5 Types of Family Lawyers to Avoid

Knowing the types of family lawyers to avoid may mean everything in your family law case. Not all family lawyers are created equal, and I have personally met some family lawyers that I would never ever deal with again. So why should you? After all, going through a family law battle is one of the most challenging things you will go through in your life.

Having the right lawyer by your side may make or break everything. Dealing with lousy family lawyers, both on your side or the side of your spouse, is the most painful thing when going through a family law case.

Here are the 5 Types of Family Lawyers to Avoid

If you are thinking of hiring a family lawyer to act for you, pay attention to these red flags and don’t hire these types of family lawyers:

1. The family lawyer keeps looking at his/her watch instead of listening to you. These types of lawyers only care about money and are not worth your time;
2. The family lawyer doesn’t give you a strategy – these lawyers just listen to you and tell you whether you will win or lose. They don’t take a provocative role in guiding you on how to win or manage your expectations. If you lose, the lawyer needs to change your image or bring facts into your case to make you win. If you win, the lawyer needs to go further and maximize the chances of winning and never expect an outcome without effort. The right lawyer will make you act. He or she won’t sit back and tell you what they think will happen to your case. That’s the judge’s job, not your lawyer, who is your advocate.
3. The family lawyer gives you unrealistic expectations. If your case is worth $1,000,000 and your lawyer tells you you will likely win $900,000, they are most likely unrealistic and just want to charge you money and give you no result. Avoid these family lawyers.
4. The family lawyer tells you you will get sole custody even though the father is decent and fit to be a parent. These lawyers live in the past and not the present. If you are a mother who wants to have the child most of the time, don’t think the judge will always agree with you. As long as the child has a decent father, custody will be 50/50 in most cases, so don’t fight a losing battle. Do not waste your money on legal fees. A child needs the love of both parents. And equally.
5. The family lawyer doesn’t communicate properly – If you feel like you are often left in the dark with no direction, your lawyer is not communicating with you properly. Most family lawyers have your case and strategy in their head and don’t always tell you what they are thinking. If that is the case, they will leave you in the dark, confused and stressed most of the time. Ask to set up a face-to-face meeting with your family lawyer to learn what you need to do and what will happen next. If your family lawyer doesn’t give you his/her time to explain what is ahead, they are not worth you or your case or your money. Avoid.

The Best Family Lawyer for Your Case

The best family lawyer for your case will follow these practices:

1. The family lawyer takes charge and leads you. You are spending $300 to $500 per hour to learn something you didn’t know before. The lawyer needs to add value to your case, tell you what you need to do and finish your case in a timely manner. In a lawyer-client relationship, the lawyer has to be charged. Otherwise, the case will self-destruct.
2. The family lawyer keeps you updated on all process stages. Communication is key. The family lawyer will take the time to explain things to you when you need it. But also know that you are responsible for asking questions. You shouldn’t expect your lawyer to always call you to explain the process. The lawyer does not want to waste your money that way. So if you need help or clarity, reach out.
3. The family lawyer will try to minimize your costs. The right lawyer will ensure you spend as little as possible and gain as much as possible. Most family law cases can be settled with the right strategy and cooperation. Not everything needs to be a fight. The right family lawyer will take the initiative to resolve your case amicably instead of raising a fight from the get-go. More fighting means more money wasted.
4. The family lawyer won’t let your case go on for too long. Perhaps the most important and valuable aspect of your case is finishing it quickly. Many family law cases last years with no end in sight and many legal fees spent. The right family lawyer will take measures to make sure your case is heard or resolved fast so you can move on to the next chapter of your life as quickly as possible.

To find the names of the best Vancouver family lawyers, click here. 

YLaw’s lawyers have been voted as the best family lawyers in Vancouver by Lawyerratingz.com and would be happy to help you with your case. They follow all the above principles and have some of the best reputations in the legal community. Call us at 604-974-9529 or get in touch.