By: Kate Critchfield
Director of Operations, Paralegal
Front Range Family Lawyers, a Division of Edmonds & Logue
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, but I work for two attorneys that, in my opinion, kick-butt (and no, they did not pay me to say that). But in all seriousness, I cannot and am not giving any legal advice. Any opinions listed below are my own, and this article is for informational purposes only.
Are you equipped with the tools to find a family law attorney who specializes in protecting your interests? Deciding to file for divorce is a major step—one that’s rarely taken lightly. As you weigh the consequences and the road ahead, the next challenge arises: finding the right attorney to guide you through the process.
Where do I start?
There are plenty of free resources on the web where you can start looking for a good lawyer to fit your needs. To start, you can look at websites like Justia https://www.justia.com/lawyers. These resources are helpful if you want to search for a specific attorney to handle your case.
KEY TIP: If you find a specific attorney that you like, look up that attorney on the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel website, https://www.coloradolegalregulation.com/attorney-search/. You can look up an attorney by name on this site and find out whether they have had any disciplinary history with the Colorado Bar, which will give you insight into whether that lawyer has cut corners or been unethical in their practice. You can also see if that attorney has a current license, has professional liability insurance, the date that the attorney was admitted to the bar, contact information and the attorney’s bar number.
But if you are like me and many other people, you are just going to plain Google it. It’s easy, simple and gets results. But here’s the catch – businesses pay Google to be sponsored, and smart businesses are going to maximize their Google Business Profile. What does that mean? They are trying to get the most stars and google reviews, as well as use what is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as a business strategy to keep their law firm at the top of the Google Search results. This does not mean that they are the best law firm out there, nor does it mean that they are a good fit for you. Don’t get me wrong, they could be great. I just personally recommend looking deeper than the most sponsored and popular law firms listed on Google.
What Else Should I Look For?
Specialization
First and foremost, you should look for an experienced attorney that specialized in family law. You do not want an attorney that dabbles in every kind of law or specializes in another kind of law to represent you when you are dealing with delicate matters that have a huge impact on your life. You also want to make sure that they have several years of experience practicing family law, because let’s be honest, no one wants to be the guinea pig for an attorney who is fresh from law school.
Free Initial Consultation
Another thing you should look for with a good attorney: a free 30-minute initial consultation.
Why does that matter? Because a good attorney should also be evaluating whether they think your case is a good fit for them too, and they should NOT be charging you money for that assessment. All good lawyers want to make sure that they can give you the absolute best legal services possible for your situation, which ultimately means that there may be times when they feel another attorney would do a better job getting you exactly what you need. That may be frustrating in the moment, but trust me, this is a quality of an ethical attorney who is looking out for your best interests.
Communication Skills
Another thing you can assess in an initial consultation with an attorney is their communication skills, which will be crucial for working with you as a client. They should be able to clearly and concisely explain legal concepts so that you can make the most informed choices in the legal process. This will also be crucial for that attorney to effectively work with other parties/attorneys in your case.
You want an attorney that will keep you updated on the progress of your case. This does not mean that they will be able to talk to you daily, even though you might be anxiously awaiting a decision, or a specific legal action to occur. It means that anytime that something important happens with your case, your attorney will be in contact, making sure that you are informed and prepared for the next steps in your case.
Then you need to be on the lookout for communication red flags during the initial consultation, such as if an attorney is:
- Disengaged: if an attorney seems disconnected or distracted, bored or is not engaging with you by asking relevant questions during the consultation, they will treat you the same way or worse while they represent you.
- Vague: if an attorney is not transparent about the process, their billing practices or is indirect in answering your questions, you may not fully understand the impact specific steps in the process have towards your goals, which may lead to you not getting the results you want.
- Over promising: if an attorney is telling you that they can get you everything you want and more, and it sounds way too good… it probably is over-promising. Many times, you can’t get everything you want in a family law or divorce case and will have to compromise on some points. A good lawyer will be upfront with you about what you can and can’t do.
But It All Comes Down To… Your Gut
I asked my mentor, attorney Jeff Logue, about his thoughts on finding the right lawyer for you. Here’s what he said:
“You have to feel comfortable with the Lawyer you pick. Divorce is an extremely personal experience and many personal things dealing with your relationship are going to be revealed to your Lawyer. Having a relationship with your Lawyer needs to be open and free of Judgment and/or shame. You should feel like your Lawyer is in this case WITH you, not just alongside you.”
And I agree 150 percent with Jeff. YOU are the expert in your situation. What your gut is telling you about an attorney is for a reason. Your family law attorney should have your back, and you should be able to feel that.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your intuition and keep looking for the right fit. You can and you should be picky because this is your life, your finances, your kids that are being affected. You need to know that your best interests are in knowledgeable, trust-worthy hands. It is worth the time and effort to consult with several attorneys until you find the right fit, rather than not trusting your gut then finding out half-way through your case that your attorney is not representing your interests the way you want.
Quick Recap
I know that was a lot of information, so in case you don’t have the time to read the entire article, here is a quick recap.
When looking for a good family law attorney:
1. Find a lawyer or firm via sites like Justia (https://www.justia.com/lawyers), Super Lawyers, (https://www.superlawyers.com/) or Google
2. Check out an attorney’s disciplinary history on the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Website (https://www.coloradolegalregulation.com/attorney-search/)
3. Make sure that attorney/firm is specialized in family law
4. Make sure that attorney/firm offers free initial consultations
5. Make sure that attorney/firm can effectively communicate with you
6. Make sure that you trust your gut
7. And if needed, make sure that you keep looking until you find the right fit
In Conclusion
Divorce is undoubtedly one of the most challenging decisions in life but navigating it with the right family law attorney can make a world of difference in getting you the support and advocacy you need for your situation. By focusing on an attorney’s specialization, communication skills, ethical practices, and, most importantly, trusting your instincts, you can find a family law attorney who understands your unique situation and will prioritize your best interests. Take your time, ask the right questions, and don’t settle for less than what feels right. Remember, this journey is about securing the future you deserve, and with the right guidance, you’ll be ready to take the next steps with confidence.
I truly wish you all the best in your situation, whatever you may be facing, and I hope that these blog articles can give you just a little bit of direction.
__________________
If you want to reach out to us, you can reach us at 970-893-0685. Or if email works better, please email either Jeff Logue at jeffl@frontrangefamilylawyers.comor Morgan Minser, Senior Attorney at morgan@frontrangefamilylawyers.com.
Want to read more of my articles? Check them out here: https://frontrangefamilylawyers.com/blog
For more videos on Family Law Topics, please check out our website at https://frontrangefamilylawyers.com/video
For more information about our attorneys, please check us at out
https://frontrangefamilylawyers.com/our-attorneys
