Picking a Divorce Attorney

To achieve his certification, Gurlanick was subjected to an intense application process. He had to provide written recommendations by lawyers and judges and prove he had served numerous years in the family law field. He was also subjected to a complex exam. “If you pass the exam and jump through the hoops, you get to say you’re board certified,” Guralnick said.

Unfortunately not all states offer board certification. “If you are in a state that does it, you should find someone who has gone to the trouble to be board certified,” he said. Zundel adds the phone book can be a good place to track down potential lawyers. Always start with the directory. Usually attorneys who hold out as having experience in a specific area qualify,” he said.  

MEETING A PROSPECT

Finding a lawyer you may want to hire is the easy part. Once you have narrowed down a list of potentials, you should meet with the attorneys on your list. “When you go in and see a lawyer you should first of all judge the person by the sense of a character your get from them,” Guralnick said. “Many cases last a year or more and you need to be able to forge a relationship with the person.”

Guralnick said to beware of lawyers who appear evasive or who rush you during the assimilation process. “Lawyers should be open,” he said, “In order to achieve a good fit with a lawyer, you need to be able to talk to him.”

According to Guralnick, one of the biggest issues between lawyers and clients is communication. “Lawyers are in trouble all the time with their clients over lack of communication,” he said. So finding a lawyer you can be honest with is especially important. After you have met a potential lawyer, the discussion of legal fees and a retainer agreement will no doubt come into play.

Guralnick encourages clients to take part in these conversations. “There is no fixed price in any legal business … the hourly rate is negotiable,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be shy, you can talk about these things.”

According to the American Bar Association, it is also a good idea to review specific charges with the attorney. Details such as how fees are calculated, what extra expenses you may be responsible for and approximately how long the divorce may take should be asked during the first meeting. Additionally, if you don’t understand something after it has been explained to you, ask again until you fully comprehend the answer.

Next comes the retainer agreement. “If a lawyer presents a retainer agreement that is more than a page long, may want to take it home and look at it,” Guralnick said. While most of us have signed off on handfuls of various agreements in our lifetime without reading them, Guralnick cautions against it. “You assume it must be okay,” he said. “Don’t make those assumptions necessarily in the legal business.”

Along with legal fees, Guralnick recommends reviewing the main issues of your case with the attorney. For example, a client whose spouse has a lot of assets that have been moved around and hidden will need an experienced attorney. “You know if you are a husband or wife in this relationship, you need a lawyer with trial experience … or this divorce is going to be over his head,” Guralnick said. “There are many specialized cases out there. You need to come in prepared with the technical questions.”  

Casey Clark Ney is a freelance journalist based in Boise, Idaho. She holds a B.A. in Communication and has more than six years experience in newspaper and magazine writing. Her Web site can be viewed at www.CaseyClarkNey.com. E-mail correspondences can be sent to caseyclarkney@earthlink.net.