One of the first things I tell my clients is that no divorce is ever simple. Every case rests on its own set of facts, and every client has his or her own unique circumstances. It is always tempting to anticipate or to predict an outcome right away - but that usually this approach is not in the clients' best interests.

Many people today will seek information on the Internet, or by talking to their friends, and will invariably reach certain pre-conceived notions about the divorce or legal process. However, this creates unrealistic expectations that aren't relevant to that particular client.

That's why it's important for any lawyer to have a sense of their client and their situation from the outset and to understand what brought them to our office. What is the degree of acrimony - or harmony - in our client's life? As a lawyer, we should understand what our client is facing, personally and emotionally, when we first meet them. Developing a sense of trust is crucial.

I became a lawyer because I had great mentors and influences. My father was a public defender for 40 years, he loved his work and he was a great example of the standards and principles by which a lawyer should conduct

him or herself. He was a great early example to me. My parents always encouraged me to challenge myself, and to never be "pigeon-holed" by someone else. In many respects, my work today reflects the strong values that my parents modeled early in my life.

It's no secret that Fox Rothschild offers resources to their clients that most firms, and especially smaller firms, simply do not have. We have a large family-law department, but we work with expert attorneys across the spectrum - tax lawyers, estate lawyers, bankruptcy lawyers. That resource base is profound, and it impacts virtually every case I take on.

One of the reasons I chose to practice divorce law is that its addresses the human side of the law. At some large firms, a young lawyers may never contact the client - and I knew that this approach was not right for me.

I always wanted to work knowing that I was making a difference in a person's life. That's why I love what I do; I care about all my clients and their interests. I wouldn't have it any other way.