Many divorce lawyers see or hear of clients seeking a specific gender for their attorney when they’re filing for divorce. They feel that having either male or female attorneys will improve the chances of success in court. In some cases, male clients hire female lawyers because they can make them look more sympathetic. While in others, female clients seem to believe that having a male lawyer can be more aggressive in the process, especially if the client feels they’ve been taken for granted in their marriage.
Is the gender of your lawyer really important when it comes to the result of your case? Will a lawyer of the same gender really be more helpful in understanding what you’re going through, or should you look for someone of the opposite sex so they can bring something new to the table?
What is Extremely Important in Picking Your Divorce Lawyer
Oftentimes, those who believe that having a particular gender for their lawyer end up getting upset. Because divorce cases aren’t heard before juries, the gender of the lawyer doesn’t influence how the outcome is going to be.
A judge usually presides the trial and who your lawyer is might make a difference, but their gender will not. The judge may know which attorneys are experienced in the local courts, too. To an extent, judges may care about who your attorney is and are more concerned about your lawyer’s work ethics, preparation, and professionalism, but never their gender.
Remember that most divorce cases are settled and very few – about five percent – go to trial at all. Will the gender of your lawyer really make a difference in the outcome of the negotiations? Relying on gender stereotypes like thinking that a male lawyer would fight harder for you, and a female lawyer would be a stronger communicator, can be right – at times. However, what’s really important would be their experience and their attitude towards you and your case – not their gender.
How to Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer
It’s perfectly fine if you’re more comfortable working with a lawyer of the same sex, but you need to remember that their gender will not matter in the court or the settlement negotiations. Finding the best divorce attorney is a very personal choice. Being comfortable with the working relationship is very important to consider, especially since it’s not going to be an easy journey. You need someone you can trust at a hard time like this.
Aside from being comfortable with your chosen lawyer, it’s also important to consider other factors that will help your case. Factors like the lawyer’s experience, how they handled previous divorce cases – especially ones like yours, their work ethics, and your divorce lawyer’s attitude towards other lawyers and their attitude in the court.
Lastly, feel free to schedule a meeting with a few divorce lawyers before ultimately picking the best one for you!
