It is essential that any attorney possess the skills to succeed in litigation. In family law, litigation is the tool we use to advocate for our clients after other methods of dispute resolution have failed. Family law attorneys use alternatives to litigation first because litigation is expensive for the family, financially and emotionally.

Mediation and arbitration are alternative tools for dispute resolution which are important for family law matters. Negotiation is the basic tool of advocacy. If successful, it leads to dispute resolution by settlement.

However, advocating for our clients is not all that we do. We are counselors, educators, researchers, analysts and writers. These are all important roles in which we serve our clients and their families. Some cases need our work in only one role, and others require our work in every role.