I remember being in awe of the divorce lawyer sitting before me in the plush office in central London. Perfect hair and makeup, she was wearing a dress and heels that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Suits. She stared at me over the top of her designer glasses. “Do not waste your money telling me your problems. Get a therapist,” she said.
My divorce was dragging on. In 2017, five years after filing for divorce, I took the plunge and hired a new law firm in an attempt to bring litigation to an end. According to her company’s website, this woman had a reputation for winning; she’d even been on television. She must be good, I thought.
In all honesty, I preferred my previous lawyer. Our friendship grew after spending many miserable hours in the Central Family Court in Holborn. Yes, I probably did tell him too much, but I trusted him. After a few hefty bills, I stopped asking him what he’d been up to at the weekend because his response cost me a good 15 minutes of his not inexpensive time.
Shorts
A friend did not fare as well with her lawyer, whose poor communication skills merely served to delay the divorce. “I regret not asking divorced friends for their recommendations,” she said afterwards. It is worth taking time to find a lawyer who is a good match for you. Personal recommendations are best, but online directories provide further information and testimonials.
