When Karen Covy started her legal career, she never wanted to handle divorce cases. "I started out as a trial lawyer, and remember thinking at the time that anyone who practiced divorce law had to be a little crazy," she laughs. But never say never: Today, Ms. Covy is a highly successful divorce attorney, mediator, and author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. Why the change? Karen soon realized this was one area where lawyers can truly make a difference. "Divorce law offers me the opportunity to help a lot of people," says Karen, "and getting the right help makes a huge difference in the ultimate outcome of a case."

Genuinely cares about clients’ needs

In family law and mediation, Karen has found her niche. When you speak with her, you can tell that she genuinely cares about her clients. Karen listens empathetically to their stories and works toward meeting their needs in as economical a manner as possible. "Sometimes, that means settling their case in a way that makes sense for them and their families," Karen says. "Sometimes, that means fighting for what they need in court." The important thing, she stresses, is to know when to settle, when to fight, and what effect settling or fighting is likely to have on the rest of the client's life.

Mediation, collaborative law or litigation

In addition to being a divorce attorney, Karen is a family-law mediator, although she cannot perform both roles in the same case. She doesn't hesitate, however, to inform clients about pursuing mediation, as well as collaborative law, if it's appropriate for their cases. "Collaborative law works when both people want to settle and they have assets but don't want to fight over the values," she says. In smaller cases, mediation often serves the same function. While her experience as a trial lawyer enables her to fight for her clients, she will only turn to litigation when there is no other reasonable choice. "Sometimes, your choices are to get rolled over, or to fight. If that's the case, you fight."

For clients, knowledge is power

To those experiencing separation and divorce, Karen offers these words of wisdom: "Arm yourself with knowledge." First, she says, become knowledgeable about your own situation...what does your financial life look like? What do you want for your kids? Can you support yourself? Then, arm yourself with professional knowledge. "Make sure you learn what you need to know about the divorce process from lawyers in your area. Many lawyers offer free consultations. If you have a substantial number of assets, or you know your divorce is going to be ugly, get a lawyer as soon as you can. If you don't understand finances, find an accountant or a financial planner. If you're an emotional wreck, consider a counselor or therapist. Do whatever you need to get through the divorce process with as much information as possible."

Making a difference in people's lives

For an attorney who didn't want to practice family law, Karen is pleased she gave it a try. "I have the right temperament for it," she says. To be a good family-law attorney, you need to know more than divorce law. You need to know about real estate, taxes, finances, relationships, and a multitude of other things. As Karen notes, "There's an extremely satisfying human element to family law. It gives me a chance to improve someone's life in a real way. It gives me a chance to make a difference."

For more information, or to book a consultation, please contact Chicago divorce lawyer, author and speaker:

The Law Offices of Karen A. Covy, P.C.
30 N. La Salle Street, Suite 1210
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 236-1670
www.karencovy.com
karen@KarenCovy.com

Karen Covy has written the following articles:

• Mediation Myths and Realities
• Alternatives to Court: Collaborative Law

FAQs:

• "If a divorce involves complex issues, can you still use a mediator?"
• "What if we try divorce mediation and it doesn’t work out? Do we have to go to court, or are there other options?"
• "I'm worried that this divorce is going to ruin me financially. Do you have any tips to prevent this?"
• "I have joint custody. What if I suspect that my ex-spouse is physically or emotionally abusing our child?"
• "I'm in the middle of a divorce but have already fallen in love with somebody else. Is it legal to get engaged before the divorce is final? If so, will it affect the divorce outcome?"
• "Under what circumstances can I annul my marriage, rather than get a divorce?"
• "I've been ordered to pay an amount of support that I can't afford. What are my options?"
• "My ex-husband and I divorced five years ago, but we've recently started seeing each other again, and he wants us to remarry. Is this a good idea?"
• "Will I get better service with a more expensive divorce attorney?"