We've definitely seen some changes in the profession from the early days of my practice. For one thing, there is a lot more affluence, much more wealth, and that's simply made people more willing to battle over what they have.

The types of cases that I get now - well, there are always substantial legal challenges, and there is a lot to fight about. I'm a traditional litigator, so people often retain me as a deterrent to litigation. One client called me her "insurance policy." That's a nickname I can live with.

There's also a lot more paper being pushed - the Paper Chase is worse. But good lawyers can still get things done on a handshake.

Here's one trend that's emerged in the last decade: I've seen more and more people in 30-year and 40-year marriages coming into my office, looking to end it. I'm not sure what it is. Perhaps it is the aging Baby Boomers, who may have put up with unhappiness for a long time, deciding that they want to seek happiness for the last third or quarter of their lives. Whatever it is, there is more of it.

I do ask my clients when I first see them: Do you really want to get a divorce? Of course, in most cases their response is, "That's why I'm here." Generally they have thought through their situation, and there is little self-doubt. That's not always the case. But by the time clients are ready to see me, they are ready to go ahead with the process.

From the first conversation, there's a lot of information to exchange. People want to talk, and need to talk.

Beyond that it's very important for me to communicate this message: Be realistic, both about the process, and about probable outcomes. I try to convey a judge's views before we decide to go to court - how would I decide the facts of this case if I were the judge? The purpose of that exercise is to ensure that we not take positions that aren't worth pouring time and money into.

Since our daughter's injury nearly twenty years ago, I've grown more appreciative of how fragile life can be. I've always appreciated the challenges people face in their everyday lives. You grow with every experience in life. I tell my clients that. I know all of it has made me a better lawyer.