The divorce process has never been easy for anyone. It takes a lot to walk through the doors of our office - a person must have a very good reason to be here. It takes a lot of strength. We all change; if spouses don't or can't change together, it's very difficult for a marriage to last. Once a person is here, we listen carefully. That's extremely important, to get as much a feel and complete picture of a person's situation as we can.

It is part of my role - to advise and advocate. It is one part of the law that is truly a people business. I feel I have an impact on people's lives, and that's very gratifying. There are fundamental issues in every case - such as length of the marriage, and the value of assets and liabilities. But listening to the client is essential to properly understanding any case. And our first meeting may simply consist of asking questions, listening, and listening some more.

It's true, a small number of cases go to trial. But even most of the cases that are scheduled for trial are ultimately settled. And that's in everyone's interests: A judge simply will not formulate a settlement that creatively responds to the needs of the people - everyone - involved.

Good attorneys will offer creative solutions - and those solutions can have huge impact one people's lives.

There's no question that custody cases are the most difficult and arduous of all the cases we handle. The outcomes almost always result in dissatisfaction and unhappiness. And the kids? They know more than we think they know. Kids see so much more than we want them to see, in a marriage or a divorce. That's why communication is the key. With all the stress and frustration of divorce, we can't eliminate or solve every problem. But I can say that the better the communication, the greater likelihood of a lasting, reasonable outcome.