Who Needs A Lawyer In Court Anyway? Part 6: Courtesy and Civility

Question Set 4:

• What do you think of <FILL IN THIS BLANK WITH THE NAMES OF THREE OTHER DIVORCE OR CUSTODY LAWYERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY> 
• How are you different?

Why these questions matter:  First, call your local bar association.  Ask them for the names of the "three best, most aggressive divorce lawyers," who practice in your jurisdiction.  When you go shopping, look for the following in the response you get:

• Does the lawyer say ugly or rude things about these people?
• Is the lawyer honest, but courteous, even when he or she doesn't appear to particularly like the person you suggested?
• Does the lawyer include anything positive about the names you suggest?
• Be sure that when the lawyer explains how he or she is different from the names you suggest, his or her explanation is both honest and balanced.

In most parts of Maryland, local attorneys are unbelievably generous and courteous with one another.  You need that!  Especially if you are lucky enough to live in one of Maryland's less populated counties.  Where there are fewer lawyers to go around, the likelihood of them having to work with each other often results in less animosity and more civility.  Even if you don't live in one of these locations, try to find a "small-town" attitude of courtesy and respect for other lawyers from the person you interview.

On the other hand, you need to know how the divorce or custody lawyer you are interviewing reacts when he or she deals with a person that may be less than an ideal opponent.  Honesty is as important as civility.  The person you interview may tell you more in what they don't say than in what they do say.  Lawyers that are both honest and courteous follow the old childhood rule: If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.