what makes a good divorce lawyer

by Bethel Emmerich 5 min read

What to Look For In A Family Law Attorney

  • Similar Experience: Everyone has to start somewhere, but with a matter as important as your divorce, you probably want to put yourself in sturdy, practiced hands.
  • Good Communication Skills: There will likely a great deal of back-and-forth discussion between the two sides during your divorce.
  • People Skills: Going hand in hand with strong communication, the best divorce attorneys may need to employ excellent interpersonal and social skills.
  • Analytical And Research Skills: Preparing a legal strategy is complicated. Each case involves a large volume of facts and records. ...
  • Judgment: With the massive amount of information divorce attorneys need to ingest, processing everything in a logical manner is key.
  • Creativity: As much as logical thinking, judgment, and analytical skills will figure into your divorce proceedings, creative problem solving and the ability to improvise on the fly may also be ...
  • Dedication: Even in the simplest cases, divorce is not a quick or easy process. Depending on the situation, you may be in for a long, drawn-out legal action.
  • Competitiveness: Divorce isn’t always hyper-contentious, but even in the best of times, if both sides have enlisted the help of an attorney, there is likely going to be a degree ...

Full Answer

What does a good divorce lawyer do?

Aug 04, 2020 · As much as logical thinking, judgment, and analytical skills will figure into your divorce proceedings, creative problem solving and the ability to improvise on the fly may also be an important quality to look for in a divorce attorney. Problems and roadblocks can …

What should I look for when hiring a divorce lawyer?

Oct 07, 2013 ¡ A good divorce attorney should be able to handle himself maturely in the face of the biggest surprise disclosures and be thoroughly professional when representing you in court. Accessibility: A divorce attorney might handle multiple cases at one time, so it is important for him to be well organized and give time to each client.

What makes a good attorney successful?

Oct 12, 2021 · One of the core characteristics of a quality divorce lawyer is the ability to make accurate judgments. Divorce often involves intense negotiations between both parties regarding matters of property and children. An attorney shouldn’t enter these negotiations looking for a fight, nor should they be very willing to back down. A great divorce lawyer should consider the facts …

Why are there so many divorce attorneys?

Jun 30, 2016 ¡ 4. Ask around. The absolute best way to find a good divorce lawyer is, was, and probably always will be, word of mouth. If you know someone who has been through a divorce in the past few years, and was satisfied with their divorce lawyer, get that lawyer's name.

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What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

When looking to hire an attorney to represent you in your divorce, you should look for someone with the following qualities: ... ¡ A Top-Notch Communicator. ... ¡ Available. ... ¡ Equipped with Sufficient Resource. ... ¡ In Control and Composed (Even When Under Pressure) ... ¡ Pro-Negotiation. ... ¡ Strategic. ... ¡ Confident & Strong.More items...

Is it better to use a lawyer in a divorce?

If you and your spouse agree on all the terms of your divorce, you can file for an uncontested divorce without the help of a lawyer. However, it is always advisable to at least have a lawyer look through your agreement in an uncontested divorce to make sure that your rights and interests are protected.Jun 15, 2020

How much do top divorce lawyers make?

Salary Ranges for Divorce Lawyers The salaries of Divorce Lawyers in the US range from $25,415 to $679,997 , with a median salary of $121,978 . The middle 57% of Divorce Lawyers makes between $121,979 and $306,401, with the top 86% making $679,997.

What are the typical issues in a divorce?

Four Primary Issues in DivorceProperty Division. Almost every marital estate includes assets and debts. ... Spousal Maintenance. ... Custody and Parenting Time. ... Child Support.Jan 24, 2013

How much does a divorce cost?

The median cost of a divorce is $7,500. An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100. Disputes over child support, child custody, and alimony raise the average cost of a divorce significantly. Divorces that go to trial on two or more issues cost, on average, $23,300.Nov 16, 2020

How long does a divorce take?

Once the papers have been filed with the court, the question, "How long does an uncontested divorce take?" is completely out of the parties' hands. The amount of time it will take to finalize the divorce by having a judge approve and sign the judgment can take anywhere from six weeks to 12 months.

Which type of lawyer makes the most money?

Types Of Lawyers That Make The Most MoneyMedical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

How much does a lawyer make a month?

Average Monthly Salary For Lawyers The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average annual salary for a lawyer in 2016 to be $139,880. This works out to be around $11,656 per month on average. Some of the lowest paying salaries started around $55,870 per year. This is around $4,655 per month.

What is the highest paying lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

Who suffers the most in a divorce?

