Choosing the right attorney is an important first step in your divorce. You want someone with the requisite skills and experience, but also an individual you can feel comfortable working with and trusting with significant legal, financial, and emotional issues. As a result, when deciding on a divorce attorney, you should focus on hiring not only an “advocate,” but a “counselor.”
Divorce Attorney as Advocate
Your lawyer’s chief role is to be your advocate. That means your lawyer will advance your position to opposing counsel and the Court in a strategic way to create for you a positive outcome. To accomplish this goal, you need to find an attorney who will strongly represent your interests in negotiation and litigation so you get the best results possible.
Divorce Attorney as Counselor
The role of a divorce attorney acting as a counselor is different than the one as an advocate but just as critical. Not every attorney provides this type of support. Our attorneys believe it is important to be counselors to our clients, shepherding them through a life-altering process that most have never experienced before. Divorce is emotional. Attorneys are not therapists and should not pretend to counsel in that context. However, the lines are often blurred in family law. What we do is perform with sensitivity. We strive to “hold your hand,” to answer all your questions, and to make you as comfortable as possible as you navigate the maze of divorce.
“What should I say to my spouse?” “How do I shield the kids?” “How do I protect myself financially?” “Where can I get mental health help?” “How do I address my substance abuse?” “What will my life look like after we are divorced?” These are but a few examples of the myriad questions we address as counselors while advocating at the same time on a client’s behalf.
Finding an Attorney
Most people find an attorney by asking friends, family, and contacts for recommendations and/or doing independent research online. Carefully vetting a divorce lawyer’s background and experience is essential. Every case is different so there is no guarantee that you will get the results you want even with the most qualified attorney. However, doing your homework is the best insurance that you are hiring an individual with the skills and knowledge to effectively resolve your case.
At Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC, we are committed to making the divorce process as painless as possible while achieving the best result as your advocate and your counselor. Contact us for a consultation.
