Hiring a small law firm for divorce

By Matt Majeski, Minnesota divorce and family law attorney since 2008. Last reviewed October 2026.

Hiring a Small Law Firm for Divorce : Advantages

Choosing a divorce lawyer is a big decision. Here are the main advantages of hiring a small firm for a divorce or family law case. I hope they help as you compare your options.

Less Expensive

Cost savings may be the biggest advantage. Small firms have fewer staff to pay and less overhead. They also spend less on advertising and office space. At any firm, those costs are eventually passed on to clients, usually through higher fees.

For example, some large downtown Minneapolis firms charge much higher hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals. They also tend to require larger retainers. Smaller firms, by contrast, typically charge lower rates and ask for smaller retainers.

Specialization with Divorce and Family Law Cases

Small firms are often, though not always, focused on one practice area. For example, Majeski Law handles only family law cases. That includes divorce, child custody, child support, orders for protection, and grandparent rights cases.

You can usually tell which areas a firm handles from its website or advertising. Or you can simply call and ask.

This focus also builds experience. After ten years of handling only family law cases, an attorney will know far more about family law than an attorney who spent those years in general practice.

Personal Connection

At a small firm, you meet the whole team. As a result, you always know who is working on your case. At a large firm, however, meeting with a partner doesn’t mean that partner will handle your divorce.

In fact, some larger firms hand divorce cases to less experienced associates. Others may pass a case from one attorney to another partway through.

With a small firm, what you see is what you get. The staff get to know you and your case personally. Since every divorce is different, it’s important that your attorney knows what’s happening in your case and what you want.

Staff Availability

At a small firm, fewer people stand between you and your attorney. There are fewer receptionists, assistants, and associates to get through. So staff are easier to reach when you need them.

Also, staff at a small firm aren’t juggling a high volume of unrelated cases they may know less about.

Of course, these are general differences between small and large firms. There are other factors to weigh when you choose your divorce lawyer, too.

Have another divorce or family law question? See our list of topics or the FAQ page.