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Lawyer – client relationship

© Annelies Mouring

Many divorced parents are troubled at one time or another with a non-compliant parent. Many times issues can be resolved with relatively little if no legal intervention. However, there are many times that require court fights, appeals and lengthy legal battles over complex legal issues. When forced with a complex legal situation, many cannot and choose not to fight these type of issues pro se or without legal representation. Instead, a lawyer must be hired. Since legal representation in most situations can not be on a contingency basis, or based on a percentage for a legal award, most family attorneys charge hourly legal fees. Once you have chosen an attorney to handle your legal issues then what? Can you expect certain events? What is an estimated time table? What should the relationship be like?

Map out a plan It is essential to know what you expect in any type of professional relationship. You can not walk into a Doctor’s office and say that you have pain and expect that the Doctor can heal you. The doctor has to know where the pain is. A lawyer is the same way. You can’t expect a lawyer to fix the legal problems without knowing what needs fixing. So in order to know where to fix, you need to know what needs fixing and what type of result will make you happy. If the attorney knows your objectives then they will try and help you meet them.

Know the limitations Many questions don’t have answers. Many problems don’t have solutions. If you ex-spouse does not have a known address then you can’t expect child support to start within a month. Attorneys may be able to hire an investigator that MIGHT find the ex, but then it might take years.

Ask questions Understand what advice the attorney is giving you. If you don’t understand –then ask until you understand. You can’t follow the advice until you do. Most attorneys will be happy to explain their answers. If not, then maybe this attorney is not the right one.

Don’t be fooled by BIG names and expensive fees. Just because an attorney has been around the block a few times does not always mean that they are the best. Its possible that they went the wrong way! The amount of fees charged by an attorney can be indicative of their experience, but could also be a reflection of their oversized ego. Many times experience does make a good attorney, but just because they are part of a large firm does not mean they are the best. Remember the story of David and Goliath? Stay with an attorney because you like the job they are doing, not the prestige. If you need prestige – buy an expensive car or a Van Gogh.