| Divorce is an extremely painful and long-drawn | | | | lawyers who tend to take on mostly very highly paid |
| process for anyone unfortunate enough to go through | | | | or high-profile cases, as they may give you a lower |
| it. The support of friends and family is vital at this point | | | | fraction of their attention than they would give their |
| to keep the divorcees' emotional health intact, and the | | | | other clients. |
| services of a well-qualified, experienced attorney are | | | | 3. What is the lawyer's reputation? A lawyer with an |
| necessary to keep the legal side of things as | | | | excellent record may also be known for being a |
| straightforward as possible. | | | | threatening, conniving or downright dishonest character. |
| While looking for a divorce lawyer, it is imperative not | | | | Make sure to get proper references for your lawyer |
| to take shortcuts. Instead of dialing the first number | | | | before trusting him with your assets and divorce |
| you see on an ad or Yellow Pages, check and | | | | process. |
| double-check for the lawyer's credentials, reputation | | | | A lawyer in family law and divorce will be well versed |
| and track record before you make your choice. | | | | in all parts of the divorce process - filing for divorce, |
| There are many benchmarks that you can use to help | | | | settling the division of joint property, child custody, |
| in making your decision: | | | | alimony, visiting, mediation and so on. Also, the lawyer |
| 1. Is the lawyer well qualified? Other than the | | | | may help you settle your case out of court or via |
| mandatory LLB, there are numerous higher and more | | | | mutual consent, which is a much less expensive and |
| specialized degrees and certificates that the lawyer | | | | drawn-out process than a fully-fledged court battle. |
| can earn. Postgraduate courses are a good second | | | | Do not bank on the fact that you can change divorce |
| qualification, but a series of specialized certificates in | | | | lawyers halfway through the divorce if your first one |
| family law or divorce would be the ideal qualification to | | | | fails you. Changing attorneys during a case may be |
| opt for. The University of Florida offers good law | | | | forbidden by some courts, while others require you to |
| courses, while the Supreme Court of the state | | | | have a judge's permission in order to opt for a new |
| organizes regular certificate courses in all branches of | | | | lawyer halfway through. Also, the hassle of informing a |
| law - including divorce law. | | | | new lawyer about every previous aspect of your |
| 2. What is the lawyer's track record like? You will | | | | case while it is being fought in court is both |
| want to find out how long he has been practicing, the | | | | unnecessary and cumbersome. To top it off, the |
| type of cases he has dealt with, and - most | | | | "retainer" sum of money paid to a lawyer may not be |
| importantly - his win-loss ratio. Preferably, opt for a | | | | recoverable, so take care not to be penny wise, pound |
| lawyer who has had ample experience in family and | | | | foolish - take proper care while choosing your |
| divorce cases - preferably complex ones that make | | | | attorney, and your divorce shall take place sooner and |
| your case seem easy as pie. However, guard against | | | | yield the best possible results. |