Going through a divorce is stressful enough. On top of everything else you’re going through, you shouldn’t also have to worry that your lawyer isn’t doing his job correctly. That’s why, when looking for a divorce attorney who will represent you the way that you deserve, steer clear of getting hung up on accreditations and alma maters. While going to a great college is something to be proud of, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the attorney has what it takes to be considered an exceptional lawyer.
What you should be paying attention to, advises divorce attorney Arnold Goldstein of Goldstein Law Offices in Illinois, is how much experience your possible lawyer has, and how long he has been practicing divorce law. The proper divorce lawyer needs to be a connoisseur in numerous areas of law. He must understand not only the process of divorce, but also how custody is arranged, bankruptcy laws, how taxes will play a part, real estate law, and how to negotiate assets and liabilities. Someone right out of law school just doesn’t have the kind of experience that is required to be successful.
Basically, an experienced lawyer will just have a broader sense of the industry, explains Goldstein. And the knowledge that comes from experience can’t be taught in the classroom, he adds. For instance, when it comes to negotiating child support, a rookie lawyer might not understand what is included and what isn’t. If the child is just six months old at the time of the divorce, then there are 18 years of child support and possibly college afterwards to think about. Don’t assume, or let your lawyer tell you, that you can go back and alter the arrangement thinking that since your child hasn’t even reached his first birthday, that you have plenty of time to think about college.
Depending on the age of your child, Goldstein says, the laws mandate certain monetary minimums that must be met for child support. However, daycare and babysitting fees are not included in these laws and neither is extracurricular activities nor college, says Goldstein. So, it’s likely that if you agree to the law’s minimums, you will not receive an adequate amount of support from your former spouse to properly take care of your child.
Your lawyer must also understand how to charge clients appropriate fees and how to communicate these costs to you. Too often, says Goldstein, this area is glossed over and there is a perception on the part of the lawyer that he can charge whatever he wants. But, that’s simply not the case. Look at this way, he says: The more experience the attorney has, the more it should cost you. However, when you are paying more for the service, your lawyer should be so excellent that he won’t have to spend a lot of time on your file and the case should progress quickly and smoothly. Any lawyer worth your time is going to charge appropriately for it, Goldstein points out.
While it can be difficult to determine how many years of practice is considered an adequate amount of experience, you should be able to gauge a lawyer’s sense of aptitude upon your first conversation. When you speak with your future lawyer, ask for examples of his past cases that are similar to yours, problems that arose, and how your lawyer worked to successfully solve them. Additionally, if you’d feel more comfortable hearing testimonials instead of simply taking the lawyer’s word for it, request references so that you can speak with past clients who have been in situations comparable to yours.
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. Neither publication of this article nor your receipt of this article creates an attorney-client relationship.
