8 QUALITIES THE BEST DIVORCE ATTORNEYS

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By the time you get to the point of filing for divorce, you have likely already been through quite an ordeal. Ending a marriage is a huge step, one that comes with all kinds of emotion, pain, and stress, even in relatively straightforward cases. One of the most important decisions you may make along the way is hiring an attorney to represent you and your best interests.

The notion of the “best” divorce attorneys is a subjective matter. Each case is a different endeavor, with its own particular requirements and parameters. Most important is finding representation that ideally suits you, your case, and your specific needs. It can be a daunting search, but in the end, choosing the right lawyer for your situation will be well worth the time and effort.

At Goldberg Jones in Seattle, our managing attorneys play matchmaker in a way, pairing clients with the lawyer who may be the best fit for the circumstances. While each case is unique, there are a number of qualities that the best divorce attorneys have in common.

EXPERIENCEEveryone has to start somewhere, but with a matter as important as your divorce, you probably want to put yourself in sturdy, practiced hands. Knowing that your attorney has experience with the distinctive elements of your case can be a huge comfort. Trusting that your lawyer has seen similar situations before and is well aware of how to proceed can go a long way towards easing your stress level and soothing your state of mind in difficult times.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

There will likely a great deal of back-and-forth discussion between the two sides during your divorce. Your attorney will need to sit down with you, hear your wants, desires, and needs, and communicate them to the other side in a clear, concise manner. Listening skills, confidence speaking in public, and being able to accurately convey information and articulate your stance can be an essential part of this process.

PEOPLE SKILLS

Going hand in hand with strong communication, the best divorce attorneys may need to employ excellent interpersonal and social skills. Divorce is a highly emotional situation, tempers can flare, and things can quickly become tense and heated. Depending on how contentious the proceedings get, the ability to maintain composure, calm intense feelings, and retain an even, professional demeanor and civility in tough times all come into play. Being a people person may be a valuable asset in making these interactions flow.

ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLSPreparing a legal strategy is complicated. Each case involves a large volume of facts and records. Your lawyer may need to explore, absorb, and interpret all of this material. From there, he or she will organize the information, distil it down, and determine the best way to move forward. Being able to make sense of all of the pertinent factors, how they impact the divorce, and to quickly and effectively research the legal questions in play, are important attributes for the best divorce attorneys to possess.

JUDGMENTWith the massive amount of information divorce attorneys need to ingest, processing everything in a logical manner is key. Being able to critically examine the particulars may help when it comes to identifying potential weak spots in an argument, both yours and theirs, and reinforcing your bargaining position. Impeccable judgment may come into play often in decision making, as there will likely be little time for indecisiveness, and your best interests may hang in the balance of each choice.

CREATIVITYAs 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 appear out of nowhere. Great lawyers have the ability to think on their feet and present innovative, rational, reasonable solutions when sudden and distinct scenarios arise.

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. The best divorce attorneys will be dedicated and willing to put in the time and energy to see it through—even just becoming a lawyer in the first place shows a remarkable level of commitment. Cases may involve long hours of deliberation, in-depth research, and extended mediation sessions, which in turn require a great deal of perseverance on your lawyer’s part.

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 of conflict. Your lawyer’s job is to represent your voice and interests and to ensure as many of your conditions are met as possible. In this situation, a little competitive spirit and hate-to-lose attitude may not be the worst trait.

Every divorce is different. The best divorce attorney for you may not be the best divorce attorney for everyone else. Circumstances and the specifics of your individual situation will likely influence what you look for when seeking out representation, but many great family law practitioners do share these common traits. When exploring your options, you may want to consider these characteristics to help find the lawyer who will fulfill all of your needs.

• MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DIVORCE, CUSTODY AND FAMILY LAW CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.GOLDBERGJONES-WA.COM