There are usually a large number of divorce lawyers in most major towns and cities. As such, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Here are two questions to ask during your initial consultation with a divorce lawyer.

How many cases are you currently handling?

A divorce lawyer's current workload will play a significant role in how proactive they are in regards to your case. Even a driven and highly-knowledgeable professional will struggle to go the extra mile for a new client if they are trying to juggle five or six other cases at the same time. If your situation is quite complex (for example, if there are issues regarding the division of assets or problems with child custody arrangements) then you may need a lawyer who is willing and able to devote extra time and resources to your case.

Furthermore, a divorce lawyer with a heavy caseload may find it harder to keep up with paperwork and as such, may take longer to file important documents with the courts. This, in turn, could prolong your divorce. If like many people, you find the divorce process very stressful and want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible, these types of delays could be very frustrating.

Additionally, it's possible that, due to their busy schedule, they might not be able to be your main point of contact and may instead allow other lawyers in their office to address any queries you have. This could be quite irritating as in this situation, you will most likely have to repeatedly explain the finer points of your case to each new person that you speak to before you can get answers to your questions.

How many years have you been practicing family law?

If your divorce is an amicable one and does not involve complicated issues like child custody or asset division, then you probably don't need to hire an experienced (and therefore more expensive) divorce lawyer.

However, the reality is that many divorce cases are neither simple nor amicable. If your relationship with your spouse did not end on a good note and there are challenging issues which need to be dealt with, then it is absolutely vital to hire a divorce lawyer who has the experienced required to handle your case correctly.

A lawyer who has been practicing family lawyer for many years and has handled dozens of divorce cases will most likely have dealt with cases similar to yours in the past and as such, will understand what type of tactics and negotiations are needed to secure the outcome you desire.