There is no question that anybody in need of legal assistance is bound to want a good attorney. However, when it comes to family law, it’s especially crucial to find an attorney who is well-suited for the job. While different legal issues can come with varying degrees of mental anguish, family law tends to come with the greatest amount of psychological distress. After all, with family law, the emotional stakes tend to be higher, and the potential for a life-shattering loss such as the denial of custody tends to be greater. Rusty Applegate is a South Carolina family law attorney who has spent over three decades serving his clients in matters close to the heart. Applegate understands the importance of hiring the right lawyer for a family-related issue, and therefore likes to educate potential clients on what constitutes a good family law attorney.
For starters, a good family law attorney will have the experience and local knowledge necessary to serve his clients well. Since each state has its own set of rules and guidelines when it comes to family-based law, it’s important to find an attorney who is well-versed in the details of his particular area of practice. As is the case with lawyers in general, a good family law attorney should possess the ability to truly listen. While some attorneys won’t take the time to get the facts of each case, a good attorney will hear his clients out and evaluate the information he is given to best use it to his clients’ advantage. To this end, a good set of communication skills is also necessary for a family law attorney to do his job well. This might entail not only speaking with clients, but communicating with members of their families, including children. A good family law attorney will possess the ability to relate to people and earn their trust.
One of the greatest challenges for family law attorneys is the notion of offering clients just the right amount of sympathy. A good attorney shouldn’t be overly compassionate with his clients to the extent that it interferes with his work; on the other hand, a family law attorney does need to offer a degree of support during what is bound to be a difficult time in his clients’ lives. The more emotionally stable a client is during proceedings, the better equipped he’ll be to share the facts of the dispute and help his attorney help him. Therefore, a good attorney should do his best to cater to his client’s mental state without feeding into his misery.
Of course, some family law attorneys prefer to take a “business only” approach to their clients’ legal matters, thus limiting any attorney-client discussions to those of pure facts and figures. However, Applegate thinks that a good family law attorney needs to understand that family matters are extremely sensitive and are not just regular items of business. While an attorney should always be realistic with clients regarding their situations, he can also give a dose of reality with a degree of person-to-person kindness. Also, due to the nature of the conflicts involved, a family law attorney should never be judgmental or condescending towards. By doing so, the attorney will only succeed in alienating his client and compromising the outcome of the matter at hand.
Of course, a good family law attorney does need to have a relatively thick skin. After all, family law involves dealing with matters ranging from the mildly upsetting to the absolutely awful. From cheating to backstabbing to child abuse, family law attorneys are constantly exposed to the horrors of domestic upheaval. A good family law attorney will possess the strength needed to do his job while facing such terrible realities.
Finally, a good family law attorney will never claim to be 100% victorious as far as his caseload is concerned. As someone who has been practicing for over 30 years, Applegate has certainly helped his fair share of clients. But that isn’t to say that he’s never lost a case. A good family law attorney will display confidence in his ability to achieve the most favorable outcomes for his clients while also taking care not to exaggerate or misrepresent his track record.
Family law comes with its own unique set of dangerously high stakes. As such, it’s important to find the right attorney to represent you in legal matters pertaining to your family and your heart. If you do happen to find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing a family law attorney, then follow these guidelines when choosing the person to represent your interests. By finding the right attorney, you’ll be doing your part to make a difficult time in your life just a bit easier.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.
