Ways to Reduce Legal Fees in Family Law

A concern we hear as lawyers from clients is how they can reduce legal fees in family law. Below are just a few tips and tricks to assist with how clients can reduce legal fees in family law, once you have retained an experienced family lawyer to assist you:

1. Be willing to work with the other people assigned to your matter – Many times once you’ve retained a family lawyer, they will have a law clerk or a junior associate assist you with the preliminary or procedural steps in the matter. This is done as a way to reduce fees as the hourly rates of law clerks and junior associates are typically lower than the hourly fees charged by the senior lawyer on your file.

2. Be proactive, forthcoming, and organized – This is especially important when preparing a financial statement and the corresponding financial disclosure brief. When your lawyer requests certain documentation from you (such as financial disclosure) do your best to provide it promptly and in an organized fashion. The more forthcoming you are with your lawyer at the outset of your matter with issues such as financial disclosure, the less time that will need to be spent following up with you on these items later. We generally recommend that clients stick to providing what has been asked of them. For instance, if you retain a lawyer at Krol & Krol, you will be provided with an opening package containing a disclosure checklist which outlines the disclosure we are requesting.

3. If you have questions or concerns about something, ask – It is always better to clarify any questions or concerns you have at the outset of your case. Also, if you feel your question is simple or procedural, reach out to the law clerk or junior associate assigned to your file, they may be able to answer your question without needing to involve the senior lawyer.

For more information please contact the experienced family law lawyers at Krol & Krol by calling 905.707.3370.