Who Needs A Lawyer in Court Anyway? Part 5: Legal Knowledge and Willingness to Learn

Question Set 3:

• Explain what the law in Maryland is about my issue (custody?  spousal support?  grounds for divorce?)

• If you come up against a legal issue you really don't understand, what do you do?

Why these questions matter:  Divorce and custody law is complicated, especially in Maryland.  You want a lawyer who knows the substance (the answers to the specific questions about legal issues in your case) as well as the way the issues are applied by the court most often (the procedures the court in your jurisdiction has for dealing with these issues).  More important, you want a divorce or custody attorney who has some degree of humility and willingness to be a student.  Really!  Be much more wary of the lawyer who seems to know everything about everything.  Here's a clue:  the best legal minds in the world, in any area of law, have maintained a beginner's mind.  They are willing not to know the answer and to work like crazy to learn it.