Virginia Divorce Law: Types of Divorce Lawyers

If you are interested in hiring an attorney to represent you in your divorce case or you are going up against an another lawyer without help, it is important to know what kinds of divorce lawyers there are. The different types of divorce lawyers may have an impact on how you should handle your case.

Attorneys are people and we all come with our own personalities and trial strategies. So what are the most common types of divorce lawyers and what should you be aware of when looking for your own, and does any one type of lawyer win out?

Divorce Lawyer One: The Bull Dog/Pit Bull

This is the most common view that people have of divorce lawyers. These lawyers spend most of their time posturing and engage in aggressive litigation tactics. Commonly, a bull dog/pit bull lawyer will be confrontational in their strategy. They are also more willing to directly adopt their client’s position whenever filing something with the Court.

The major benefit of a bull dog/pit bull lawyer is that your voice will be directly conveyed to the judge. However, this strategy can come with some downsides. Being overly aggressive without reason can lead to an award of legal fees at the end of the case against the person who hired the bull dog/pit bull lawyer. It can also drive up your legal bill.

Confrontational without purpose is a bad thing from the Court’s perspective. The Court ultimately wants reasonable settlement discussion without all cases going to trial.

Divorce Lawyer Two: The Negotiator

A negotiator type of lawyer is focused on gaining every strategic advantage they can through settlement negotiation and smart use of court procedures. This type of lawyer focuses on sending well drafted settlement proposals which are designed to get the parties talking.

The major benefit of a negotiator type of lawyer is that their main focus is getting you the best possible result. The negotiator sets their sights on the most likely outcome and tries to get a resolution as close to that as possible.

The downside of a negotiator type of lawyer is that they may not engage in the aggressive and confrontational strategies of a bull dog/pit bull lawyer. They may also try to avoid active litigation if they don’t feel it advances the case.

Divoce Lawyer Three: The Litigator

The last major type of divorce lawyer is the litigator. They often drive up the cost of a divorce case by taking most issues directly to the Court without substantial settlement discussions. The purpose of driving up the cost may force the other side to the negotiation table to resolve the case or may catch them in a legal problem that adversely impacts their case.

The major benefit of a litigation focused divorce lawyer is that they often are well versed in legal procedure and spend a substantial amount of time in the Court room. The major downside is that their services often cost a substantial amount of money and the case may take longer to resolve.

What Type of Divorce Lawyer is Best For You?

Every lawyer has different strategies on how they view divorce cases. Some lawyers may take strategies from any one of the above styles to create their own style. At the end of the day, the best lawyer for you is the one that you feel the most comfortable with based upon your own style. It is a bad idea to hire a lawyer that has a different style than your own. The main reason to hire a lawyer is to trust in their presentation of your case and professional judgment.

Having a mismatch of personalities can result in delayed results and bad case outcomes. If you are looking for a divorce lawyer, make sure you ask questions of your lawyer as to what kind of lawyer they are and what strategies are available in your specific case. That way you can make an informed decision before you hire them.