A negative decision in a divorce court might seem like the end, but further action is possible with help from a divorce appellate attorney in Colorado. As their name implies, these lawyers can help spouses appeal negative decisions in higher courts. Although this may lead to more positive outcomes, all appellate attorneys are not created equal. In order to choose the most appropriate candidate for their unique needs, spouses may wish to keep several factors in mind. Once a spouse has narrowed down a list of potential candidates, they may decide to book consultations with each one. A consultation with a divorce lawyer in Colorado could provide further insights into their philosophy, experience, and personality. Consider calling (720) 593-6442 to book a consultation with The Colorado Divorce Law Group and discuss appellate needs in more detail.
Appellate attorneys with more experience may be able to help spouses overcome challenging situations. An appellate attorney who has handled numerous divorce appeals will have probably experienced a wide range of complex situations and issues. They may also be aware of numerous common mistakes that less experienced attorneys tend to make during the appellate process. To determine experience levels, a spouse may ask a lawyer how many years they have been practicing law. However, it may make sense to be more specific. For example, a spouse might ask how long an attorney has been practicing family law, and how many years they have spent working on appeals.
Educational experience can also shed light on the potential suitability of an appellate lawyer. Colorado is home to a few notable law schools, including the University of Colorado and the Sturm College of Law in Denver. Of course, a lawyer might have attended a law school in a different state, such as Florida or California. After graduating, a lawyer might continue their education with various certifications and courses. They might also become accredited members of certain organizations, such as the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), and the Appellate Section.
A lawyer might have been practicing law for decades, but this does not necessarily mean they have achieved positive outcomes for their clients over these years. Consider the past achievements of a potential appellate lawyer as well as their overall experience levels. Fortunately, many appellate decisions go on public record – making it easy to determine the achievements of a particular lawyer in the Colorado Court of Appeals. A spouse might also ask a lawyer to list past appellate cases they have worked on. Again, it helps to be specific. Ask whether a lawyer has worked on appellate cases that are relevant to the case at hand. For example, a spouse might ask about past appellate cases involving child custody if they need to appeal a negative child custody decision.
Communication skills are important for appellate lawyers. Unlike “behind-the-scenes” aspects of family law like mediation or discovery, lawyers must provide strong oral arguments during appeals. Based on this requirement, it may make sense to choose an appellate lawyer who can express themselves clearly and effectively. Although it might be difficult for the average spouse to assess the technical capabilities of a particular lawyer, most people can easily identify strong communication skills. Simply having a conversation during an initial consultation can help spouses assess the communication skills of a particular lawyer.
Aside from oral communication, an appellate lawyer in Colorado also relies on their written communication skills. When filing an appeal, written arguments must be concise and compelling. To assess written communication skills, a spouse might review any documents written by a specific lawyer in the past – including emails and web content.
One of the areas that we pride ourselves in at The Colorado Divorce Law Group is the way we genuinely partner with our clients and provide consistent communication. Learn more about how we can help you today by calling (720) 593-6442.
The Colorado Court of Appeals may be a positive resource for spouses attempting to assess the capabilities of specific appellate lawyers. Many appeals go on public record, and the Colorado Court of Appeals maintains live and archived oral argument videos on its website. Spouses may view videos of these oral arguments to assess certain lawyers. While not all of these cases involve divorce appeals, spouses can find numerous videos of lawyers providing oral arguments on issues like child custody, marital misconduct, and so on.
A spouse might reach out to a lawyer after watching their public oral arguments. They might also speak with a candidate and ask for the case numbers of their past appeals. Using these case numbers, they may be able to access videos of the lawyer providing oral arguments in court.
Many spouses consider divorce lawyers after hearing about them through friends, family, or co-workers. If people have positive things to say about a particular lawyer, it may be worth booking a consultation and exploring the candidate further. Even if a spouse does not receive any direct recommendations, they may view online reviews, testimonials, and other digital content to assess the experiences of others. Many lawyers post reviews and testimonials of past clients on their websites, making this research process relatively straightforward.
Although there are numerous options when choosing a divorce appellate attorney in Colorado, it makes sense to take a more measured approach rather than picking a candidate at random. Online research only provides so many insights, and scheduling a consultation with an appellate lawyer may offer further indications about their experience levels, educational background, and track record. With no legal experience of their own, spouses may feel unqualified to assess the suitability of a particular divorce lawyer. However, most spouses are perfectly capable of judging other factors, such as the personality and communication skills of a lawyer. Consider booking a consultation with The Colorado Divorce Law Group today by calling (720) 593-6442.