Absolutely. In short, you can change your divorce solicitor at any stage throughout the process – divorce suit, financial remedy, or child arrangements.
At McAlister Family Law, although you will have a solicitor appointed to overlook the work on your case, we very much work as part of a team, and it is therefore equally important that you not only have a good relationship with the solicitor with conduct of your matter(s), but also the wider team including paralegals, legal assistants, and any other person that may assist you with your matter. It is important that you feel supported, and guided, by your team given that family law matters are not only complex, but they are also extremely emotional in nature. Each family law matter is completely unique and therefore you will likely want a solicitor who fits your unique situation. That being said, it is possible for the relationship between a solicitor and a client to deteriorate due to the high pressure, and high stress, of family matters.
If at any point you wish to change your solicitor, team, or firm, it is important to highlight this to your current solicitor so that steps can be taken to make the necessary changes for you. If the relationship with your current solicitor has broken down irretrievably, but you still wish to instruct the firm for continuity, then it is usually possible to transfer your matter(s) to another solicitor within the firm. This is usually easier than transferring your matter(s) as your current solicitor will be able to easily bring your ‘new solicitor’ up to speed with your matters and assist you both in ensuring that the transition is as seamless as possible.
If you wish to transfer your matters to a new firm, then this is also fairly straightforward. You do not need to justify why you wish to change firms, but it is important that you communicate your wish to change to your current solicitor as soon as possible so that they do not continue to work on your matters and incur any further legal costs. If your matter is within court proceedings (either Divorce, financial remedy, or child arrangements) your current solicitor will also have to notify the court of the change, via a document signed by you, and signal whether you have instructed a new solicitor or whether you wish to act as a litigant in person. When changing firms, it is also essentially that any outstanding invoices are settled so that your current solicitor can transfer your file to your new solicitor as soon as possible. Solicitors are able to hold property (a file or original documents for example) on ‘lien’ until payment of outstanding invoices have been resolved. Matters around a lien are complex and it is therefore important to discuss any outstanding invoice, or change in representation, with your current solicitor as soon as possible.
Should you wish to change solicitors, at any point, when instructing McAlister Family Law, then it is advisable to have a conversation with your current solicitor.
