Divorce lawyers are called in to deal with the break up of a relationship and the important task of finding one must begin; the following attributes are the most desirable:

*Have successfully practiced this area of law for some time *Have the right attitude for this work *Be reliable

Ideally your divorce attorney should be spending half their time dealing with divorce cases and preferably one who is a good mediator. They must be someone you can trust and work with comfortably; someone who has your confidence.

Attorneys that specialize in mediation cases will be able to give you sound advice for out of court settlements but if a court appearance is necessary, they will need experience. To save time when you contact your divorce lawyer, keep conversations brief and to the point, which can be achieved by preparing what you need from them in advance.

Plan each conversation by making an agenda and write down the things you want to talk about; take notes on the content of the conversation and the amount of time spent on phone calls. Keep a record of all correspondence and conversations and try where possible to have conversations on the phone which will reduce the amount of time required to see them in person.

An attorney does not come cheap so use them only for the purpose you hired them for, legal advice, they are not there as an emotional problem solver, there are other professionals who specialize in that area. Unless you actually want your divorce lawyer to do something about your spouse's behavior or actions, do not use them for general complaints as it is costly and probably won't achieve anything.

Let your lawyer know from the start that you will be in charge of the case and they are there for legal advice and not as someone to lean on when things start getting rough. Tell them you want good advice and will rely on their experience, but that you expect to make decisions that concern the tone and strategy of the case. As the person paying for their service, you should expect to be sent copies of any relevant documents and if there are any issues that need to be clarified that a prompt response by them is expected.

If money is an issue, it may be a preferable for you to only contact a lawyer for legal advice on a marital settlement but not representation. For someone taking this route, it is only important that you approach a lawyer to have certain aspects explained once you have carried out you own research. You may decide to have a divorce lawyer help with your marital settlement agreement, either to draft one or just to check over one you have made yourself then contact them if you get stuck or confused.

Do It Yourself Divorce