In the unlikely event you have to retain the services of a divorce lawyer, you will need to know you have the right one; some guidelines on what to look for are listed below:
1) Well versed in divorce law
2) Have the right approach
3) Be trusted by their clients
Ideally your divorce attorney should be spending half their time dealing with divorce cases and preferably one who is a good mediator. All this will be waste if you do not feel you can trust them, so look for a person you feel comfortable with.
Adversarial attorneys will use the hammer to crack a walnut approach which often happens when these cases go to court whereas an attorney who specializes in mediation will take a much calmer approach. To get the most from your divorce lawyer, be well prepared and have everything written down; do not waste your money and time asking questions, the answers to which are readily available.
Costs are always an issue so write down everything you want to ask and in a logical order always making sure there is an accurate record of times dates and the duration of conversations. Keep a file for all your notes, letters and documents so do as much as possible on the phone and by mail to keep the office time at a minimum.
Your attorney is there for advice and any foreseeable legal actions so do not rely on them for anything but what you are paying them for, and especially not as a shoulder to cry on. When you talk to a divorce lawyer, stick to the facts and don't complain about things your spouse did unless you actually want your lawyer to do something about.
The most important aspect for you to get sorted out is the control of the situation which should be yours and then you will be able to use your lawyer more effectively. If they are there purely to act in accordance with the legal issue of divorce it will be more efficient utilization of their services and you will be making the decisions. Let them know that copies of any correspondence relating to the case will need to be sent to you along with any other information and if you contact them, to reply as quickly as possible.
Instead of hiring a lawyer, it may be far more cost-effective to use the lawyer just for information or advice on specific subjects like a marital settlement because that may be all the legal help you will need. After you have organized all your facts and read about how the law works in your case, if you still have questions about the law or the likely outcome, write all your questions down and ask your lawyer. If you have employed a divorce lawyer to help you with a marital settlement, whether you have compiled it yourself or asked them too, it is easy to ask them for additional help if the case does not proceed according to plan.
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