Firm Overview

Why choose Bishop Law Office?

One of the more difficult decisions a person must make is his or her selection of law firms to represent him or her in a divorce or other family law proceeding. To most people, child custody (legal decision making) and parenting time issues are crucial. What a Court decides now may have an impact on custody and parenting time orders until your children reach the age of majority or graduate from high school. Your divorce proceedings will also include the division of all property and other financial assets. If your attorney does not assist you in identifying all of your property rights, you could stand to lose a great deal.

Bishop Law Offices P.C. is committed to communicate with its clients on a timely basis.

The firm provides copies of all Court documents to its clients promptly. If a client has questions, Bishop Law Office P.C. makes it a priority to respond to such questions at the first available opportunity. This may be done by telephone, in-person or e-mail. Bishop Law Office P.C. attorneys use secure high-speed internet services, and prioritize client communications.

Open and Honest Communication

An important aspect you should consider in retaining legal counsel is the attorney’s dedication to your individual case, and whether they communicate with you promptly regarding all aspects of your case. The most complaints filed through the State Bar of Arizona regard attorneys who do not properly communicate with their clients.

Board-Certified Family Law Specialist

William D. Bishop is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He is one of approximately 65 attorneys (as of 2023) throughout the State of Arizona who have attained the distinction of Certified Family Law Specialist. He is also one of the select group of Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (i.e. approximately 35 state wide). This is a small segment of family law attorneys, considering there are thousands of attorneys in Arizona that practice family law to some degree.

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Comparing Law Firms

Knowledge & Experience

Many law firms advertise themselves as superior. Before making a final decision, you should investigate the firm’s credentials as well as the individual attorney’s credentials who will be handling our case. There are various sources that rate law firms and individual attorneys. There are also certifications available to attorneys that distinguish them from other attorneys. These are objective indicators as to the quality of legal services provided.

Consumers are aware of “fake news”. Something every consumer should be aware of is “fake credentials”. There are many law firm “credential companies” that you can purchase “best attorney” and “top law firm” credentials from. Our attorneys receive numerous letters monthly asking us to pay a company money so we can receive their so-called credentials. If the credentials do not come directly from peer reviews (i.e. from other attorneys), client reviews AND judge reviews, we do not consider them reputable. The awards and certifications that Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office and its attorneys have acquired are not paid for. It amazes us when we see one to five year attorneys obtaining “top Arizona divorce attorney:, “best Arizona family law attorney”, “top Arizona divorce law firm” and other designations when such attorney has not even handled any complex cases and certainly are not Arizona Certified Family Law Specialists or Martindale Hubbel AV rated.

The only distinction between family law attorneys provided by the State Bar of Arizona is whether an attorney is a Certified Specialist. As of 2023, there are approximately 65 attorneys in the State of Arizona who are Certified Family Law Specialists. At Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office, P.C., William D. Bishop is a Certified Family Law Specialist. In all of Arizona their are only approximately 30 attorneys that are fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”). This is a nationwide organization that only selects the top divorce and family law attorneys from each state. Mr. Bishop is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as well.

The oldest and most prominent organization that rates attorneys is Martindale-Hubbell, which has rated attorneys and law firms for over 100 years. The Martindale-Hubbell rating system provides for an unbiased peer based rating system whereby both attorneys and judges rate other attorneys and firms. An attorney or firm must be well above average just to be rated, much less achieve the highest ratings.

2022 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office P.C. has consistently achieved the highest possible rating available through Martindale-Hubbell. Less than 5% of attorneys and firms have achieved such rating. Based upon such achievements, Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office P.C. and its attorneys are listed with the Martindale-Hubbell Registrar of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Bishop, Mr. Beeks and Mr. Bergstrom have all achieved an AV Rating (i.e., the very highest rating).

William D. Bishop has also been selected as one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers. Such selection is a peer-reviewed nomination based upon “a demonstrated record of high achievement, excellent legal skills, and a well-earned reputation for integrity”. As of 2023, only 6% of all Arizona’s attorneys (including practicing attorneys, retired attorneys, judges and law professors) have been selected for such distinction. As noted previously, Mr. Bishop has been selected the last four years by Super Lawyers as one of Arizona’s top 50 attorneys in all areas of practice (i.e., from approximately 16,000 total licensed attorneys in the state). Despite these credentials, Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office P.C.’s legal fees are comparable or less than many family law attorneys who have not achieved these distinctions.

Recent Recognitions

2023 Bar Registrant of Preeminent Lawyers – Martindale-Hubbell – Bishop, Del Veccio & Beeks Law Office, P.C.
2023 Judicial Edition – William D. Bishop – Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Rated AV Preeminent
2023 Judicial Edition – Danial P. Beeks – Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Rated AV Preeminent
2023 Judicial Edition – Erik C. Bergstrom – Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Rated AV Preeminent
2022 AZ Business Magazine Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona – William Bishop
2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms – Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office, P.C.
2023 Martindale Hubbell Rated AV Preeminent – Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards 2023 – William Bishop
2023 Best Law Firms In Arizona First-Tier Rankings – U.S. News & World Report – Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office, P.C.
2021 AVVO Top-Rated Lawyer – William Bishop
2023 The American Registry America’s Most Honored Lawyers Top 1% – William Bishop
2023 Top 50 Attorneys in Arizona – Phoenix Magazine – William Bishop

Other Considerations

Some people may choose a firm because of its close location to their home or work. Other people may choose the attorney with the lowest hourly rate. Some people may choose an attorney because a friend or family member knows the attorney. Although all of these may be valid considerations, we suggest that you fully investigate your options before you make a decision.

Choosing the right family law firm for you is a critical decision and should be made only after fully informing yourself of your alternatives. We do not mind if you shop around – we are confident that you will choose our firm based upon our commitment to excellence, our commitment to your individual case, and our reputation in the legal community. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.