How to find a good attorney

[emcguffie]

Hi, everybody. I haven't been around much in ages...

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about finding a good divorce attorney? (This doesn't seem to be an appropriate post in this forum, but you guys are the only ones I have any familiarity with at all at DU.)

I've been putting it off for eons for fear of getting one that's no good. But things have come to a really nasty head here at home and I need to do something about it.

I've looked online and have lists and lists of family law attorneys in my neck of the woods. One of them that I have checked out is on those "best of attorneys" kind of lists.

I need someone who is pretty tough and hard headed and who will go to bat for me here in NJ, with their community property laws.

ETM

[Proud_Lefty]

1. Check the local Bar Association

Many of them have referral services. You can also check with local attorney services and ask them for a referral for a good family law attorney. I used to work for family law attorneys for many years. In fact, only a year and a half ago, I was working for a law firm where the main partner took on a retiring attorney's family law practice. It was extremely disheartening and I had to get out of there in a bad way. People came in and paid $2,500 for the retainer on their credit cards! My heart broke for every single one of them. Those retainer would go quickly with the attorney rate at over $300 per hour and very little was accomplished. If you're looking for the "best", be ready to pay dearly for it.

When my brother and sister-in-law broke up last year, I pleaded with them to work it out between themselves and not throw away all their property to these attorneys. They did and are both happy with that decision. Other friends that couldn't work out their differences, I either helped them process the paperwork or recommended they go to a paralegal service - much cheaper. If you do get an attorney, be very careful that they are diligent at keeping the costs down.

I hope you can work through this ordeal without the stress or expense.

[Flying Dream Blues]

2. If you haven't had luck with friends and such, you might try calling a few marriage and family

therapists, and seeing if you can get a referral that way. They usually know the reputations of the local divorce attorneys. Also, this may sound weird, but my hairdresser is always a GREAT source for anything like that; they hear it all.

I've been there, and i know it's not easy. I wish you luck and just keep going forward as you are...you'll get through it! And I hope you'll come to this board for support whenever you need it...a lot of great people here!
:hug:

[Sanity Claws]

3. Do you know any attorneys who practice in NJ?

It doesn't matter if they don't practice family law. If you know an attorney, ask him/her for a referral. When I practiced, I used to keep a list of good attorneys in certain areas because people always asked for one.
If you don't know an attorney, do you have any family/ friends who used an attorney in the past couple of years? If so, ask the family or friend to get a referral from their attorney.
The bar association is not a bad place to start. I don't know what county you're in but if you're in Bergen, for example, look up "Bergen County Bar Association" and then look for attorney referral.

I'm sorry that things are such that you feel a need to consult an attorney. I wish you the best of luck.

[northernlights]

4. martindales.com

Many attorneys register there. The best of them are peer-reviewed and rated. You can search by specialty and geography, or by name if you want to check to see if one that's been recommended has been rated.

[NJCher]

5. I have some ideas

I was going to call you this afternoon anyway.



Cher

[davsand]

6. Oh, man, I am sorry you are dealing with this!

If you know anybody that does practice law locally call them and ask who THEY would hire. Do not hire a friend, and do not hire without talking to them first. You might also ask your circle of friends and workmates if THEY have used anyone for a contested divorce and would THEY suggest anyone. If you know a guy that got raped by his WIFE in a divorce find out who HER attorney was and hire THAT lawyer.

Frankly, I'll tell you that if you think the divorce is gonna be ugly you want a junkyard DOG--and nothing less. You don't have to like your attorney on a personal level (and you may not if they are the kind of shark you want to have) you just need to feel they are out to get all they can for you.

Sorry, but after working inside the legal system for a few years I have come to the realization that nobody ever wants to need a lawyer, nobody ever wants to PAY a lawyer, but if you do need one, get the biggest asshole on the block and hire HIM/HER to represent your interests.



Laura