Referrals

State, county, and city bar associations also usually make referrals to lawyers. Bar associations vary in the degree to which they screen lawyers to whom they make referrals. Some bar associations will make referrals to lawyers who declare themselves available to practice in a particular field. Other bar associations may require lawyers to submit proof that the lawyer has experience in the area. When calling a bar association’s general telephone number, ask for the association’s lawyer referral service.

If you are looking for a lawyer and you are low on funds, a possible source of help is a law school’s legal clinic. Legal clinics will sometimes take family law cases at no charge or at a low charge to the client. Clinics are staffed by law students working under the supervision of professors and attorneys. If the law school clinic is not able to take your case, the clinic may be able to refer you to other low-cost legal services.

Legal Assistance Foundations (LAFs) have been established in some areas. LAFs are not-for-profit organizations that offer free or discounted legal help in civil cases, including family law cases.

Other sources of referrals to lawyers working in family law can be the Yellow Pages, newspaper ads, or the Internet. As with any advertising, the phrase “Let the buyer beware” applies.

Friends and colleagues (including lawyers who work in areas other than family law) may also be able to recommend a lawyer. If a friend is basing a recommendation on personal experience, try to find out more about the friend’s case and how similar the friend’s case is to yours--what was at issue? Property? Support? Custody? How complicated was the case? How diligent and approachable was the lawyer?

Within the area of family law, lawyers also may specialize or have areas in which they perform particularly well (or not so well). Some lawyers are masterful at finding hidden assets and dealing with complex financial issues, but the same lawyer may not be as talented at handling the high emotions and more subjective issues of a custody case. Some lawyers are good at both. When talking with a lawyer, try to get a sense of the lawyer’s experience and enjoyment of the types of issues in your case.