Chicago Divorce Lawyer Blog

Unlike so many other areas of the law, divorce is both complex and highly personal. It affects your whole life. Choosing the wrong lawyer also may affect your whole future.

Picking the right lawyer is serious business.

A divorce lawyer must be a skilled listener, a skilled negotiator, and a skilled litigator.  The lawyer must be someone who can solve problems, not create them.

He or she must be candid. There should be no false promises about either costs or results.

Your lawyer must be someone supportive who listens, someone who does not dismiss either your fears or your desires, someone in whom you feel confident.

The first meeting with your lawyer is crucial. If you are not confident during that meeting, you will probably never be confident. You want a lawyer, not a best friend.

Trust your instincts, but ask questions. All questions do not have answers; but the process of questioning itself is worthwhile.

Within your questioning, inquire about the lawyer’s availability, communication, experience, fees, costs, retainers, billing, the process of getting divorced, your rights and obligations, the attorney handling the case and anything that concerns you.

If your lawyer uses a team approach, ask how that approach will benefit you. Is this approach efficient for you and your needs?

Before you meet for the first time, ask about what documentation you should bring. The documents may include everything from credit card statements and tax filings to business records.

The more your lawyer understands, the better that initial meeting will be. The better that meeting, the better your choice will be.