The decision to hire a family lawyer when dealing with legal issues related to child custody, adoption, divorce, and other family issues are important. Like other legal issues, most aggrieved parties expect their lawyers to pick their cases notwithstanding. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Family lawyers can reject your case for the following reasons.
1. Conflict of Interest
Your preferred family lawyer can reject your case primarily because of a conflict of interest. Conflict of interest occurs when the lawyer’s professionals, personal, or financial associations impair their ability to handle your case impartially. For instance, if the lawyer has previously represented or has close ties with the other party involved.
Lawyers should avoid conflict of interest to maintain the integrity of the case and uphold ethical standards. Lawyers are expected to prioritize their client’s interests and make independent judgments that aren’t influenced by other external issues.
2. Limited Resources
Family lawyers also consider the availability of resources before taking on a new case. Resources required to handle such involving cases go beyond financial considerations. Law firms also evaluate their available manpower, energy, and time. For instance, divorce cases can take years before being settled. Visit this site for resources on divorce and why consulting a lawyer is prudent.
Generally, family law cases are complicated, time-consuming, and emotionally draining. The legal team should show a considerable level of commitment. Solo practitioners and small law firms have a finite capacity to handle multiple cases effectively.
Taking a case that strains their available resources can compromise representation and chances of success. Family lawyers should evaluate their current workload and available resources before deciding whether to accept new cases.
3. Unrealistic expectations
Family lawyers can also decline to represent potential clients because of their unrealistic expectations. Family law cases, especially child custody, divorce, and property division, are stressful and emotionally charged. Most clients begin these cases with unrealistic hopes, mostly influenced by misconceptions, wishful thinking, and hearsay.
Unfortunately, professional ethics and guidelines of family lawyers and other law practitioners require them to be honest and give clients a realistic assessment of their impending case. Lawyers can reject family cases if clients pursue impractical and unachievable cases.
4. Failure to Pay Fees
Failing to pay attorney fees is the other common reason lawyers can reject your family law case. Lawyers should be compensated for the time, expertise, and resources used in legal representation. Lawyers find it challenging and impossible to represent clients who can’t meet their financial obligations.
Lawyers can go overboard and provide quality representation when fairly compensated. If the potential client can’t afford or is unwilling to pay for legal services, lawyers won’t offer their services to avoid future financial disputes.
Fortunately, most lawyers are open and willing to discuss payment terms with their clients. However, clients should be honest about their financial situation and negotiate payment arrangements in the first meeting.
Endnote
Family lawyers help clients resolve various legal family disputes and guide their clients during this tough period. However, they can reject a case due to a conflict of interest, limited resources, fees, and unrealistic client expectations. Note that their decision to accept or reject the case isn’t a personal issue but an indication of the lawyer’s commitment to providing quality representation and maintaining professional ethics.