Men are more than twice as likely to suffer from post-divorce depression than women. Anxiety and hypertension are common in men after divorce, which can result in substance abuse and in the worst cases, suicide. Ten divorced men commit suicide in the U.S. each day.Jul 20, 2020

What is the #1 cause of divorce?

The most commonly reported major contributors to divorce were lack of commitment, infidelity, and conflict/arguing. The most common “final straw” reasons were infidelity, domestic violence, and substance use. More participants blamed their partners than blamed themselves for the divorce.

What year of marriage is divorce most common?

While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.

How important is it to have a divorce attorney?

A divorce attorney might handle multiple cases at one time , so it is important for him to be well organized and give time to each client. It is better to get an attorney who has a prompt and organized support staff so that you can reach someone at the office at any time. The attorney should make time for his client and keep up with assigned meetings.

What should an attorney have experience with?

Along with academic qualities, the attorney must also have experience in dealing with a wide variety of legal cases. He/she should have handled cases of divorce, child custody, distribution of property, alimony and other aspects of family law. This might be visible in the testimonials he/she provides. The longer and wider the experiences, the easier the process will be for the client.

Who represented me in a divorce and custody case?

Steve wall represented me in a divorce and custody case. He is very knowledgeable about the law and does an excellent job at keeping the case centered and presented well for the court.

How important is communication in divorce?

During a case, the lawyer has to communicate the client’s concerns, needs and expectations to the judge and the other party. For this, he/she needs complete information about the case and the emotional involvement of the client and the opposite party. The attorney’s ability to communicate with the opposite party and their spouse is also important as that can lead to the settlement of various important issues outside of the court, thus making the process less of a hassle.

Who is Nate Wall?

Nate Wall is a phenomenal attorney. He and his team had thorough communication dealing with a difficult situation. I was pleased with his approach, taking our concerns seriously and alleviating our fears throughout the process. I was recommended to him through a friend who also had a great experience. I would suggest him to anyone I know.

How to communicate with a divorce lawyer?

Clear and easy communication with your divorce lawyer is critical. During your case, you will need to be able to effectively communicate your concerns and expectations to your lawyer, and your attorney will need to be able to clearly explain things to you regarding your case and provide you with realistic expectations. If an attorney doesn’t listen to you well or can’t explain things in a way you can understand, you should continue your search.

Is an attorney always available?

It is unlikely that you will be your attorney's only client, and because your attorney is human, your attorney will not always be immediately available to you when you have a question. You should look for an attorney who has support staff and other attorneys available to assist in the event of an emergency. It is also important that your attorney have support and resources available to prepare your case in a timely manner, such as experienced paralegals, support attorneys, and legal assistants.

What makes a good divorce attorney?

An experienced divorce lawyer/attorney can manage any case, no matter how difficult it is to sort out the situation. As he knows different tactics of getting out of a situation due to his previous experiences, he will never lose your case and will make sure that you win the case at the end of the day.

Why is it important to be a divorce lawyer?

A divorce lawyer/attorney must be very confident in his work. It is essential because when the courtroom is full with people and the judge is in front of the divorce lawyer/attorney; confidence is the most important character of divorce lawyer/attorney that helps him give his arguments in details and an assertive manner. It will also help the divorce lawyer/attorney to stay strong in the courtroom, take charge of the whole situation and never get stuck due to the pressure of the opposition party.

Why is honesty important in divorce?

In every relationship, honesty plays the most important role. Likewise in case of divorce lawyer/attorney and client relationship, it is very important that both parties are honest with each other. The client definitely is honest in his dealing, but on divorce lawyer/attorney part, it is important to realize the fact that the client is in trouble and the lawyer must make honest efforts to get him or her out of trouble.

What happens if you don't meet your divorce lawyer?

If you are not able to meet and communicate with your divorce lawyer/attorney, you will never feel confident about the success of your case in the courtroom, as well as would be frustrating for you as you will feel that there is a gap between you and your divorce lawyer/attorney and things are not working as good as they would be otherwise .

Why is the internet important for divorce?

The internet is best used for gathering information and validating referrals. If someone gives you the name of a divorce lawyer whose website looks like it hasn't been updated since Al Gore invented the internet (or worse, who doesn't have a website at all!), that is NOT a good sign.

Is a lawyer rating agency infallible?

Take lawyer ratings with a grain of salt. Lawyer rating agencies are not infallible. A lawyer who chooses not to advertise, or participate in a particular rating site's program, may end up being rated poorly, even though s/he may be an amazing lawyer.

