You may wish to see a lawyer because you are thinking about separating from your spouse, you have already been served with a divorce application, or you are about to get married or separated and want to enter into a domestic contract. There are many reasons to see a family lawyer. You may not be ready to retain a lawyer but simply want to know and understand your rights. Family law can be very complex and confusing for a self-represented party. While you can represent yourself, a lawyer can provide you with individualized advice on what your options are and what to expect if you decide to go to court.
There are many lawyers in Greater Toronto Area and it can be difficult to decide which lawyer is right for you. Make sure you do your research and find a lawyer who is a good fit. Here are some tips and questions to keep in mind if you are shopping for a family lawyer in Toronto or the Halton Region.
1) Write down your questions
It may seem obvious, but you should bring a list of questions prepared in advance to ask the lawyer at your initial consultation. You may be nervous for the first consultation so writing the questions in advance will ensure that you don’t forget to ask them. The advantages of this are two-fold as the way that your lawyer answers the questions will provide great insight as to their confidence level and knowledge.
2) Ask your lawyer what experience they have with your legal issue
Your lawyer should be frank with you with respect to their level of experience in dealing with your particular legal matter. For example, some lawyers are specialized in collaborative law and rarely go to court while other lawyers are trial lawyers and well versed in the rules of evidence. This is crucial if your matter is likely to go to trial. Or, if you wish to separate with a domestic contract, then it may be best to see a lawyer who specializes in collaborative law.
3) Check CanLii
Has your lawyer argued a motion or gone to trial? Reported decisions are published online on CanLii. If your lawyer argues contested motions or has gone to trial, check CanLii to see what types of cases they have handled.
4) Trust your Intuition
Do you have the sense that your lawyer read your situation correctly? Did your lawyer take the time to listen to you without interrupting every 5 seconds? How your lawyer converses with you in the first consultation is a preview of their overall communication style and if they would be a good fit for you. You need to be able to work with your lawyer and feel comfortable asking them questions. Your lawyer should also ask you questions so that they do not miss any relevant points that are important to your case. Clients often do not know what is important and so the first consultation is important to canvass all the key information.
5) Honesty and Integrity
An honest lawyer is worth their weight in gold. The importance of being represented by an ethical lawyer with a good reputation cannot be underestimated in terms of bolstering your own credibility. This is especially important if your matter goes to court and your lawyer attends regularly. Judges get to know members of the bar and they will remember if your lawyer did something unprofessional. Check lawyeratings.com and google ratings to see if your lawyer has any negative reviews. While sometimes disgruntled clients will leave sham reviews, if there are multiple complaints against a lawyer with the same type of complaint, you may wish to reconsider going to that lawyer.
Deciding which lawyer to retain can be a daunting decision. If you have time, consult with two or three lawyers so you get a better sense of which lawyer would be the best fit for you. However, anything more than that will likely confuse you. The lawyer should not pressure you to sign a retainer in the first consultation.
Ana Kraljevic Law Firm is a respected law firm in Etobicoke. We offer a no-obligation, complimentary 15-minute consultation.