Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Should you get a top divorce lawyer?

By Lynn Lopez

If you're about to go through a divorce, there's no doubt that you want no one but the top divorce lawyer on your side, working your case. After all, how else will you be able to clinch a victory in divorce court if you don't have a great lawyer? So you set out to look for no one but the best divorce lawyers, asking around, doing your research, basically doing whatever is necessary to get the most successful ones working for you.

What makes a top divorce lawyer anyway? First of all, he or she must have excellent credentials. He or she must be consistently updated on divorce law, specializing only in divorce law, and constantly taking seminars and courses to hone his or her knowledge. Then he or she must have a stellar track record of success in divorce cases.

The top divorce lawyers have also cultivated a reputation as people who are able to guide their clients during this sensitive period in their lives and helping them to fully understand the workings of the case. You can make inquiries and find out how your prospective lawyer's former clients feel about the quality of service and attention they received.

Of course, when you hear the term "top divorce lawyer," almost automatically, the words "expensive" and "exorbitant fees" come to mind. And you shouldn't be surprised; lawyers generally charge hefty fees, and the best ones may be a little out of your budget's league--unless you're willing to shell out a lot of cash. Remember that you're not just paying for the lawyer's services, but, if he or she is already established and well known for being the best, you may also be paying for the prestige of having that particular lawyer.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't just set your sights exclusively on bagging the services of a top divorce lawyer. There are countless other divorce lawyers out there who may not be as well known as the lawyer you're initially interested in hiring, but do a good job nevertheless. Keep your options open. You may find a divorce lawyer who doesn't have the shining reputation you sought, but is reliable, honest, intelligent, and capable. The main thing you must remember is that you should find a divorce lawyer you can work well with, not a top divorce lawyer who may be good at what he or she does, but who you can't tolerate working with.

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