Theodore E. B. Einhorn Commercial Law Blog on Lawyers.com

There are few more difficult decisions to make than to end your marriage. If that isn’t difficult enough, now you need to choose the right lawyer to represent you throughout your divorce proceedings. How can you find and retain the right New Jersey divorce attorney to protect your best interests?

Referrals

Sad as it is to say, you probably know at least one other person that has gone through a divorce already – a family member, a friend, maybe your dentist or co-worker.  Any of these may know an attorney they can recommend.  Ask them what they did and didn’t like about how their lawyer handled their case. You may find yourself with several attorneys’ names from which to choose. Pare them down to three or four to research more closely.

Research

Look up your chosen few online. Check out their education, the number of years they’ve practiced divorce law, and the types of divorce issues they’ve handled in the past. Find out what certifications they hold, what awards or recognition they received, and if they have published articles, teach, hold office in Bar Associations, or if any of their cases have been published. Contact the firm and request past client referrals, then contact these clients and find out if they were satisfied with the outcome of their divorce and how the lawyer handled their case.

Ask Questions

Put together a list of questions and call your top contenders. Some possible queries:

¿ Is there an upfront retainer for your services? How much is that?
¿ What other fees do you charge?
¿ How long does a standard divorce take to finalize?
¿ (After a short description of your situation) Have you handled divorces involving issues like mine successfully?

Location, Location, Location

You want to make sure your New Jersey divorce lawyer is a reasonable distance so you can come by for consultations without a long commute. You also want the lawyer handling your divorce to be local so that he or she has a depth of experience in your county. A local attorney will have prior relationships with the courts and judges in the area, which can definitely be advantageous.

Money is an Object

Make sure you know from the beginning what your lawyer charges, including retainer and consultation fees, hourly rates, expenses you are expected to cover, etc. While cost isn’t the only consideration, if all other factors are equal it is certainly reasonable to use affordability to tilt the scale in one lawyer’s favor over another.

Is the Lawyer Right for You?

In the end, the best way to evaluate whether your prospective lawyer is a good choice is by gauging how you feel after meeting with the attorney.

¿ Did the attorney treat you with respect?
¿ Do you feel like they really listened to what you had to say?
¿ Did they offer understanding and sympathy as well as advice?
¿ Do you feel confident that they care about your case?
¿ Do they have the expertise to protect your rights and interests?

You’re going to be depending on your lawyer a lot throughout your divorce. High comfort and confidence levels are absolutely necessary for evaluating whether a lawyer is right for you. In order to feel confident that you’ve chosen the right divorce representation, get advice, perform research, and, in the end, trust your instincts.

Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost
165 East Main Street
Denville, NJ 07834