Getting Out vs. Getting Even: How Much Will My Divorce Cost?
New clients almost inevitably ask me, “How much will my divorce cost?” My inevitable response: “It depends on your divorce.” When you retain an attorney, you are essentially paying for that attorney’s time. Generally speaking, the more time spent by an...
Perspective: It’s an Important Thing to Remember
I was on a scuba diving trip off The Big Island (Kona side) in 2018. One of the dives was a night dive to see the giant mantas feeding. After watching them for about twenty minutes without moving, I got the shivers and asked one of our dive guides to bring me back to...
But, Don’t You Know the Law?
Often when confronted with a particular set of facts and circumstances unique to a client’s situation, I am heard to say, “Well, off the top of my head, I think most likely the answer is _____, but I’d need to research the issue before providing an opinion.” At which...
Things I Learned from Mrs. Mac and Eddie Green
My kindergarten teacher was a lovely woman named Mrs. MacEachron; only, none of us six year-olds could quite say that, so we got to call her Mrs. Mac. Mrs. Mac always wore pantsuits in varying hues of green or brown, and had a beehive hairdo which I thought was...
Protecting the Client from the Client
Attorneys in California swear an oath when they become members of the California Bar Association; that oath includes a promise to faithfully discharge the duties of the profession to the best of the attorneys’ knowledge and ability.
WHY???? (Part One)
WHY are attorneys so expensive? WHY does my divorce cost so much? WHY is my attorney bill so high? WHY can’t you tell me what it’s going to cost me to (enter your legal action here)? WHY do lawyers get paid so much? WHY do I even need...
WHY???? (Part Two)
WHY are attorneys so expensive? WHY does my divorce cost so much? WHY is my attorney bill so high? WHY can’t you tell me what it’s going to cost me to (enter your legal action here)? WHY do lawyers get paid so much? WHY do I even need...
WHY???? (Part Three)
WHY are attorneys so expensive? WHY does my divorce cost so much? WHY is my attorney bill so high? WHY can’t you tell me what it’s going to cost me to (enter your legal action here)? WHY do lawyers get paid so much? WHY do I even need...
The Cost of Being Right
I have heard clients say this innumerable times. And often times, the client is correct – the client is right and the other side is wrong and taking advantage of a situation. BUT . . . . . . being right isn’t necessarily the most cost-efficient way to...
Your Attorney: The Park Ranger
When clients ask me about the legal process and what to expect from me as their attorney, I usually give them the following ranger-in-the-national-park analogy. The legal system is like a huge national park. Think of it as Yosemite, or Yellowstone, or The Grand...