7 Key Qualities of a Top Divorce Lawyer

by | Sep 20, 2020 | Divorce, Uncategorized

When you’re going through a divorce, the last thing you want to worry about is the competence of your lawyer. It’s a highly stressful time, and you need to ensure that you’re selecting the top divorce lawyer who can help you through the process. A good divorce lawyer will be your advocate, working tirelessly to protect your interests and ensure that you get the best possible outcome. But what are the key qualities to look for when selecting a divorce lawyer? In this article, we’ll discuss 7 key traits that make a top divorce lawyer.

Experience

Experience is the first and most important trait to look for in a top divorce lawyer. Divorce is a complex legal process, and you need a lawyer who has years of experience in handling these cases. Experienced lawyers are more knowledgeable about the processes and able to navigate the system smoothly and efficiently. They are also more likely to have a track record of achieving favorable outcomes for their clients. It’s essential to ask for references or review your lawyer’s professional history to ensure that they have the requisite experience.

Communication

It’s exceedingly important that your divorce lawyer is able to clearly and patiently communicate what is required of you, what is happening, and what will happen in the proceedings. Along with being able to get across information, communication also requires active listening. Make sure that, when you meet with your lawyer, he or she communicates clearly with you and allows you to feel heard and understood.

Professionalism

When it comes to the law, professionalism is especially important. Marks of professionalism include successfully meeting deadlines, arriving on time for meetings, and correctly filling out and filing paperwork. These are just a few examples of the professionalism necessary for a top divorce lawyer. In order to ensure that you have the best possible representation, be sure to choose a lawyer who conducts themselves professionally. This will help you to have the best possible experience and outcome.

Availability

A good lawyer should be available to answer your questions and respond in a timely manner. A professional who is too busy with other clients and seems to have no time for you may not be the best fit. Communication is key in a divorce proceeding, and you need to ensure that your lawyer is accessible to you when you need them.

Understanding

Divorce is generally one of the most painful experiences to get through. For this reason, your divorce lawyer should be understanding and able to show you empathy. A top divorce lawyer that understands where you’re coming from will be better able to fight for you. They will be able to put themselves in your shoes and advocate for your interests with passion and conviction.

Confidence

Due to the rigorous and high-pressure nature of law, confidence is key. A confident lawyer will make the best case for you and impose the best impression on those in the courtroom. Having an assertive lawyer can also help you to feel better about your case. A lawyer who exudes confidence will help you to feel confident about the outcome of your case and help to put your mind at ease.

Ethical

It’s important to know whether your top divorce lawyer has ever been disciplined by the State Bar. Look up your divorce lawyer on the State Bar website to see if he or she has been previously suspended or disciplined for unethical practices. It’s important to select a lawyer who operates with the highest ethical standards. You need to be able to trust that your lawyer will act in your best interests and not engage in any unethical behavior

If you are considering getting a divorce, it is important to do your research and choose a qualified and experienced lawyer. The right lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.

Here are some additional questions to ask when interviewing a top divorce lawyer:

  • What is your approach to divorce?
  • How do you typically handle child custody cases?
  • How do you typically handle property division cases?
  • How do you typically handle spousal support cases?
  • What are your fees?
  • What are your payment arrangements?

It is important to ask these questions and get answers that you are comfortable with before getting a divorce lawyer.

Contact Us

When you’re ready for a top divorce lawyer who meets these qualifications and more, contact us. At Whipple, Mercado & Associates, LLP we can provide you with the representation and assistance you need to make sure that your family is protected. Contact our office at  (925) 344-5050.

Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization