Orange County Family Law Blog | Huggins Family Law | Orange County Divorce Attorney and Child Custody Lawyer Robin C. Huggins

Orange County Family Law Blog

Something that I'd like to share with the general public is the topic of how to select a lawyer. Something that I see happen a lot is a situation like this: A person will be served with a legal paper of some sort, they will panic, open the phone book and begin to randomly call one lawyer after another. If one lawyer is not available to take their call, they will go onto the next lawyer...until someone has answered their call and assuaged their hysteria (temporarily). The problem with this technique is that sometimes the attorney that happens to be available for their call is either a new lawyer or a lawyer with no client base. With 50% of marriages ending in divorce coupled with the fact that we live in Orange County, California, family law attorneys in Orange County are busier then ever. So how should a person select a lawyer? I would first try to find one by referral from a trusted family member or friend. But that is a means for introduction only. Just because you were referred to that lawyer does not mean that is the lawyer for you. Always trust your instincts.

If referral is not an option, then turn to advertising either by phone book, directories or the internet. If you are cold-calling a lawyer (meaning you do not know them from Adam) then I strongly suggest that you 1) are patient and not acting on impulse; 2) that you wait a reasonable amount of time for a return call (up to two days); 3) that you interview several lawyers; 4) that you write your questions down and bring any legal documents with you to your consultation; 5) and again, that you trust your instincts. A lot of attorneys will act very persuasively to get you to sign with them at the first opportunity. Having a "hard sell" done to you is not right and should be a warning sign to you. If it doesn't feel right, then sleep on it. Ask for a copy of their retainer agreement to take home with you (and read it!). Feel free to ask the attorney how long they have been in practice and what percentage of their practice is devoted to family law. Even if the attorney has been in practice for many years, ask them how long they have been practicing family law. Sometimes lawyers change fields or add onto their existing practice and it is key to know how long that attorney has practiced family law. Ask the attorney what their approach is to a case - do they attempt to settle matters or do they proceed straight to litigation? By settling issues earlier, the client tends to save more money. Litigation is expensive. However, a good attorney will seek court assistance when necessary if settlement discussions break down.

Another topic for discussion is the fact that prospective clients will occasionally ask, "Are you a shark?" What that person is usually intending to ask is whether I am aggressive in my representation. I will explain to such a person that 1) sharks and the "shark approach" increases the cost of their action; 2) a shark approach is often not the wisest first course of action. However, any attorney is capable of taking a "shark approach" but is that going to get the client's desire fulfilled? If the client desires to badger and bully the other party, then the client needs to realize that behavior can result in sanctions or penalties being imposed against the lawyer, the client, or both. If the client desires to give the impression that he/she won't be bullied and will seek all fair redress in their action, then that is an acceptable goal.

Orange County Family Law Blog

Welcome to my new website
Posted February 28, 2008 by Robin Huggins
Welcome to my website and blog. I will be posting articles and opinions from time to time about subjects pertaining to family law. I invite you to check back often.

Law Office of Robin C. Huggins • Affordable Divorce Solutions • Phone: (949) 713-3817 or (949) 459-2103
30021 Tomas Street, Ste. 300 • Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 92688 • Fax (949) 713-4827

Serving the divorce and child custody legal needs for the Orange County, California communities of: Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Atwood, Beach Center, Brea, Bristol, Brookhurst Center, Buena Park, Capistrano Beach, Center Ave, Corona del Mar, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Diamond, Dove Canyon, East Irvine, El Toro, Federal, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Holiday, Huntington, Huntington Beach, Industrial, Irvine, King, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Palma, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mesa Center, Midway City, Mission Viejo, Modjeska, Modjeska Canyon, Monarch Bay, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Orange, Placentia, Playa, Portola Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Robinson Ranch, Rossmoor, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Heights, Seal Beach, Silverado, South Laguna, South Laguna Beach, South Main, Stanton, Sunkist, Sunset Beach, Surfside, Trabuco, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin, Villa Park, Vista del Mar, Westminster and Yorba Linda, CA. | www.HugginsFamilyLaw.com | www.RobinHuggins.com | www.IDoFamilyLaw.com