1. How many areas of law do you/your firm practice?
Think of a law firm like a doctor’s office. If you want an annual check-up, you may go to your general medical practitioner; however, if you require heart surgery, you will want to go to a heart surgeon (not your general medical practitioner). Law firms work a lot in the same way. There are attorneys and law firms that practice a lot of areas of law; therefore, they are generally considered a general legal practitioner. They are wonderful for that traffic ticket and for review of your apartment rental agreement. In comparison, there are some law firms, such as Modern Legal, that focus on one area of law – our firm focuses specifically on Family Law. If you want to make sure the legal ‘dissection’ of your family and finances is in good hands, then you want to go to an attorney or law firm that is focused on the area of law in which you need assistance.
2. After explaining your story, ask if the attorney and/or their team is comfortable handling such a case. It is possible that you have arrived at a family law firm for your initial consultation; however, utilize that consultation to make sure you have found the right fit. For example: I know a lot of family law attorneys that do not like to handle domestic violence matters, and I would not want a client to end up with such an attorney. Finding an attorney is like shopping for shoes, just because the shoe is in your size does not mean you found the right pair of shoes for you and your goals.
3. How is a legal case handled by your team? Depending on the firm structure and the attorney you are speaking to at the consultation, your case may actually be “handed-off” to another attorney and rarely reviewed with the attorney that you met with. I see it often at other firms where a client expected one attorney to be the lead attorney on their case, but then the client ends up talking to or appearing in Court with another attorney for the duration of their case. Yes, emergencies and unique circumstances happen where the attorney will need another attorney to fill in, but you, the client, should always know how your case will be handled once you retain.
4. How much are your fees? No attorney can predict how much a family law matter will cost (if someone acts like they do, run); however, understanding a law firm’s fee structure can give you a better idea of what you are signing up for. Such fees include an initial consultation fee, a hiring fee, an administrative fee, an attorney’s hourly rate, a support staff member’s hourly rate, travel fees, supplies, and the firm may even charge back to the client every single expense on a case (for example: copy charges, postage, faxes, research database charges, parking fees, etc.).
5. What is your payment structure? What happens if I begin to run out of money to pay for legal services? Some law firms or attorneys will run invoices weekly, biweekly or monthly, and then expect immediate payment. Others will give some grace period. Some law firms also may charge additional fees if invoices remain unpaid for a certain amount of time, and even pursue a collections lawsuit though which the firm will ask for reimbursement of costs and attorney fees. Details such as this will likely be found in the fee engagement contract. It is important that your attorney understands such a structure as well. My team ensures that all of our clients are explained the fee and payment structure. If a client begins to feel a financial strain, then we discuss options moving forward to get ahead of the problem, before the money runs out. At no time should a client feel like they are being taken advantage of financially; rather, there should be an open and ongoing discourse between the client and the attorney and law firm.
If you or somebody you know is looking for a family law attorney, our team at Modern Legal is here to help.
Please note: these educational materials are based on North Carolina law where my legal practice is based. While the insights may have wide applicability, readers should consult with an attorney regarding the specific laws in their state or country.
Written by: Theresa E. Viera
