Should I research an attorney before hiring, even if a family member recommends him?
Is it prudent to research an attorney before hiring him or her even when a family member recommends them?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Yes!
While it is certainly comforting to know that you have friends or family members who may know and trust someone who may be in a position to help you, such as a doctor or a lawyer or an accountant or mechanic, etc., don’t let your friend or family members recommendation substitute for your own due diligence and judgment and comfort level. Only a fool would hire a lawyer without conducting his/her own duly diligent research and determining that a particular lawyer is the right fit.
Even though a friend or family member had a great experience with his/her attorney in his/her divorce of family law case:
- your friend or family member’s attorney may have expertise in the area that benefited your friend or family member, but may have no idea how to help you in your particular case, even if the attorney is “willing to try”;
- a lot can change between when your friend or family members case was disposed of and what’s happening today;
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- Laws change. Changes in society and the culture may have an impact on the legal landscape, and your friend or family member’s attorney may have fallen behind on new developments in the law;
- your friend or family member’s attorney may have been in his or her prime back when he or she help your friend or family member, but may be old and tired by now and not much use to you for your particular case;
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- your friend or family member’s attorney may have really enjoyed working with your friend or family member, but may not feel the same way toward you (which may or may not be due to any flaw in your personality or character—sometimes to good people just don’t click);
- the attorney that your friend or family member hired and loved may have been an attorney that your friend or family member could easily afford or felt was a great value when you may not be able to afford the same level of service or may not benefit from that particular lawyer’s approach to your case.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277
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