Think Twice: Switching Divorce Lawyers Can Complicate Your Case!
If you think are thinking of getting a new divorce lawyer to replace your current lawyer, you may be in for a tough road ahead.
First, there is the additional cost of paying your new lawyer to get acquainted with the case and facts that you current lawyer already knows.
Second, your new lawyer may be limited in what he or she can do given the status of the case. If the case is getting ready for trial, it is unlikely, the judge will allow you to restart the discovery process all over again and make up for any oversights or omissions.
Third, you may be
perceived by the judge as being a difficult or unrealistic client and unwittingly create negative a impression on the court. While you may be perfectly reasonable and cooperative with your current lawyer, clients who go through lawyers are sometimes thought to be a problem either because they are not paying their bill or because they are unwilling to face the facts. On the other hand, if you believe you simply have the wrong lawyer and can't get the representation that you are seeking from your current lawyer, you are better off changing lawyers sooner rather than later in the case.
When you do hire a new lawyer, make sure you communicate your expectations to your new lawyer, maintain continuous and open lines of communication and work hand in hand with your lawyer to prepare your case.
Getting good representation involves more than writing a check. You need to think of yourself as an integral part of the litigation team and work closely with your lawyer to make sure he or she has a good understanding of all of the facts, has been provided with all necessary documents and has your full support and cooperation whenever needed.
I have found that I obtain the best outcomes when clients are fully engaged and ready participants in their cases, maintain a mature and courteous relationship with their spouse throughout the litigation and are good team players.
