What Qualities Are Important in a Divorce Lawyer?

Enduring a divorce can be an incredibly stressful life event. It can be further complicated if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are struggling to agree on basic aspects of the dissolution.
Unfortunately, some divorces can drag on for months or even years and can dramatically impact the rest of your life.

With so much at stake, it is vital that you choose the right divorce lawyer to be in your corner. In order to help you make an informed decision, we have identified several qualities that are important in a divorce lawyer.

Experience

Ideally, you want a divorce lawyer that is highly experienced. As you’re asking about a prospective attorney’s experience, do not simply question them on the total number of divorce cases that they have handled. Make sure that their experience is relevant to your unique circumstances.

If you are dealing with tense child custody issues, for example, you need a lawyer that has worked through these types of divorces before.

Communication Skills

The attorney will need to maintain open lines of communication with you, your spouse’s attorney, and the courts. Strong communication skills should be evident from the moment you complete your consultation.
If an attorney exhibits communication issues during the initial contact, these problems will likely get worse as the divorce drags on.

Composure

During your divorce, you may be faced with a rollercoaster of emotions. However, your attorney should remain grounded and composed throughout the entire process. Even when the pressure is high, they should be able to provide you with sound legal guidance based on the facts, not the heat of the moment.

Availability

When you’re consulting with potential divorce attorneys, make sure to ask about their stance on returning client messages or calls.
While attorneys are working multiple cases and cannot be expected to answer instantly, it is important that you understand their availability. You do not want to work with an attorney that is overloaded or unable to stay in contact with clients.

Resources

Your divorce lawyer should have access to adequate resources to handle your case. This includes support staff that can quickly process documents.

In addition, you should make sure that they have experienced associates that can fill in for them in the event of an unexpected emergency. The last thing you want is to show up to an important hearing without any legal counsel!

Confidence

No matter how talented they are, no attorney can guarantee the outcome of a case. However, your divorce lawyer should exude a fair amount of confidence and strength.

A skilled lawyer should be able to stand strong when your spouse’s counsel attempts to dominate a negotiation session or hearing.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills are one of the most important attributes for a divorce lawyer. The top divorce attorneys should be able to persuade the other party to resolve as many issues as possible without taking the case to trial.

While going to trial is an option, negotiating beforehand will save you money and resolve your case more quickly.

The Gucciardo Law Firm, PLLC, has ample experience in dealing with divorce and family law. Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced divorce attorney.