| The characteristics of a divorce lawyer are important | | | | not arrogant, and knows when it is ok to be |
| to consider when seeking legal representation. | | | | assertive and when it is not. Additionally, such an |
| Whether your divorce is highly contested or if you | | | | attorney will often demonstrate confidence in the |
| are close to settling all or most of the major issues | | | | courtroom through his/her experience and may |
| pertaining to your divorce such as child custody and | | | | remain unemotional throughout your divorce |
| visitation, division of property, and support, the | | | | proceedings. The attorney’s communication with |
| following characteristics of a prospective divorce | | | | the opposing counsel will typically be amicable, but |
| lawyer should be considered. | | | | when under attack, he/she will not be afraid to |
| (1) Proactive | | | | assert his/her client’s position. |
| (2) Willingness to negotiate | | | | Approachable |
| (3) Assertive | | | | Approachable attorneys are easy to talk to and easy |
| (4) Approachable | | | | to get in contact with. When you request to speak |
| (5) Problem solver | | | | with them they will make themselves available and |
| Proactive | | | | return your call in a timely manner. However, an |
| Proactive divorce lawyers often keep the opposing | | | | approachable attorney is not an attorney that will |
| party on the defensive. Rather than reacting to the | | | | engage in meaningless conversations that have no |
| opposing counsels requests, a proactive attorney will | | | | relevance to your case. Typically, an approachable |
| have a strategy and often initiate action requiring the | | | | attorney will demonstrate good listening skills in a |
| other party to respond or react. When done | | | | conversation and will politely inform you if they |
| effectively, the opposing party may find themselves | | | | believe you are getting off the subject to make the |
| responding and reacting with little or no opportunity | | | | best use of his/her time. |
| to go on the offensive. | | | | Problem solver |
| Willingness to negotiate | | | | An attorney that demonstrates good problem solving |
| Cases in which the parties are close to settling all or | | | | skills will have a strategy for your case. Such |
| some of their divorce issues can benefit from divorce | | | | attorneys are often willing to negotiate settlements |
| lawyers that are willing to help negotiate settlements | | | | when it makes sense, but are fully prepared for trial |
| out-of-court. Additionally, much time, money, and | | | | if matters cannot be settled out-of-court. |
| stress associated with contested divorce cases can | | | | If you plan to retain a divorce lawyer to help you |
| be drastically reduced. However, in highly contested | | | | with your divorce, taking into consideration the above |
| divorces, negotiating settlements may not be an | | | | 5 traits of a prospective attorney before you hire |
| option and a good trial lawyer may be more valuable. | | | | him/her might save you a surprising amount of time, |
| Assertive | | | | money, and stress during your divorce proceedings. |
| An assertive divorce lawyer is typically confident, but | | | | |