When you’re in the middle of a divorce, the last thing you may want to see is your lawyer being friendly with your spouse’s lawyer. Your attorney is supposed to fight for you, not have polite conversations with the other side or give in to requests for more time. While it may seem wrong for opposing lawyers to get along with each other, it usually benefits your case rather than hurting it.
How Can My Lawyer Be on Good Terms with My Spouse’s Lawyer?
Lawyers are professionals and should treat each other the way they want to be treated. Just because they represent parties on opposite sides doesn’t mean they should be rude, difficult or uncooperative. While they have an obligation to advocate for their clients, they can be aggressive litigators, tough negotiators and courteous professionals at the same time.
Why Should My Lawyer Be Friendly with Opposing Counsel?
Often, lawyers who are on good terms can conduct their case more efficiently. They may be more responsive and communicate with each other more effectively, leading to fewer misunderstandings.
They are also more likely to negotiate and cooperate when problems arise rather than going to court to decide every dispute. For example, if one side needs more time to produce information or a client on one side is being difficult, the lawyers may be able to discuss out-of-court solutions that keep the case moving forward, saving clients time and money in litigation.
What If the Lawyers Aren’t on Good Terms?
Some lawyers feel they must be adversarial at all times and refuse to agree to any requests from the other side. While this may be acceptable ethically, it can be unproductive and delay the case unnecessarily.
When every issue, no matter how small, has to go to a judge to decide, the parties end up spending more time and money than if they worked it out themselves. Compromise isn’t always possible or desirable, but if one side is never willing to be agreeable, it prolongs litigation.
If you’re choosing a lawyer or concerned about your lawyer’s behavior, contact us to discuss how we can help you with your divorce or other family law matter.
