How To Choose The Right Divorce Attorney

Unless you already know or are referred to a good divorce attorney, you have some work ahead of you.  Don't worry, we'll give you some guidelines, but then take your time, you need to get this right.

The question you must first pose is to yourself, what exactly do you want to be the end result?   Are you hoping for a simple uncontested divorce or do you think things are going to get sticky?  Is the marriage over, or is there the chance for reconciliation?  If it's truly over then of course you must protect yourself and you want the best divorce lawyer possible, be prepared though, it won't be cheap.
What has transpired since the two of you were married?  Do you have complicated affairs, property, stocks, and business holdings; or are you affairs simple and straightforward?  If your affairs are simple, then you can choose a lawyer based on his negotiation skills.  If complex, then you'll need to find a lawyer who is skilled with tax, business and financials.  In any case it's going to be expensive, and you don't want to lose in the tax department also.

Do you have some prospective lawyers in mind; or will you need to do an online search to begin your quest?  However you find your initial list of lawyers, you can use the following information to narrow your search down to a few, then go with the one that seems to have empathy (or specialized knowledge) for your cause.

Now's the time for some detailed perusal of the firm and you'll need to pay attention to what's said on their website.  How do they present themselves?  Do they appear to have a background in the area where you need a lawyer?
This is the time to use the Internet and explore the various sites concerning lawyers and in that lawyer and law firm in particular.  Perhaps you'll find articles or other information either specifically about your possible legal choice, or perhaps written by him or her.  If you do, read it in detail to find out more about what and how they think.

Certainly ask family, friends and business acquaintances if they have any information to contribute about the lawyer or firm.

Don't be afraid to get in contact with the state bar association, if the lawyer you are considering is upstanding, he or she will welcome the inquiry.

Here's a method not often used and that to look at the yellow pages for the city where the law firm is located.  Do they have an advertisement?  How does the ad appear to you, it is nicely done, does it make you want to do business with them, or does it say "Ambulance chaser"?

What about your local paper, often they'll have an online achieve of past news stories, if so then do a search and see if there are any articles about the lawyer or law firm.
Now comes the time to meet with your perspective attorney, are they easy or difficult to reach on the phone?  Not being available by phone could simply mean they are busy in court, or that they are used to returning phone calls.  Both should be considered when making your choice.

Of course also consider that a good attorney is usually very busy, so don't say no, simply because making an appointment is difficult.  It is likely they will delegate a certain amount of the duties to an associate or paralegal.  Knowing this, take the time to get to know the staff, how do they treat you?  Do they seem professional and know what they are doing?  Usually how the personality and work ethic of the staff is a reflection of the man at the top.

Here are a few notes to go along with what we've already said.

Hire an attorney with a little experience under their belt; you don't usually want someone fresh out of law school.

Find out if your attorney and/or firm is a member of any legal associations in the area.
Unless there are special reasons, find an attorney that is local to your legal action.  There may be a lot of going back and forth for hearings, depositions and court, having to pay for the lawyer's time and travel can get very expensive.
Get references.  While it might seem impolite to ask, it's not and is the normal course of business.

Be certain there are no conflicts of interest; you don't want to find out later that the lawyer's brother works for the company or is friends with your spouse.

IMPORTANT: Obtain and read your lawyer's retainer agreement.  If there is anything you don't understand, have it explained to you before you sign and before you write the first check.

Choosing the right lawyer shouldn't be done in a haphazard manner, take your time, feel comfortable with your choice, then let them do their job.