9 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Domestic Violence Attorney

Are you facing domestic violence charges? You should hire a domestic violence attorney, but you need to carefully consider who to hire.

Before you choose an attorney, ask as many questions as you have. Then, you can make sure they’re the best fit for you and your case.

Keep reading for some ideas of questions to ask prospective domestic violence attorneys.

1. What Experience Do You Have?

One of the most important questions to as a domestic violence attorney revolves around their experience. You can start by asking the question broadly, or you can narrow it down.

Consider asking where the attorney went to law school and when they graduated. Ask where they’ve worked before or had internships and if those firms specialize in domestic violence.

You should also know how many similar cases they’ve had. The best domestic violence lawyer should have some experience working on a case like yours so that they can help you.

2. What’s Your Success Rate?

Next, you should as your domestic violence lawyer about their success rate with cases. A lawyer’s success rate can give you an idea of the outcome of your case.

If someone has a high success rate in domestic violence cases, yours will probably follow the same pattern. On the other hand, your case might not be successful if the lawyer has a lower success rate.

Hiring the best domestic violence attorney can help you get the best possible outcome for yourself and make the case less stressful.

3. Is Trial the Only Option?

Going to trial can be time-consuming and expensive. When talking to a potential lawyer, you should ask them about your legal options.

A trial might be the best course of action, but you can also look into getting a plea bargain. Your options may depend on the charges in the case, so you shouldn’t assume what happened in one case can happen now.

It never hurts to ask about your options for getting through the case. You may never know if a plea bargain is available until you ask.

4. How Much Will It Cost?

Of course, you should ask an attorney how much they charge for a domestic violence case. Then, you can get an idea of how much money you should set aside. But you can ask about the specifics, such as:

• Hourly rates
• Flat fees
• Upfront payment
• Payment plans

Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, but it’s worth the cost. To make sure you can afford the services you need, make sure you ask about the overall cost and fee structure.

You may also want to ask about how often they will bill you for their hours and how they calculate the hours. Then, you can prepare for when you have to pay.

5. How Long Will the Case Take?

If you hire an experienced domestic violence lawyer in Texas, they should have an idea of how long the case will take. You can ask about the timeline for both going to trial and getting a plea bargain.

When asking about the timeline, you may want to ask about how much time you’ll need. You may need to spend time with your lawyer preparing for questioning.

Even if you don’t go to trial, you may want to spend time reviewing a plea bargain. Then, you can give yourself the best outcome no matter how the case goes.

6. How Can We Communicate?

Communicating with your lawyer can be crucial throughout your case. Before you hire someone, ask how you can contact them and when you can expect a response.

Consider if they prefer to communicate by email or phone. You should also ask about their office hours and if they have any days they plan to take off completely.

It can also help to ask about in-person meetings to discuss your case in more detail. No matter how you’ll communicate, be sure to get the lawyer’s contact information and store it in a safe place.

7. Who Will Work on the Case?

You may hire a domestic violence lawyer who will do all of the work on your case. However, some lawyers may have partners, paralegals, and other assistants that will help.

Asking about the team can help you choose a lawyer and firm that you trust. While working with an individual means fewer people will learn about your case, it can take longer to complete certain steps.

On the other hand, a team of lawyers and assistants can work through your case files more quickly. Each member may be able to use their own experience to help your case.

8.How Many Cases Do You Have?

Similarly to asking about the team, you should ask about an attorney’s caseload. If someone has a bigger load, they won’t be able to dedicate as much time to work on your case.

That means it could be easy for them to miss crucial details. Depending on the details they miss, you may end up with a different, less-successful outcome.

You don’t need to hire a domestic violence attorney with no active cases. However, you should consider how much time they have to work on your case each week.

9. What’s Your Work Schedule?

It can also help to know when your lawyer works during the day and the week. Lawyers can work overtime, so their set office hours might change.

But asking about their schedule can give you an idea of when they will be working on your case. It can also help you know when to contact them with urgent questions or concerns.

If your lawyer has a team to help, you can ask when each team member will be working and what their responsibilities are. Then, you can keep up with your case throughout the process.

Which Domestic Violence Attorney Will You Hire?

Hiring a domestic violence attorney is a big decision. You’re putting the fate of your case in their hands, so you need to consider the implications of that.

Make sure to meet with any lawyers you’re considering so that you can ask them questions. From their experience to the cost, you can learn a lot to help hire the best domestic violence lawyer for you.

Do you need help with a domestic violence case? Contact us to schedule a consultation.