Coping with Client Expectations in Divorce

High school students should know that a family lawyer needs to understand their client’s feelings about divorce and the legal process. A therapist who works with divorcing clients can provide important information to the lawyer that the client may not share directly. A good lawyer-client relationship is important for a successful outcome in a divorce case. This article helps lawyers understand their clients’ emotions and how to improve their relationship with them. Divorce can be really tough on people’s emotions. Research shows that it can make people really stressed out and even contribute to physical illness. People who are getting a divorce often have higher rates of psychological problems and might have trouble functioning normally. When people are going through a divorce, they might feel scared, confused, and not able to think clearly. It’s important for their lawyer to understand this and communicate with them in a sensitive way. People going through a divorce might go through different emotional stages, kind of like how terminally ill patients do. It’s important to be patient and understanding with them during this tough time. Some clients have a hard time accepting that their spouse wants a divorce. They might think their spouse is acting strangely and seek other reasons for their behavior. They may not even want the divorce and be in disbelief about it. If you are a lawyer representing someone like this, you might need to talk to them about their beliefs about the divorce and consider referring them to a therapist for help. Sometimes when people are thinking about getting a divorce, they may act like they’re not sure if they really want one. They might believe that by being fair and reasonable in the divorce process, their spouse will come back to them. Other people may get really angry during a divorce and act unreasonably. Lawyers have to help these clients understand what’s really going on and make sure they don’t do anything that will make things worse. It’s important for lawyers to talk to these clients regularly and help them deal with their feelings. Depressed clients who are going through a divorce may have a hard time focusing and may feel hopeless. They might need more help and support from their lawyer. Clients who have accepted the divorce and are thinking rationally may be more able to work together with their lawyer to get a fair outcome. It’s important for the lawyer to understand where the client is at emotionally, so they can provide the right kind of support. When people go through a divorce, they might feel confused and upset when meeting with their lawyer. Things like the office environment and how they are treated by the staff can affect their perception of the lawyer and the divorce process. Many clients don’t understand the divorce procedures and feel like nothing is happening with their case. They also sometimes feel like the support staff are not as important as the lawyer. It’s important for lawyers to be patient and explain things clearly to their clients. It’s important for attorneys to clearly explain fees and billing to clients to avoid complaints. Attorneys should also keep clients informed about the divorce process and check in on how they’re feeling about the service. It’s also important to communicate in simple language and address any dissatisfaction promptly. Clients have different expectations about how involved their attorney should be, and it’s important to understand and address these expectations. Some clients want their lawyer to be their therapist, some want them to make all the decisions for them, some want them to be aggressive and seek revenge, and some just want them to give legal advice. It’s important for attorneys to understand how they feel about their clients and how those feelings might affect their work. This can impact how they communicate and their overall motivation to work on a case. Attorneys should consider their emotional reactions and try to tailor their communication to each client’s needs to provide the best professional experience. This article talks about how divorce is common and can be a painful experience for individuals. It gives tips on how lawyers can understand and meet their clients’ needs during a divorce. The writer, James Kochalka, is a psychologist who has been practicing in Tampa since 1985. He helps people with relationship issues and also provides advice to businesses. This means that the Florida Bar wants its members to understand the importance of doing their duty and helping the public. They also want to make sure that the legal system works well and keeps getting better.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/coping-with-client-expectations-in-divorce/