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Family law Attorney
Marie Rady is trained in mediation and
collaborative approaches to divorce. She is
currently president of the Center for
Principled Family Advocacy. She can be
reached at 440.234.0662 and mradww@aol.com.
The Center for
Principled Family Advocacy,
www.famad.com
As a family law practitioner, I would give
the following advice if asked how to choose
the right divorce attorney.
Most important is the attorney’s experience
in family law. All other things being equal,
an attorney who has practiced family law for
ten years is better at dealing with family
law issues than a first year attorney or one
whose practice is not concentrated in family
law. Family law is a specialized field which
requires specialized knowledge.
The second factor is the attorney’s approach
to family law in general. You want someone
who is not only schooled in alternative
dispute resolution, but whose prefers these
alternatives to litigation. Look for a
history of engaging clients in an
alternative approach.
Related to this “approach” factor is the
attorney’s view towards your case. Consider
it a red-flag if the attorney you are
interviewing is “yes-man” or promises to get
you everything you want. Your attorney
should be fleshing out your interests are
(not wanting your children to switch schools
right now) versus your positions (wanting
the house).
All of the attorneys to whom I have referred
cases to over the years are members of the
Center for Principled Family Advocacy. The
Center provides a listing of family law
attorneys trained and committed to
alternative dispute resolution.
Visit the Center’s website at www.famad.com
to take your first step in choosing an
attorney capable of representing you through
a difficult time.
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