Hanlon's razor is a familiar maxim that states, "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” A bit harsh, this adage reminds us that while our brains may jump to a conclusion of ill intentions, often a more benign reason is the cause. This automatic thinking may have served our ancestors, but … Continue reading Erring on the Side of Graciousness
Sunday is known in the Christian culture as a day of rest; the concept of the Sabbath was borrowed from our Jewish ancestors. I am a practicing Catholic, but I would be lying if I claimed my Sundays were actual days of rest. Sundays are often quite full of household and personal errands and social … Continue reading Pointing My Compass
I attended an event recently where several family lawyers and family court commissioners were in attendance. Chatting with a former family lawyer turned commissioner whom I have known for 20+ years, the following exchange took place: Commissioner: I haven't seen you in a while! You must be settling your cases without my help. Me: I … Continue reading The Courage to Take the Gracious Road
Whether for a dinner party or a legal brief, I love to have a theme. Having a theme allows me to think within a framework but also explore it from different angles. A theme inspires creativity and creates focus and clarity. This month I will be exploring a theme that has been showing up in … Continue reading The Freedom to be a Gracious Lawyer
I was raised in a family that watched the evening news every night. That’s how we rolled in the 1970s and 1980s. I was fortunate to be able to ask questions, to seek answers, and I was encouraged to form my own opinions. This environment was the foundation for my vocation. I am a political … Continue reading Playing it Kind
Exiting the Salt Lake City International Airport, you are greeted with a welcome sign bearing our state’s slogan, “Life Elevated.” Seeing this sign after returning from the Mountain States Chapter meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) last weekend helped me focus on my main takeaway: elevating the practice of family law. The … Continue reading Family Law Elevated
When I ask clients consulting me about a divorce, "Are you sure?" their expressions range from perplexed to downright disgusted. They made an appointment to meet with me to talk about divorce options. I have just spent the better part of an hour hearing intimate details about their marriage and how they wound up here … Continue reading A Case Against Divorce
When I started writing my observations on law and life in 2018, I had just completed a self-study course on creating a personal brand after feeling a bit lost in how I wanted to develop and grow my law practice. The course helped me find a vision for who I was and wanted to be … Continue reading My Transformation to a Family Lawyer and Businesswoman.
I had a great professor in law school that was one of those rare creatures who was a brilliant academic mind but also a gifted teacher. Knowing she had an auditorium filled with young law students who were desperately seeking black and white answers, whenever a topic came up where the answer was not clearcut … Continue reading Estate Planning: No Hidden Costs and No Hiding My Fees
I am a little late to the game in reading the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. Last night (more correctly early this morning), I was finishing the third book in the series of four, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay. The stories and characters are captivating and all the accolades Ferrante … Continue reading Children and Divorce: Reflections, Resources, and a Book Review
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