Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance
Can I Change Lawyers?
Findgreatlawyers.com is the leading resource for finding the right Illinois attorney for your case. We help in all areas of law including divorce and family law. While we are not a service to find a free attorney, our service is run by lawyers who will talk to you at no cost and will give you blunt, honest advice. If we do recommend an attorney to you we would only do so if we would give the same recommendation to a family member or friend. If you would like our help please contact us at (312) 346-5320. For information about changing lawyers please read on.
One of the most common calls we get is from someone who is not happy with their current attorney and is looking to switch law firms. If you are in the midst of a divorce and you are not happy with your attorney, you are allowed to hire someone new. Although it takes a little work, it may be worth it. It is important to have a competent lawyer who takes your case seriously and is an advocate for you.
Most people who call us looking to change attorneys do so because their lawyer has poor customer service. Maybe your lawyer never returns your phone calls, or maybe he or she doesn’t focus on divorce or you feel that your case is not a priority. We don’t recommend switching lawyers on a whim, or at the last minute. But if you feel that your attorney isn’t fighting for you or isn’t the best choice, consider setting up a consultation with someone else to see if a new direction is what you need.
Before meeting with a new attorney, we suggest that you make a list of the concerns you have with your current attorney. Ask the new lawyer a lot of questions. Be specific. Ask how they will handle things differently. Make sure the new lawyer is a good fit. Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks (e.g. someone who says they are a Chicago mothers rights lawyer or fathers rights lawyer), but rather talk about how they will approach your case and what they will do to achieve success for you.
If you find a new attorney and decide to make a switch, you will have to pay a new retainer fee. If you paid the previous attorney a retainer, you should get any unearned money returned to you. Your previous attorney will have to turn over your file as well.
Sometimes changing lawyers is not a good idea. We don’t recommend changing lawyers at the last minute. For example, switching right before trial doesn’t give a new attorney enough time to prepare and would probably hurt your case more than it would help. If the Judge isn’t going to give a continuance this could sink your case. We also don’t recommend changing lawyers multiple times – it’s not a good use of your time and money, and it can cause confusion and delay.
Going through a divorce is stressful. Having a good attorney gives you peace of mind, and may result in a better outcome. If you are thinking about changing attorneys, please contact us and we will try to point you in the right direction even if that means helping you realize that not switching is the right thing to do.
Since 2001 findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading resource for people looking for attorneys in Illinois. See for yourself why access to our site is like having an attorney in the family.