You want your South Dakota adoption to go smoothly, right? If so, then one of the most important decisions is hiring your adoption attorney.
Here are five questions you should ask when hiring a South Dakota adoption lawyer.
Question #1 – Does the lawyer answer your questions in a clear and straight-forward way?
The most important thing to remember when speaking with a lawyer is to ask questions. You should also expect professional and direct answers in response to your questions. The best lawyers will appreciate your questions and will take it as a sign that you’ve done your homework.
The first time you meet with a lawyer, not only are you interviewing him or her, but he or she is also interviewing you. A superb lawyer wants to represent a prepared client who is committed to retaining the best legal representation available.
Question #2 – What does the lawyer see as the primary challenges in your case?
A lawyer should be able to tell you what he or she sees as the main challenges you face and what that could mean to the final result.
A good lawyer will not promise you a specific result. Any other answer is not realistic or helpful to you. A good lawyer can promise that he or she will do his or her absolute best to represent you. No good lawyer is “undefeated.” However, you can’t get good legal advice if a lawyer doesn’t recognize the unique issues in your case.
Question #3 – How much experience does the lawyer have in adoption cases?
Asking about a lawyer’s actual experience in adoption cases will tell you a lot about the representation you will receive.
Swier Law Firm’s lawyers have handled adoption cases for clients throughout South Dakota.
You should be confident that you have spoken with a lawyer who has real experience and a proven track record.
There is simply no substitute for experience!
Question #4 – What is the lawyer’s rating for legal ability?
Many of Swier Law Firm’s lawyers have received a rating of “Superb” - the highest rating awarded within the Avvo professional review process.
The Avvo Rating is an unbiased system that evaluates a lawyer’s background and is calculated using a model that considers a lawyer’s professional profile, years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements, and industry recognition.
Question #5 – What are the potential legal costs in your case?
A lawyer should be honest with you about what your case may cost. You want to make sure that you are not enticed with promises of unrealistically low fees and costs.
Frankly, hiring a lawyer based on an unrealistic price or the lowest price is a very bad idea - it’s almost as bad as representing yourself in court.
