One problem divorce lawyers and their clients always face is how to get behind the stated positions of the opponent in order to understand his or her underlying needs and interests. If you know what your opposition really wants to achieve, sometimes alternatives can be suggested that will satisfy both sides.
In addition to learning about divorce law, the client should spend time with you analyzing the other spouse's emotional status, interests and preferences, as well as his or her own. A jointly planned set of strategies with full client participation at this stage can be very effective. Emotional issues overlay every negotiation. Divorce is analogous to a death in the family. As the survivors, the couple goes through all the grieving processes observed when a close relative dies, including denial, anger, grief, and finally acceptance. No matter what stage each of the parties is in, understanding the psychological implications of the divorce upon the participants is crucial to successful closure.
Every family law attorney is expected to be an informed, albeit amateur psychologist. For some layers, this comes naturally; for others, it is an earned honorary degree. Over the course of my practice I have studied basic theory about personality types and have found it to be a powerful tool in determining which of my clients have a good chance for client-directed negotiation outcomes.