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MEN'S LAWYER/WOMEN'S LAWYER |
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For a divorce will I be better off retaining a lawyer of the same gender? |
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Is there a sufficient number of women lawyers so I can select one of my liking? |
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If I want aggressive representation, am I better served by retaining a lawyer who holds himself out as a men's rights lawyer, or she holds herself out to be a women's rights specialist? |
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Won't a one gender lawyer be more aggressive? |
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Does Gitlin, Busche & Stetler represent one gender more than another? |
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| Q: |
For a divorce will I be better off retaining a lawyer of the same gender? |
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The choice of a lawyer (like the choice of a physician) is a highly personal matter. If you believe you will be more comfortable with a lawyer of the same gender, then you should do so. Your choice, however, should not be made solely on the basis of gender. The most significant item is the qualifications of the lawyer. |
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| Q: |
Is there a sufficient number of women lawyers so I can select one of my liking? |
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Yes. When I started practicing in McHenry County , there was only one woman lawyer. Now, of the lawyers who regularly appear in the divorce courtrooms, my observation is that slightly more than half are women. |
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| Q: |
If I want aggressive representation, am I better served by retaining a lawyer who holds himself out as a men's rights lawyer, or she holds herself out to be a women's rights specialist? |
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No. There is a divorce firm in Chicago which advertises as being a men's rights firm. There also is one lawyer in McHenry County who holds himself out as a men's rights lawyer. In my view this is strictly a business promotion. The fact that a lawyer holds himself/herself out as being a man's lawyer, or a woman's lawyer, does not in itself make that lawyer knowledgeable about the law or a capable litigator. In regards to negotiations a one gender lawyer is sometimes at a disadvantage because he/she is viewed as a lawyer with a strong bias who is on a crusade. |
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| Q: |
Won't a one gender lawyer be more aggressive? |
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Maybe, but being a consistent pit bull usually backfires. It is the judge who decides the case. Judges do not like "in your face" lawyers. In litigation aggression and anger should be used only most sparingly and with the utmost discretion. On the other hand confidence and assertiveness, born out of being a superior lawyer, are appropriate and desirable. |
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| Q: |
Does Gitlin, Busche & Stetler represent one gender more than another? |
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No. While we do not have current statistics, several years ago we did a 12-month survey. I was surprised and pleased to find that the spread between female and male clients was almost exactly 50/50. |
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