Divorce Wisdom: How to Hire the Right Divorce Attorney

I recently saw a billboard advertisement for an attorney next to the highway on my way downtown last weekend which said, “In god we trust – all others we sue.” I saw another one of this particular attorneys billboards a few days later that said, “Everyone hates a lawyer until they need one.”

Of course like many of you who might have seen these ads and others like them you felt disgusted and even outraged. You may have thought “who in their right mind would hire an attorney so vile?” But the attorney, who boldly put himself out there for the public has a following and anyone who sees one of his offensive billboards sprinkled around the city of Detroit will certainly remember his name. These billboards and others like them got me thinking about what qualities a prospective client should look for when choosing an attorney to represent him/her in a divorce action. Here is a quick check list to help you decide:

• Never hire an attorney who advertises on buses, billboards, or park benches.
• Never hire an attorney who does not share your values. Determine what the attorney stands for and see if that position resonates with what you need from him or her. I once saw an attorney whose slogan read, “A diamond is forever, your marriage?” I know other lawyers that utilize animals, like an alligator or a gorilla, which appear on stationary, signs and automobiles. I would assume that if you are contemplating divorce that you realize that the prospect is no laughing matter; that an attorney should not mock or make light of the situation, so my advice to you is to stay clear of all gimmicks. You are placing your future, to some extent, in the hands of your divorce lawyer; therefore, the choice you make in representation is extremely important. Seriously, do you think your judge will respect the guy who drives around town with an alligator on his car ready to bite? I think not.
• Always hire someone who is accessible to you when you need them. If it took the attorney days to return your call or you could only reach an assistant when you initially made contact with the office, this behavior should be a red flag for you to look for representation elsewhere.
• Always interview three (3) attorneys. Compare the information you receive from each one. Which did you have the best rapport with? Who seemed the most knowledgeable? Who seemed best equipped to navigate the court system? Which one made you feel less scared about the prospect of divorce? Follow your gut on this one and never hire an attorney who does not exclusively practice family law.
• Remember every divorce case is different. Take all the love and support you get from friends and family, but not necessarily all their family law advice. Remember, you will have a different judge, different attorneys and of course a different set of facts than your cousin Eugene had in his divorce or your friend Suzy in her case.
• Remember, when you hear a horror story about a friend’s divorce, vow that your case will not turn out like the Jerry Springer hour. You and your spouse have control over the type of experience you have, but it takes two to make the process less adversarial. The more you and your spouse fight, the more money you will spend and the less control you two will have over the case’s outcome.
• Always hire an attorney that strikes the right balance between compromising intelligently on your behalf and being in your corner to fight for you if and when necessary. The advice your attorney gives should always be driven by a cost/benefit approach.

While going through a divorce is never easy, having the right advocate in your corner is always a good investment.