How do you judge a fair result in a family case?

In negotiating a fair result in a family case, lawyers should respect the fact that their client was married to this person or live with this person for, typically, a lengthy period of time. It’s not the lawyers job to somehow trash that relationship or sow division between the couple. Rather, they need to respect the other side and understand where they’re coming from, both psychologically and financially. 

Once you understand where the other side is coming from, you can tailor your approach to the case in a way that brings about a result where both people are satisfied. Determining what is important to each side is of the utmost importance, without that knowledge you don’t know where to compromise. Keep in mind that, at the end of the day, it’s rare that both people are completely happy with the result. Typically both sides will have to make compromises and concessions throughout the process. 

However, if these conflicts are handled respectfully, thoroughly, and with care, people come to respect the final outcome and move on with their lives. In fact, this approach removes a great deal of conflict from their lives and puts them back on the road to having a regular, decent life.