Finally, your legal adviser can interface with the court, helping you prepare the papers needed for an uncontested divorce once your settlement agreement is signed, if your mediator does not do that for you.

If you instead start the process with solid legal information, you can negotiate an agreement that takes into account all of your legal rights. This makes it much less likely that the mediation will fall apart at the last minute.

As your mediation progresses, you should feel free to consult with your legal adviser on an as-needed basis between mediation sessions, whenever you have questions about your legal rights or proposed settlement terms.

Expertise in divorce law. You want a lawyer with significant experience in the area of divorce law. In some states, lawyers can get certified as specialists in certain fields of the law. If this is true in your state, consider looking for a certified specialist in divorce law, family law, or matrimonial law. Many certified specialists are quite knowledgeable about mediation and are experienced as consulting lawyers. Their high hourly fee is often justified by the quality and efficiency of their advice and services.

Reputation for integrity. Your legal adviser should have a good reputation for competence, honesty, and respectful treatment of clients. Ask your referral sources about these qualities.