to have sensitivity and empathy to what you’re going through. You should be looking for an attorney with that combination of compassion and professionalism that means they can act objectively in giving you advice and in negotiations, while never losing sight of the human element and what you’re going through.

Additionally, a good attorney-client relationship depends on trust, so you want to choose someone you feel comfortable with right from the beginning. Go with your gut here and pay attention during the consultation to how you’re made to feel. Does the attorney answer your questions? Do they seem happy to do so, or annoyed? Do they seem to care more about their fee than about what you’re going through? Do they make pie-in-the-sky promises, or do they seem to be compassionately helping you manage your expectations?

7. The Attorney’s Case Load

This is a bit of a balancing act. On the one hand, when an attorney is handling lots of cases, this usually means they are competent, qualified, and in high demand. On the other hand, if they have too large a caseload, there’s always a risk you might slip through the cracks, and they might compromise the level of attention needed for your case.

Ask about the current caseload directly, and be sure even to ask how the attorney manages their caseload. When an attorney is part of a team in a law firm with other lawyers, paralegals, and support staff, they can usually handle quite a bit more because everything moves more efficiently.

8. Whether the Attorney Has Trial Experience

Many issues of family law are resolved through negotiations and mediation, and this is always the ideal whenever possible. However, it’s inevitable for some cases to go to trial, and if your case gets contentious, issues could arise that require the court to intervene. In this case, having an attorney who has lots of trial experience is extremely important. Only by experience does a lawyer build up the skills needed to represent clients effectively before a judge.

This is often especially important when you’re dealing with a complex case. This could be, for example, a divorce that involves significant assets or contentions over a custody dispute. It might also be critical in domestic abuse situations or working out common law marriage situations. In Texas, jurisdictional issues related to children can be very difficult, since it’s easy for children to be taken across state and even country borders. At the Evans Family Law Group, we have seen and dealt with all these situations and have the experience to protect you and your family, even in the most difficult of situations.

If you are looking for a firm who can help you with any area of family law, with experience both in and out of the courtroom to represent you effectively, and who will approach the case with the empathy and professionalism you need to make this process go as smoothly as possible, in San Antonio, the Evans Family Law Group is the one to call. We have more than a decade of experience, many happy clients we can refer you to, and the most important thing: genuine interest in what’s best for you. Contact the Evans family law group today for a free consultation.