What makes a lawyer successful?

One of the single defining traits that all successful attorneys share is excellent writing skills. Don’t be fooled by the flashy procedurals that are ever popular on television, the vast majority of lawyers spend far more time writing than they do in oral arguments. Successful lawyers must be able to prepare effective, clear, and well-reasoned legal documents. If you want to take action now that will help you become a better lawyer in the future, focus on sharpening your writing skills. An attorney who can tell a compelling story that weaves in all of the relevant facts and arguments is an attorney that will be successful for a long time.

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

One of the most underrated traits shared by almost every successful attorney is a strong ability and willingness to listen. Although strong listening is a part of overall communication skills, it’s important to highlight listening as its own professional trait. Effective communication is a two-way street. Too many people fail to put in the time and energy to fully understand and comprehend what the other party is saying. When you truly open up your ears, you will probably recognize that people are giving you even more information that you thought. Listening to your clients, listening to witnesses, listening to your opposing counsel, and listening to the court can be the difference between winning and losing a case. Great lawyers take in all relevant information, analyze it, and create a plan of action.

What does an attorney do after an accident?

Whether it’s by helping them through a difficult family law matter, protect ing them against false charges , or securing fair financial compensation after an accident, attorneys advocate for people during some of the most challenging times in their life. Lawyers matter.

How do lawyers communicate?

A great lawyer knows how to get important ideas across in formal legal writing, in informal emails, in phone conversations, through discussions in official legal settings, and in private conversations.

What is the key to talent development?

Some have an already developed enthusiasm for lifelong learning, but as noted by Deloitte, one of the keys to talent development is cultivating worker passion. In other words, people who are passionate about what they are doing are happier, more fulfilled, and they perform better.

How do lawyers persevere?

Finally, successful lawyers know how to persevere. The law is a tough field. There is no reason to sugar coat it; practicing law can be one of the most rewarding and meaningful careers out there, but it’s also a lot of work. As is true with any profession, success requires effort. There will be difficult days. You may be stuck dealing with a client who is making your life unnecessarily hard, an opposing counsel who is being rude for no reason, or a judge who rules the wrong way on a key procedural matter. You may simply be frustrated because you spilled hot coffee on your shirt that morning. It happens. What sets successful attorneys apart from ordinary attorneys is that they know how to persevere through the challenging times to get to the rewarding and meaningful moments that make it all worth it.

Is law a science?

The law is not purely a science. There is an art to effective legal practice. Remember, each client that an attorney deals with will have their own unique set of goals, objectives, and concerns. In some cases, ‘outside-the-box’ thinking can help craft a solution that the client may never even realize was possible.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

How much does a divorce cost?

Contested divorces cost anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000, though there are plenty of ways to limit the staunch the outward flow of cash before and during the process.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

Is divorce law firm bigger than solo practice?

In any industry, the larger a company is, the bigger volume it's doing. Divorce law firms are no different, prompting many people to seek a solo practitioner who is more invested in the outcome of your case. Paradoxically, however, if the solo practitioner does not have adequate support staff in his or her office, your case may end up not getting the attention and care you were promised.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

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The Ability to Communicate Well

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Clear and easy communication with your divorce lawyer is critical. During your case, you will need to be able to effectively communicate your concerns and expectations to your lawyer, and your attorney will need to be able to clearly explain things to you regarding your case and provide you with realistic expectations. If a…
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Skill and Experience

  • You should look for an attorney who not only can represent you, but can represent you well. And in order to represent you well, the attorney must be skilled. Your divorce case is likely to touch all aspects of your life-family, finances, retirement, career, etc. To protect your interests, your attorney should be knowledgeable and experienced enough in his or her practice to deal with th…
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Availability

  • When considering hiring an attorney to represent you in your divorce, look for someone who is available at the key points in your case (or who has the support available if an issue comes up while your attorney is in court on another matter or out of the office). A good divorce lawyer should be available to respond to your questions in a timely manner or, if not available right awa…
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Composure

  • Your attorney's ability to maintain composure is not just about staying calm and focused with you, but also about exhibiting self-control before the court or with your spouse's attorney, even if frustrated. You should look for a divorce lawyer who will represent your interests strongly, but who will not take it personally when things do not turn out exactly as your attorney intended. Surprise…
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Support and Resources

  • It is unlikely that you will be your attorney's only client, and because your attorney is human, your attorney will not always be immediately available to you when you have a question. You should look for an attorney who has support staff and other attorneys available to assist in the event of an emergency. It is also important that your attorney have support and resources available to pr…
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