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
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
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
The weekly newsletter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) contains a professionalism tip and here is this week’s offering: Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:"Is it true?" "Is it necessary?" "Is it kind?" This tip could well be the mantra of my practice style. I … Continue reading A Few Words on the Practice of Family Law
I shared my article on LinkedIn a while back. It's worth repeating. A growing trend in family law is to represent oneself. Recent statistics in Utah reveal that the vast majority of domestic relations cases filed are those where one or both parties are not represented by counsel (“pro se” is the legalese we use … Continue reading My advice: get advice and do things right the first time.
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