What to Look for in a California Divorce Lawyer
If you are pursuing a divorce in California, you might feel as though you have an arduous process ahead of you. The first step is always the same: Get in touch with a qualified, experienced divorce attorney. If you act with care and consideration when taking this first step, you can make your divorce easier, less stressful, and faster. But how exactly do you choose a suitable divorce lawyer in California? After all, you are probably approaching this decision with virtually no legal experience. What makes a good divorce lawyer? What kinds of characteristics should you look for?
Experience
The first thing you should look for in a California divorce lawyer is experience. When a lawyer has been helping divorcing spouses for years, they have seen all kinds of different situations. As such, they will have developed a number of different strategies to overcome a number of common issues. Attending a prestigious law school is one thing, but you cannot beat the “on-the-job” training of actually practicing law for a long period of time. When you meet with a prospective lawyer, ask them how long they have been practicing law and how many family law cases they have handled.
Qualifications
Qualifications are also important. That being said, most divorce lawyers have the same general qualifications, as the law is a heavily regulated profession. If you want to practice law in California, you must generally complete an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) before attending law school. From there, they must study for at least three years to complete their law degree. This means that the average lawyer spends about seven years studying at university before practicing law. But attending law school is not the only requirement, and lawyers must also pass the California Bar. This is a standardized, challenging test that all lawyers must pass before working with clients. Most lawyers spend months studying before taking the Bar.
Your Gut Feeling
At the end of the day, going with your gut feeling is never a bad call. You can get a sense of a lawyer’s personality by booking an initial, no-obligation consultation. After a few minutes of chatting, you should be able to determine whether you see yourself working with this individual long-term. You might not have any legal experience, but you can still judge someone’s character to the best of your abilities.
Look Out for Questionable Recommendations
Last, but not least, be wary of questionable recommendations. If someone recommends a particular lawyer, ask yourself why they are doing this. Do they actually have experience working with this attorney? Are they being paid to make these recommendations?
Where Can I Find a Qualified Divorce Lawyer in California?
If you have been searching for a qualified, experienced divorce attorney in California, consider booking a consultation with RM Law Group today. During your first consultation, we can discuss the specifics of your situation. You can also take the opportunity to ask us any questions that might be on your mind. From there, you can decide whether you would like to move forward with an action plan. Reach out now to get the ball rolling.
Jason Martinez is a co-founding partner of RM Law Group, LLP. His practice focuses exclusively on California Family Law and community property division, including litigation and settlement of complex and high-conflict divorce and child custody proceedings. Jason understands that divorce and family law issues have long-term effects on all family members, especially the children.
