Can I Choose a New Attorney Mid-Divorce?
Divorce and custody battles are not always something we see coming. Far too often, people are just going along in their normal daily lives when, seemingly out of the blue, their partner tells them they are filing for divorce.
It is only natural if some panic sets in, particularly for anyone who is unfamiliar with the legal system and has never had to consider things like court dates, motions, and a partner who has already “lawyered up.” When you are facing the prospect of so much uncertainty and change, it is only natural to grab on to the first legal expert we stumble across. Even those who anticipated that a divorce may be coming might have settled for a lawyer recommended by a family member, or maybe it is an old friend from school.
Whatever the case may be, many individuals start their divorce journey having chosen a lawyer, in good faith, but midway through you learn that your chosen attorney may not be the right fit for you. This might happen for a number of reasons: maybe you adhere to different values. Maybe the communication styles do not mesh, maybe the strategy your lawyer wants to employ throughout the process makes you uncomfortable, and you feel like you are not being heard.
Can I Change Attorneys in the Middle of my Case?
Even if any (or all) of the above issues pertain to you and your legal counsel, do not be discouraged or feel defeated. While there may be certain advantages to retaining the same legal counsel throughout your divorce matter, if the fit simply is not right you are not obligated to continue with the first attorney that you hire. You have the right to change your mind and seek new counsel at any time.
The way many people test the waters and see if this is the right course of action for them is by seeking out a second opinion on their case.
Getting a Second Opinion on Your Case
Most people interview their attorney before hiring them. This is done during the initial consultation with the attorney. If you find yourself considering that you may need to switch to a new attorney, you should expect to meet with a potential new attorney through this same consultation process.
When meeting a potential new attorney during a consultation, use your past experience to inform what you need to know about this other attorney before deciding to work with them. Some items you may want to keep in mind as you meet this attorney include:
- Do you feel comfortable talking to this individual?
- Do you feel that your voice is heard?
- Does this individual’s stated strategy, and methodology resonate with you? (Remember, some attorneys employ more aggressive stances than others.)
- Would you trust this person to speak for you, if you were not present?
Our divorce attorney may have more of an impact on how our lives unfold moving forward than almost any other individual. It is important that you feel confident and comfortable with the person going to bat for you. The experienced divorce attorneys at Cardwell, Steigerwald Young can help.
Contact Cardwell, Steigerwald Young
The skilled San Francisco area San Francisco divorce attorneys at Cardwell, Steigerwald Young can help you to ensure that you are getting the best possible outcome in your own divorce case. Contact our office today to see how our experienced team can help you reach the finish line that you are working toward.
Sources:
divorcemag.com/articles/can-i-fire-my-divorce-lawyer
familyeducation.com/family-life/divorce/law/when-how-fire-your-divorce-lawyer
