Over many years of practice, I have been surprised (startled even) by how many clients assume that I do other kinds of law regularly , like criminal or property work. But I am actually a specialist family lawyer – and if I needed someone like me, I would choose a specialist family lawyer too. Here’s 10 good reasons why:
- Obviously a specialist family lawyer does this work all the time. They are going to get it right first time.
- Specialist family lawyers know their opposition lawyer, they are going to feel confident that can pick up the phone and have an off the record conversation to smooth your path for you.
- They know their local court and Judges – what they like and don’t like.
- They often offer a deeper level of expertise that can benefit you; i.e. advocacy or an understanding of fringe issues like child maintenance and benefits.
- If the whole firm is concentrating on family law only, they have no pressure to “cross sell ” you services. Cross selling is when a firm makes sure they keep the conveyancing work and the Wills work (which often flows from family law problems) in the same firm.
- A specialist will likely save you money – no charging you while they look up basic procedure because they know what to do.
- That doesn’t mean to say they are going to be as cheap as chips – but they will be better value.
- And they are likely to save time – by recognising what decisive action needs to be taken now, not after three months of dithering time.
- Specialist family lawyers tend to have thought about how they want to charge clients – and are likely to offer a range of fixed fees, Pay as You Go and litigation loans as well as the more traditional ways of paying
- They are far more likely to be specialised in family law – because they love their job, and value and feel privileged to have the daily contact with clients no matter what the ups and downs.
At the end of the day it is up to the client to choose who they want to have manage their case, and someone you feel comfortable with is essential at such a difficult time. But I like sticking to what I know, and asking other specialist lawyers about criminal law or conveyancing!”
By: Ursula Rice, MD, Family First Solicitors
