Litigator or Collaborative Lawyer? Hiring Your Divorce Lawyer.

So, how do you hire the best family law lawyer? There are different kinds of family law lawyers.
 
There is the litigator. The litigator is aggressive, thinks on his feet, won't back down and will work hard so that you win. Only problem is, sometimes you don’t win. And the cost of a trial can be astronomical, sometimes $5,000 to $10,000 per day of court. On the other hand, when choosing your lawyer, you will want someone who knows the ins and outs of litigation. Isn't it wise to have the litigator's courtroom horse power under the hood just in case?  
 
What about the settlement lawyer? This lawyer understands you and gets your case. And she also understands the other side. She's a smooth negotiator who’s going to make sure the other side thinks they are going to win too.  Win-win is her goal. She's’s a master of the meeting, of artful wording and making everyone feel good. She probably is an experienced mediator too. Only problem is, is she any good in court if the other side doesn't want to talk? 
 
What about the collaborator?  The Collaborative Lawyer works with you and with everyone else to get the best result. He'll work with a financial advisor, a child expert, an appraiser. You’ll have the benefit of a team working to get your interests front and centre. And he'll work collaboratively with the other side so that they can become part of the solution, not the problem. The collaborator will draw options from a broader circle than the close purview of the litigator whose only goal is to win.  But can the collaborator stand up and argue your case if need be? Can he call the other side’s bluff and go the extra mile when the other side refuses to collaborate? 
 
A good lawyer will be able to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of litigation and settlement options such as negotiation, mediation and collaborative law because that lawyer has been there and done that. A lawyer who knows what is happening in Court, has a track record of settling cases and who is a certified Collaborative Lawyer is your best bet. 
 
Start with a lawyer who understands all your legal options -- from litigation to mediation and everything in between -- because that lawyer has experience with each of those options. Then, work with that lawyer to choose the course that best suits you and your case