If you find yourself in a situation where a good divorce attorney is necessary you will need to do some research to find the right one.  Like all professionals, a good divorce attorney is not born but made through experience, schooling and overall ability. 

There is much more to being a good divorce attorney than knowing law and divorce procedure.  Most of that knowledge can be learned from books that are readily available even to the layman.  Besides law and divorce procedure, a good divorce attorney brings personal experience, knowledge of the court, and a well-prepared case to the courtroom.

There are several books published on divorce, most of which are do-it-yourself guides to divorce.  Any good divorce attorney will tell you that attempting to file and proceed through a divorce yourself is risky to say the least.  For one thing, you are not an attorney and unless you have lots of time on your hands for legal research, you do not know the laws and divorce procedure.  This can make for some awkward moments in the courtroom.   A good divorce attorney will know how a specific courtroom works, either by personal knowledge or through some research.  Do not be fooled, not every courtroom is the same.  Judges run their courts the way they see fit and this does not always coincide with other courtrooms. 

It is possible for a non-skilled person to jeopardize an otherwise easy divorce case by attempting to obtain a divorce their self.  The judge has the power to dismiss a case that does not follow his/her instructions to the letter.  If the judge determines that, you are wasting the courts time then the case could be dismissed necessitating more expense and time with filing the petition again and waiting for another court date, which could be several months down the road.

A good divorce attorney works for you not the other way around.  As a client, you have the right to ask for credentials from your attorney. Do not be afraid to ask about their experience in the courtroom, how long they have been practicing, and where they went to school.  Any good divorce attorney will offer such information to you. 

Above all else, you need to feel comfortable with your divorce attorney.  In order for you and your attorney to work together, you need to form a relationship.  This relationship will last the duration of your case and is based on a working concept.  As a client, you are obligated to be completely honest with your attorney, as he/she is does with you.  Make certain that you provide all requested information to your attorney within a reasonable amount of time.  Also, be sure to keep all appointments and maintain open lines of communication.  Your attorney is not a mind reader so be sure to tell him/her anything that may be pertinent to your case.  Moreover, ask all questions that you may have, that way there are no surprises to be had. 

While a good divorce attorney will cost money and sometimes lots of it, their services are necessary.  Trying to save a few bucks and doing it yourself will most likely result in more time and money spent unnecessarily.