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Experience and expertise - Experience is one very important factor in choosing your divorce lawyer. Additionally, it's necessary for that lawyer to practice primarily in the field of divorce law. In some cases, people will hire a lawyer who practices outside this field, thinking that any lawyer will do. An experienced divorce lawyer will know the tendencies of the various judges in your jurisdiction and will be able to use this knowledge to your advantage.
Testimonials - One of the best ways to determine which divorce lawyer would be good for your divorce is to learn what former clients have to say about a particular lawyer. Don't be afraid to ask around. If you do not know of anyone who has been a client of that particular divorce lawyer, at your initial appointment don't be shy to ask your prospective lawyer for a list of past clients. While client confidentiality is very important, any "good" and experienced divorce lawyer would not be hiding anything and would have at least a few satisfied former clients who would be willing to vouch for him or her.
Accessibility and the "Likeable" element - It is extremely important that your divorce lawyer is easily accessible and prompt in responding to your phone calls, emails, and requests. Or, you're going to get nothing but frustration. While you would care to ask for the lawyer's office policy, don't forget to ask the lawyer's past clients if that particular lawyer was responsible enough to maintain an easy system of communication. And last but not least, do YOU personally like that particular divorce attorney? Do you feel comfortable talking to that lawyer, and are you confident in his or her abilities? If the answer is anything other than a definite "yes," you need to keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence. If you don't like that particular lawyer for some reason and don't feel comfortable talking to him or her, there might be other people (like the judges) that may not like that person for the same reason that you do, which may cause you to lose the case.
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