5 Important Qualities to Look for in a Family Lawyer
Wondering what to look for in family lawyers in Melbourne? This article outlines five important qualities, including experience, empathy, communication, reasonable cost and listening. Read on to find out more about each one and why they’re so important.
Experience
It’s very important to look for family lawyers in Melbourne who have a lot of experience. This will inform their judgement when helping you with your case. There are various aspects to family law, so make sure that the lawyer you choose has a lot of experience in the area that you’re having trouble with. There are other kinds of experience too, such as experience with mediation to come to some kind of settlement, and experience with litigation and court appearances. Ask about both, because while you may intend to have an amicable legal process, you never know where it might end up. Good family lawyers in Melbourne can equally guide you through mediation or court proceedings.
Empathy
Family lawyers in Melbourne hear some of your most personal business. You have a duty to tell them everything so that they have a better chance of serving you well. If you leave things out, they might miss crucial cues in your case which could determine the outcome. Empathy is important because it allows you to share your personal information more easily to a caring face and a listening ear. The quality of empathy makes someone more likeable too, helping you to build a better working relationship with your lawyer.
Communication
Once you’ve found some suitable family lawyers in Melbourne, it’s a good idea to enquire about their preferred forms of communication. Do they use phone calls, emails or letters to communicate? How frequently do they communicate and at what time of day? Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll be able to tell if their communication style suits your own. In fact, even from the moment you first enter the room to meet a lawyer, you’ll be able to tell a lot about them. Are they available immediately, or are they on the phone to someone? What is their body language telling you? How loud or soft is their voice?
Reasonable Cost
Family lawyers in Melbourne can sometimes be quite costly, so it’s imperative that you ask them how much they charge. Some lawyers use a sliding scale of cost, while some charge by the hour or by a flat fee. You need to work out what you can afford, keeping in mind that hourly billing can add up quite quickly with a long telephone call here or there. A flat fee may seem more affordable, but bear in mind that added fees can be lumped on top for certain legal paperwork lodging.
Listening
It’s absolutely imperative that family lawyers in Melbourne are good listeners. This is because by listening well, they’ll have better recollection of various aspects of your case, which can be used in your favour. Failing to listen can show a pushy demeanour, which may be perhaps helpful in a court room but doesn’t make for great mediation skills.
