How To Choose a Divorce Lawyer

If you're like the majority of people seeking legal counsel for a potential divorce, you haven't done it before. Choosing a lawyer for your divorce can be a daunting task. Once you get over the hump of actually deciding you want to pursue a divorce or research what your options are if you in fact decide to proceed with a divorce, one of the most important things you will need to do is figuring out who to hire.

Most attorneys these days offer free consultations. What this means to you: they need your business and want you as a client. Take advantage of this. Remember you are potentionally going to be paying them money and you shoud be satisfied with what they have to offer.

My Top 5 Tips in Hiring a Divorce Lawyer:

1) Come to your consultation prepared. Write out a list of questions, legal or otherwise, of which you would like answers, whether you are using the correct legal terms or not. Lawyers won't expect you to know anything about the law, but you do know about your life. Remember, there are no dumb questions. You don't get divorced every day and it will take time to understand what happens in the process. Every question won't be answered in your first meeting, so keep a running list of things as you go along.

2) Make sure the attorney listens to what you have to say and what your goals are in the case. You know your life better than anyone and whether you've chosen to be divorced or not, your lawyer's job is to make the best of the circumstances. I often ask my clients to provide me with a wish list of what they would like to see happen in the case, whether it is something I can do or not. After they've made their lists, we discuss what we can and cannot do within the confines of the law and their particular set of facts and whether any of the alternatives are something we should tackle.

3) Be prepared to briefly discuss the background of your case. A good divorce lawyer will tell you that every divorce case is unique and should be treated as such. An attorney who does not seem engaged or personal to your set of facts shouldn't be hired. He or she should ask questions a long the way so you know he or she is listening and not treating you as a "cookie cutter" divorce.

4) Write things down. Don't be afraid to take notes during the initial consult. If you are meeting with a divorce lawyer, you are undoubtedly in the intial stages of a very emotional process. Sometimes clients are shocked at their spouse surprising them with divorce and at the consultation you may be surprised at your emotions bubbling up. Meeting with an attorney brings it to reality even if you've been planning a divorce for a while, even years. Writing things down will help you focus and get the most out of your consultation, while helping you remember it later.

5) Personal qualities count, choose a lawyer you are comfortable with and genuinely like. You will need to communicate openly and frequently with your lawyer. It is important that you have a good rapport with your attorney so you can approach them with questions or even suggestions of what you'd like seen done in the case. No matter how good a lawyer is, she cannot read your mind and know what you are feeling about the ongoing process. A good lawyer wants her clients to be satisfied and they cannot be unless they are given a voice in the case.