Finding a Family Lawyer in Ontario

A Family Lawyer can be a lot of things to your family. Their roles in the family go way beyond divorce proceedings. Though oftentimes, a family lawyer is used interchangeably with a divorce lawyer. Some of the duties are quite essential that the search for a family lawyer near me is a constant search term.

You would need a family lawyer for any of the following and more –

• Child adoption and child custody
• Marriage and Divorce
• Legal advice
• Paternity issues
• Estate/property management
• Court representation
• Safekeeping of records and documents

Obviously, in diverse areas of our family lives, you see there is a great need for a family lawyer at our disposal.

• After realizing you need a family lawyer, how do you locate a good one near you? Basically, your first port of call would be your friends and relatives. Some of them must have family lawyers or even other types of lawyers. Your friends or their lawyers can recommend a good divorce lawyer for you.
• Another avenue to find a family lawyer near you is to check your state or local bar association. They would have a directory that can help you find a family lawyer near you.
• Now, how can we discuss finding a lawyer near me without talking about the internet? Simply type in family lawyer near me or divorce lawyer near me and you will have loads of choices.
• oftentimes, you can search the internet for local directories or public interest websites.

If you have recently made the difficult decision to pursue a divorce, you’re likely to face another difficult decision soon – finding a lawyer. Hiring a law office or lawyer for your divorce can often be a tricky endeavour due to several factors. 

For one, your lawyer’s abilities and competence will, without doubt, play a large role in how the process turns out for you and the results you get. Apart from this, their involvement and how they guide you through the process can also determine if you will look back and take positives from the experience or if the whole thing turns out forgettable. 

Choosing the right law office to represent you can be pivotal for your divorce and this is why you should make the best choice right from the start. But how do you know what law office or lawyer is best for you? 

In this article, I will explain the various types of law offices, their pros and cons, and how to make a decision on the best for you. If you would like a more detailed read on how best to hire a lawyer for your divorce, this more comprehensive guide is just right for you.

There are different types of law firms in Ontario, ranging from solo lawyers to large multi-national firms. These law offices serve a wide range of clientele and are often established for very different purposes and to meet the needs of specific kinds of clients. The types of law firms in Ontario include the following:

A solo law office is a law office run by a single lawyer. This lawyer handles all the matters brought to the firm, usually with a couple or more support staff. Solo lawyers generally practice in two or more areas of law such as divorce and criminal matters. However, some do focus on a particular area.

Pros 

• They are usually less expensive compared to other types of Law offices
• You have direct and easy contact with your lawyer.
• Your divorce would be given personal attention as the lawyer is definitely handling it himself.
• There is a higher chance of your matter being accepted as the lawyer does not need to seek the consent of a senior lawyer or partner before he can accept to take up your divorce.

Cons

• Solo lawyers are can often be relatively inexperienced. This is because lawyers rarely work solo, they mostly only do so when they’re just a few years at the bar. 
• Limitation to legal resources, library, and facilities.
• Solo lawyers may be unable to cater to clients whose work demands long term commitment or diverse legal skills

Boutique law offices are typically small law firms with a few lawyers who offer services in a highly specialized area of law. Nevertheless, Boutique law firms being small is not a defining feature. Instead, it is their focus on a narrow area of law that defines them. 

Pros

• One-on-one approach of the lawyers which is similar to that of a Solo law office due to its small size.
• They are also willing to take up smaller matters which larger firms would not
• Lawyers within the firm share knowledge, which increases the likelihood of the success of your case.
• Relatively less expensive compared to bigger firms

Cons

• They have mid-range facilities, compared to bigger law offices
• They are highly specialized, which means you have to search thoroughly to find those that fit your matter. 

In this arrangement, lawyers work together or collaboratively without forming a partnership. In this way, they create an outside impression of being a big law firm, but they work individually. Although, they may share information and clients.

Pros

• Access to better resources since the lawyers are able to share libraries and facilities. 
• Professional relationship with other lawyers.
• There’s a good mix of experienced lawyers to choose from

Cons

• Clients will not usually know it’s an association.
• Essentially, it may still turn out like hiring a solo lawyer

Partnerships are one of the more common types of law offices, alongside solo law offices. In this arrangement, lawyers agree to go into joint ownership and management of a law office. You can usually recognize a partnership by its name. Most would have two to three names, for instance – Matty, Michael and Shane. 

Pros

• They have a whole lot of resources and network
• Access to very experienced lawyers
• Each lawyer in the firm specializes in a unique area

Cons

• They are typically more expensive to hire than solo law offices

Also called “full-service” firms, these law offices have tens to hundreds of lawyers and employees. Usually, they have offices in states, cities and even several countries. They also specialize in different areas of law, with experienced lawyers who are equipped in such areas.

Pros

• The lawyers specialize in varying areas of law
• Typically, more lawyers can work on your divorce
• They have the financial means to hasten the settlement of your claim.
• Usually have a massive reputation

Cons

• Often quite expensive to hire
• There is a less direct approach to your matter as the lawyer you first met for your consultation might not be the one to handle your divorce.
• You might not have direct and easy access to your lawyer

Choosing which of these law offices should represent you will depend on several factors, such as your location, the legal issue, your finances and preferences. 

• Service: First consider if they specialize in a practice area that your matter borders on. If you want a divorce, it makes little sense to hire a boutique commercial law firm. You also don’t necessarily want a law office that does every little thing, their resources may be too stretched to properly accommodate your divorce. 
• Experience: A law office with experienced lawyers is more likely to help you get the results you require. These lawyers will not miss the small details important in a divorce claim. 
• Specialization: lawyers that have specialized in one area for years become very competent in that area. If you are looking for a divorce lawyer, it will often be best to approach a boutique law office or partnership that specializes in divorce.
• Skill: Most lawyers are very competent at what they do, having learned their trade for several years. But some have more skill than others, and this will show in their reputation. Sometimes, this skill will be very important for your case. 
• Finance: This may be your most important consideration. A tight budget might rule out the bigger partnerships and full-service law offices. This doesn’t mean you cannot find quality legal representation at those smaller offices though. 
• Availability: In a divorce lawsuit, it is crucial that you be able to contact your lawyer whenever you need them. This can often rule out solo law offices and the bigger law firms as you may lose that personal touch in their services. 
• Location: Generally, you may be restricted to hiring law offices around where you live or work. Depending on where this is, such as the suburbs, you may only have access to solo offices or small partnerships.