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The Comfort Zone: A Look at Legal Styles |
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There are as many different legal styles as there are attorneys. Some attorneys are tough and aggressive and give you an immediate feeling of confidence or dislike, depending on your perspective. Others seem too nice and far too soft-spoken, and you can't imagine them standing up to your spouse, let alone a judge. |
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In the end, the attorney you choose must be someone whose legal style makes you feel confident and at home. Of course, you want someone who will deftly help you negotiate and win power points in court. By the same token, if your lawyer is such a shark you're afraid to speak up and voice your concerns, all that aggression won't do you much good. |
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In the end, it's a huge plus if you simply like your lawyer. Is this individual someone with whom you are compatible? Can you be straightforward without feeling he or she is judgmental or condescending? Is your attorney genuinely concerned about you and the outcome of your case? |
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Speak to someone in the throes of divorce, and you'll hear that their soon-to-be ex found an attorney much like himself or herselfsort of like the lady in the bouffant hairdo who buys a poodle or the pugnacious private detective who walks around the neighborhood with a hound. The comparisons usually aren't flattering, of courseone gets the feeling that the spouse and Saddam Hussein are sitting side by side in mugshots labeled separated at birth! |
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The truth is that some lawyers act one way when they are with clients, another when they're in front of a judge, and still another when they're with your spouse's lawyer. That's not always inconsistency; sometimes it's just smarts. The best thing you can do is to watch prospective attorneys perform in court; this is difficult, of course, because legal schedules change at the drop of a hat. |
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You may also ask the lawyer for a client reference. Some attorneys may feel uncomfortable with the request because of confidentiality issues, but others may have clients who would be willing to talk. |
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