I am always amazed by the number of professionals who themselves do not seek out professional services. Truthfully, I should not be amazed because I fall into this category myself. After many years of meaning to get around to it and updating our estate plan to fit the current needs of our life, my husband … Continue reading Professionals: Get Professional Help
I scheduled this post to be published in the middle of a long-awaited and well-deserved vacation. My out-of-office reply indicates that I will not be responding to emails until I return to the office. And I mean it. This is a firm boundary and, frankly, one that should not be out of the norm. While … Continue reading Hitting the Pause Button
Several years ago, I began intentionally referring to myself as a Family Lawyer. More than just branding, I felt this term captured the scope of my practice and better reflected my style and approach to the law. Why not just call yourself a divorce attorney? A question I encounter is why I do not call … Continue reading What is a Family Lawyer?
I am participating in a business mastermind I’ve written about here before. One of several things we do between our coaching sessions and workshops is answer the Question of the Week that our leader poses to the group. This week’s question was, “What is unique about you, and how are you infusing that into your … Continue reading Making Peace with Conflict
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
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
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