Introduction: I wake up in the morning every day and think to myself as I put on s tie? How can I make someone's life a bit easier, make them smile, do a good job without any unpleasant exchanges or lose my cool for a moment.
I am passionate about my clients' advancement. I feel genuine anger or regret if I cannot get a concession from the other side, or a ruling in our favor. In criminal cases I am always surprised that the DA does not see the justice anf wisdom of MY solution, which is usually something along the lines of dismissal in misdemeanors and low-level felonies.
But I back up my insistence with a real and proven trial acuity and determination. I press and press til the last second. Many times this willingness to go to trial on any case (if that's what my client wants) gets me the deal I might not otherwise be offered.
A foundation of lawyering is extensive communication with clients. You get a FEEL for their world, a lot of facts no one would think to ask for on an intake sheet. Sometimes, I find a whole afternoon has passed in pleasant conversation, barely any of it relating directly to the case. But IT DOES bear directly on the case.
People have legal questions, anxieties, challenges. But it's life and though I may be in the minority I feel you must treat people with kindness, not just show up in court and vamoose before a client gets a word in edgewise.
I take about half the volume of cases that are available, and try to deliver quality and humanity. Money is important to me as it is to you. But I do not have plans to get a big pile of it. You can't take it with you!
I love to argue. It got me in a lot of trouble as a kid!
Now, I get paid to do it! Living the dream.