8 Characteristics Your NY Family Lawyer Must Have
To maximize the success of your case, having a strong family law attorney on your team can make a significant difference. They can act as your personal advocate to help with legal burdens during these challenging times. When you start vetting possible attorneys to hire, consider the following characteristics:
Education and Experience
A strong family law attorney will have a comprehensive education and track record of experience dealing with family law cases. Accumulating this experience through years of practice gives an attorney a history of lessons learned that can help new clients avoid pitfalls that commonly delay or jeopardize case outcomes. It also better enables them to craft strategic legal arguments that can combat even the most ruthless attacks from opposing counsel.
Empathy and Compassion
While it’s important to have someone who understands the nuances of family law, it’s equally as valuable for your attorney to approach your case with empathy and care. This is especially true in emotionally charged cases like domestic violence or a contentious divorce. Bringing a strong level of empathy to the table enables your family attorney to better listen to their client’s concerns and validate their feelings while executing their case effectively.
Excellent Communication Skills
The role of an attorney requires strong verbal and written communication skills. They need to be able to communicate dense legal concepts into language that anyone can understand. Having this skill set allows clients to better understand what rights and options they have. It also enables attorneys to present compelling and persuasive arguments in court to maximize the odds of achieving a favorable outcome.
Negotiation and Mediation Skills
If a family law case is to be settled without going to court, you’ll want an attorney skilled in negotiation and mediation. Skills in this area can help clients advance through a more collaborative legal journey in which they can reach mutually acceptable agreements with the opposing party. An attorney skilled in this discipline will be able to help both parties find common ground, manage their conflicts, and facilitate more constructive dialogue.
Attention to Detail
With so many documents, financial records, and legal filings to sift through in each family law case, you should have an attorney who has strong attention to detail. This can help ensure that all of your required paperwork is filled out accurately and on time. In addition, having an eye for detail can help your attorney review and organize evidence for your case and spot potential vulnerabilities where the opposing counsel might attack.
Problem-Solving
Because family law cases can be deeply complicated, you need a lawyer who can offer creative and strategic problem-solving. Being able to analyze the specifics of a case to anticipate potential roadblocks and create ways to overcome them can make a difference in the quality of your case’s outcome. Strong problem-solving skills can help you access alternative dispute resolution methods that yield better results.
Integrity and Professionalism
You’ll want to hire an attorney to uphold high ethical standards and professionalism. Having someone who acts with honesty and integrity will prevent them from engaging in any unlawful behavior that could jeopardize the success of your case. For example, compelling evidence being dismissed because they unlawfully obtained it could be detrimental. Having an attorney who exudes professionalism will help your case be more well-respected and seen as more credible.
Patience and Resilience
Because some family law cases can go on for a significant amount of time, you should hire an attorney who will be patient when needed and stay resilient when obstacles arise. The most helpful attorneys remain steadfast and composed in the face of adversity, understanding that while some cases may advance frustratingly slowly, it’s all necessary to secure a positive outcome for their client.
While there are many more skills that can help your family law case, these are some of the most important to look for when you’re hiring a new attorney. Use this list as a guide to help ensure the attorney you hire has the skills and experience to secure the outcome you need.
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