When clients come to see us for the first time, they are looking for some certainty. They want to know bow long the process will take. They want to know how much it will cost. And they want to know how the law will apply to them.

And my first answer is that I'm here to help - and explain as clearly as I can, that outcomes and costs can vary. I will explain too what the statutes say - regarding custody matters, and equitable distribution of marital property.

And I tell my clients there is going to be some work on their end. Not simply providing accurate information, but in being committed to steady communication. And there will be a court appearance or two.

Sometimes the circumstances call for mediation, and we are always open to that. But if we've tried everything in resolving our clients' matter, sometimes there is no choice but to litigate.

Litigation can pose its own challenges - the courts are hectic, and judges are overworked. I had a client, a native of another country, who of course had awe for our justice system. But when he saw the busy courtroom and all the people in it, he declared, "This is it?" Sometimes it can feel like a free-for-all. In that respect, it's important for every client to understand we must be well prepared, clear-headed, and with realistic expectations when we head to court. There isn't a lot of time to present our case.

I practice in Cook County, of course, but also in Lake and DuPage counties, where the venues are more formal, with their own procedures. Lawyers have to be familiar with all of it, and I am. I've found too that good relationships with other lawyers really important.

Family law is a diverse area of the law. For one thing, no two cases are alike; each has its own distinct set of facts. There is no - and can't ever be - a cookie-cutter approach to a legal case.

But that's what I love about it: There is always a range of issues, and we have to wear a lot of hats. There are tax issues, estate matters, as well as custody and financial-valuation issues. It's important for clients to understand that that, by definition, no case is necessarily straightforward.

And I tell my clients: Do not complicate things in the course of your case. During a divorce social media is a dangerous place to be - it's where every comment, every insult, every emotion can be used against you. Don't even send text messages - remind yourself that anything you post or text is a permanent record, in writing.

I work with Gail O'Connor, one of the best divorce lawyers in Chicago. I've learned so much from her, and in a short time. She's very good at maintaining her cool in frustrating circumstances. If opposing counsel loses focus, if there are fireworks distracting from the central issues of a case, Gail is great at stepping back, seeing the big picture, and getting a potentially chaotic situation under control. I think that's one of the reasons our firm is different.

In family law we are constantly learning - you have to be. Families are evolving, and so is the law.

But that's why I love it. Family law is complex, and diverse. That there is a lot of satisfaction from that - we help get families where they need to be.