Monday, January 12, 2009

How to Decide on a Divorce Lawyer for Your Case

Deciding which attorney you should have represent you in your divorce case is an extremely important decision and one that can make the difference between getting a fair result or a poor one. Here are some tips to improve your chances of hiring the best lawyer for your case.

Experience and State Bar Board Certification

Experience is very important when it comes to divorce attorneys and you should only consider choosing an attorney who is very knowledgeable in the field of family law. Frequently people will hire a general practitioner, thinking that divorce cases are routine and easy and that any lawyer can do it. This kind of thinking is a major mistake. If you can afford it you should hire a board certified divorce attorney. This is a certification held by attorneys who have, by experience and knowledge, established that they are worthy of recognition as experts in the discipline of family law. In most jurisdictions this is an extremely challenging certification for a lawyer to get.

Satisfied Previous Clients

The best way to decide which attorney is best for you is to hear from that lawyer's past divorce clients. If you personally know someone who has been a client of a particular lawyer they can tell you what it was like to be a client of that attorney. The fact is that some attorneys are simply better at satisfying their clients than others and the only sure way to find this out is to hear from those who have been clients.

A Plan for How Your Case Will Be Handled

It is usually an error in a divorce case for a lawyer to apply a "one-size-fits-all" approach. In other words, some lawyers use the exact same plan on every single case, disregarding the facts or nuances of your particular situation. This is generally a mistake. What you want is a attorney who, at the outset of the case, creates a tailor-made plan for how your case will be handled. You wouldn't use a shotgun if you were trying to kill a mosquito and you wouldn't use a flyswatter if you were trying to kill a lion. You would use the best tool for the given situation. Your case should be handled in this same .

Are You Comfortable with the Attorney?

Last but not least, you should be comfortable with and have a pleasant rapport with the attorney. If for some reason you feel that you will not be able to communicate effectively with the attorney, then this is not the right attorney for you and you should keep searching until you encounter the best lawyer for your . It is of the utmost importance that you hire an attorney that inspires your confidence and that you are certain will keep your best interest at heart.

About the Author
Joseph Carter is an author whose primary subject matters include family law and divorce. He is employed by Scott Morgan, Attorney at Law, a Divorce Lawyer in Houston, Texas who is board certified and specializes in family law.