Before the passage of equitable-distribution laws in 1970, the entire divorce process had certain moral overtones. Who was at fault? Back then, a spouse had to establish grounds - such as adultery or physical abuse -- for seeking a divorce.

The law today doesn’t seek to assign blame in the breakup of a marriage; the moral overtones are gone. Many people still come into the divorce process full of fear, fear mostly of the unknown. My role is to show them what the process is, how it functions, and then work to reach a lasting result. And by becoming familiar with the process my clients gain the tools they need to cope. From the first day they sit at my table, I look to arm my clients with knowledge. That has a calming effect.

But the fear is real. A spouse will hear all kinds of threats. People in divorce will often lash out in anger, just to get a reaction from their spouse. Most of the threats are just that: In all my years as a practicing attorney, no houses have been burned down by an angry spouse.

I have always been the kind of lawyer who deals with the whole picture, not simply the legal issues, of each client. For one thing, every divorce has its own unique set of facts - each case is a kind of puzzle, if you will. Every approach, every strategy is unique. My role usually goes farther than analyzing and creating a legal strategy: I will be candid with my clients about the possible outcomes. And I’ll tell them that things will not necessarily be greener on the other side.

It’s true that more than 99 percent of the divorces in cases in New Jersey settle before going to trial. But I wouldn’t say my cases conform to that percentage. The more difficult cases in the region will come to my office; it has been that way for many years. I will encourage settlement at every stage of the process, even in the most contentious cases, but I do not hesitate to take them to trial if I have to.

Southern New Jersey was long considered a rural region, but it is fast becoming sprawling, suburban and more diverse. The recent census revealed there are 36 languages spoken by the residents of our area today. We are becoming North Jersey fairly quickly. And today’s divorces - more complex and with more cultural variables - reflect that.

Mine is very satisfying work - clients often feel very vulnerable, and after 30 years as a trial and matrimonial attorney I am in a unique position to reassure them - and to help formulate for them a lasting settlement.