You’re constantly telling people what you do for a living. It comes up in most conversations with people you’ve just met. It’s unavoidable.

Most of your family law peers tell people something like “I’m an attorney; I practice family law.”

What’s my little trick for you?

Stop saying “family law.” It doesn’t resonate with people. They don’t understand what it means. They think you’re something like the family doctor who treats everything from dog bites to common colds to constipation. Family doctor translates to something like “generalist doctor.”

You don’t want prospective clients and referral sources thinking of you as a “generalist lawyer.”

You want them to remember you, and being specific is a big part of making that happen.

Tell them you’re a “divorce lawyer.” Go on to explain, if you have the chance, that you help people get started again by straightening out child custody disputes, dividing property, and working out spousal support.

It’s important that people you meet leave you with the ability to refer to you or to call you. They should know your name and that you’re a divorce lawyer. If they’ve got those two pieces of information, they can find you on Google and track you down (at least, I hope we can find you on Google).

Put your name and “divorce lawyer” in their head, and you’re way ahead of the competition.