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Does the Gender of Your Divorce Lawyer Matter?

by | Dec 10, 2020 | Divorce, Uncategorized

female divorce attorney

It’s not uncommon for people to seek an attorney of a specific gender when they’re going through a divorce. Sometimes this is about gender stereotypes. A client may assume that men are tougher in court, while women, for instance, tend to hire a female divorce attorney because they’re expected to be more compassionate. But does it really matter? Here are some things to consider. 

Does the Court Care?

The simple answer here is that the gender of your attorney only matters if it’s important to you. A female attorney can be just as tough in court, and men are equally capable of empathy. 

When a divorce case does go to court in order to resolve an impassable dispute, the judge’s job is to find a fair and impartial resolution. So, while it may matter to you, the court doesn’t care one way or another and it won’t affect the outcome of your case. 

Client Comfort

Any family lawyer should support their clients, regardless of gender. Although, if it makes you more comfortable to hire a female divorce attorney, it’s worth basing part of your selection on gender. Divorce is an uncomfortable process. With that in mind, if there’s any way to make yourself feel more at ease, why not? The extra comfort will probably help you communicate more effectively with your divorce lawyer. 

Other Questions

When choosing legal representation, there are other questions of greater importance. What you really need to know is whether or not a particular divorce lawyer has the experience to help you achieve your goals. For example, what kind of background does the attorney have, and can they make time for your case? Are you looking for a family lawyer who is also able to act as a mediator, or do you need a great litigator because your case is likely to end up in court? These are important considerations before you hire legal representation. 

Talk to a Divorce Lawyer 

To schedule a free consultation with a female divorce attorney in the San Ramon area, contact us at Whipple, Mercado & Associates. We’re committed to providing skilled, compassionate legal guidance throughout your divorce. You can use a simple contact form by clicking here, or call our office at (925) 344-5050 if you have any questions.

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Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization