Do you charge for initial consultations?

Our bankruptcy consultations are usually free. Our family law consultations are usually free but sometimes cost $80. Our other consultations have a relatively low fee associated with them that compensates us for the valuable information and advice dispensed during those visits.

What kinds of clients have you represented?

Typically, my clients are middle class residents of Arizona who are looking for affordable and effective representation, although I have represented people from many walks of life. On occasion I've represented free of charge people who have little or no money. On the other hand, I've represented multimillionaires; other professionals such as medical doctors, lawyers, accountants, college professors, and mental health care providers; and clients from a wide variety of businesses. I've represented women, men, children, low-wage earners, presidents of corporations, churches, small business owners, etc. I gave them all my best effort and in most cases achieved excellent results. I've earned the trust of doctors, judges, fellow attorneys, and mental health professionals who have referred clients to me. I am also Judge Pro Tempore of the Maricopa County Superior Court. This pro-bono position entails covering hearings and trials for full-time judges and commissioners in the family law department when they are sick, on vacation, or attending to personal matters. It also entails acting as a mediator in divorce and custody cases so that parties can try to achieve a settlement that they feel comfortable with.

Do you keep up with changes in the law?

Of course; every lawyer has a duty to keep abreast of changes in his practice area. Attorneys in Arizona are required to undertake 15 hours of continuing education courses each year. This is the bare minimum. I often take more than 15 hours when I find courses that interest me. In addition, I attend seminars in practice areas other than my main practice areas. I believe this gives my clients an edge because my perspective is broadened. For example, in divorce cases a couple may be dividing a business. Because of knowledge I have gained from business law seminars, I probably know more than the average divorce attorney about traps for the unwary when dividing a business. It usually saves my client money as well, because a business lawyer does not need to be consulted for ordinary matters. If I think a matter is one better suited for a business specialist, I of course urge my client to seek input from that type of professional.

Which courts do you practice in most frequently?

In Arizona, there are four major Maricopa County Superior Court locations: Northeast, Downtown, Southeast, and Northwest. I practice most often in the Northeast and Downtown courthouses. I am most familiar with the judges in those courthouses. I am no stranger to the other court locations -- it's just that most of my clients and their spouses (or ex-spouses) live in Scottsdale or Phoenix. When a new case is filed, the clerk assigns the case to the courthouse nearest to the filing attorney (or party, if there is no attorney representing that party).

Where are you licensed to practice?

Four jurisdictions: Arizona, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. I have taken and passed three bar exams on the first try. I did not need to take a bar exam for the District of Columbia law license. I simply needed to have a high enough score in my previous jurisdiction and pass a comprehensive background investigation. I graduated from law school in 1996. I took the Arizona bar exam that same summer and began practicing law later that year. In 1999 I studied for the Massachusetts bar exam while working 60 hours per week and passed it on the first try. I studied for the Maryland bar exam in 2000.

What is your educational background?

I earned my bachelors degree in psychology at the University of Southern California in 1993. I earned my doctor of law degree at Southwestern University in 1996. But my education did not stop there. On a regular basis I attend seminars, read books, examine changes in the laws, peruse bar journals, act as a judge and mediator in other people's cases, and engage in other activities that keep me sharp.

Which kinds of cases have you handled in the past?

I've handled a wide variety of cases, although I haven't done much criminal defense work. I've handled many general civil litigation cases, personal injury cases, business litigation cases, family law cases, bankruptcy cases, and traffic cases. I exposed myself to a wide variety of practice areas early in my career. This enabled me to get a broad perspective on how the various areas of the law may pertain to any given case.

How did you end up in your current practice areas?

I tried a wide variety of practice areas and eventually found that I was best at family law and bankruptcy cases (and of course, personal injury cases). What especially helped me was during my first few years of practice I found a niche area of practice representing residential tenants against their landlords. There were very few attorneys would take this kind of work because most tenants are not able to afford the fees attorneys need to make a profitable living. Indeed, I didn't make much money when I was regularly representing tenants– in fact I probably lost money – but I gained lots of courtroom and trial experience very quickly. I tried cases in almost all of the Justice Courts and in the Superior Court. I became familiar with many of the judges and their staff members. I thought of it as part of my education, and it did pay off tremendously in the long run. It built my courtroom confidence and sharpened my advocacy skills.

How many cases do you handle at any given time?

I don't put an arbitrary limit on the number of cases we handle at any particular point. It depends on the number of cases, the anticipated amount of work that needs to be done in those cases, the combination of cases (generally one moderately complicated divorce case takes as much time as up to a dozen bankruptcy cases), the type of client (some require more regular contact with our office), and many other factors. Over my decade and a half in practice, I have learned how to keep a proper balance of cases. When I see that we are reaching our limit, we either decline cases or bring in additional staff to handle the extra workload, depending on the needs of the potential incoming cases.

Do you offer flat fees?

Yes, in bankruptcy cases we always offer flat rates. In family law cases, we do offer flat fees but only in limited situations. One such situation is if you have an “uncontested divorce.” Another is if you want us to draft or review a legal document such as a prenuptial agreement, marital (property) settlement agreement, divorce petition or response, etc. We also on occasion offer flat rates if you need us to only show up for one limited hearing or trial. Call our office for details.

What kinds of jobs and/or experiences have you had prior to or during law school that have helped prepare you for the practice of law?

I grew up in a working class neighborhood in the northeast. Consequently, I had a wide range of jobs before going to law school. At age 14 I started working for minimum wage but quickly realized that there had to be a better way. By age 16 I was running my own landscaping business with employees. I learned how to interact with customers, do a good job in order to obtain referrals, provide advantages over my competitors, and properly budget my time (in order to study and do homework). During college I worked nights as a cab driver and learned how to deal with everyone from drug dealers to corporate executives. I had to think quickly to avoid being robbed on at least several occasions. In law school, I clerked for a small personal injury law firm in Los Angeles. I learned how to organize cases, identify issues and solutions, interact with clients, watch seasoned attorneys in depositions and arbitrations, and do many other things that readied me for the practice of law. Also while in law school (during my third year) I clerked for a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. I observed many bench and jury trials and benefitted from hearing the judge's critiques of the attorneys' performances. I also got to hear what jurors had to say about what they liked and did not like. I helped write legal rulings on complicated cases involving product liability, famous actors, and jurisdictional issues. I am grateful to that judge who took me under his wing and essentially was my mentor.

Do you have any lawyers you admire?

Yes. One in particular is Gerry Spence. I met Gerry when he visited Phoenix, Arizona on one occasion. He truly is the real deal. He encouraged me to look at things in a different way, and I am grateful for that. My practice, and as a result, my clients, have benefitted from techniques I've copied from Gerry. I also admire many of the great trial lawyers in the past who provided inspiration for countless law students.

Are you aggressive?

This depends on how you define it. You will not see me jumping up and down, screaming and loudly beating my chest in the courtroom while yelling “you can't handle the truth.” So if you are looking for a loudmouth, you are better off looking elsewhere. It is my experience and opinion that the few loudmouths out there are usually deficient in substance and judges usually discount what they are saying. I've had fun catching them by surprise or otherwise letting them hang themselves with their own courtroom style. Notably, family law cases are not allowed to be presented to a jury; only judges can hear these cases and they typically dislike the circus acts that might impress some juries. But if you want an attorney that will stand up for your rights by being prepared, believing in your case, being methodical and persistent, focusing on what's important, doing what you want within the bounds of the law, and organizing the case in a way that judges will appreciate, then you've found the right person. If you want a Jerry Springer entertainment-style presentation, then you'll need to find that in some other attorney but be careful what you wish for, as it may backfire when the judge becomes irritated or the focus is so much on the attorney that the important details of your case are overshadowed.

Do you return telephone calls promptly?

A major complaint clients have against attorneys in general is that they take so long to return phone calls. I clerked for a law firm in Los Angeles, California while attending law school and was impressed by their emphasis on returning calls immediately if possible. Clients were very pleased with the level of service they provided. I strive to meet or exceed that same level of service in our office. I inform all my clients that if they ever have trouble reaching me, they should simply set up a phone appointment for the following day. Their phone appointment is scheduled just like a regular office visit; clients like this option because they know they will have a specific time slot designated for their issues.