I'm Flying Solo - Announcing Richer Law

I have been a practicing attorney since December 2002, after I chose to become a lawyer as a second career (here, let me do the math - I graduated law school at the age of 41). Since that time, I have exclusively practiced family law in Southern California.

Times, they are a-changin'. I went out into the legal world wanting to do family law and knowing it meant going to court and fight, fight, fight for my client's rights. A grand idea, except for one flaw.

It was not always good for the client.

In fact, what I began to see was a typical pattern where the litigants parties couple would spend about 18 months living through a series of motions for temporary orders (called Orders to Show Cause or "OSC's" to use the habit of three-letter acronyms so prevalent among attorneys); demands for production of paperwork going back around 5 years; flare-ups that result in angry exchange of letters, crying jags on the phone with their lawyer; obsessive speculation about "what the other side is thinking/plotting/doing"; more discovery; a couple of depositions in front of a court reporter; continuances of scheduled court appearances that usually "pushed things out" 3 to 4 months because of the congestion in the courts' dockets; sitting in the hallways of courthouses or the courtrooms wondering what the hell is happening because the judge has asked the attorneys to "come back into chambers" where no layperson may go; and a lot of TUMS getting chewed.

To what end? Very, very rarely are cases litigated in trial. What usually happens are that the noce folks who fell out of love run out of steam and run out of money. So they settle. They come to an agreement as to who gets the grand piano and who will spend Christmas with little Octavia. A stipulated Judgment is written up and it's all over . . . with each side having racked up anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 in attorney fees.

Think I am kidding? Go ask a friend - everyone knows at least one person who has gone through a divorce. I am willing to bet that the majority of people would say, "If I had to do it over, I would do things differently . . ."

I want to do that, too. In November 2009, I found the difference. I am fortunate to be in Southern California where I could attend intensive training with Forrest "Woody" Mosten, a premier mediator in Family Law. The training in mediation he gave me left me plus my own experiences convinced that (a) the traditional approach remains unworkable for many folks and (b) those same folks are good and smart people who, given the right forum, can work together to resolve their differences and emerge from their divorce with sanity and wallet intact . . . and probably at least respect for one another.

With that, as of January 1, 2010, I have started my own firm - Richer Law - Mediation and Family Law Alternatives. My goal is to provide a forum for mediation of divorce cases and other family law matters at affordable rates that allow a typical middle-class, suburban couple to make this transition in their lives. Family Law, as was once told to me by a very smart lawyer, will always be around because it runs off of human nature, and that has not changed in the last several centuries. But with a recession on, the courts are seeing more and more pro se or pro per litigants, meaning those who represent themselves, and people looking for alternatives to walking into those edifices of justice (which usually reflect some bad 70's architecture).

I can help people do it differently. I offer mediation services, as well as what is called "unbundled services," which means a pro per party can use me on an "as-needed" basis. In March 2010, I will become certified in Collaborative Law, which is another non-litigation approach to Family Law. And for couples who are divorcing and have it all worked out - God bless them - I offer a one-time flat fee to get it all done, as the court system does not make it easy for the avergage Joe and Jane to do their paperwork (do you really want to become familiar with the "Declaration Under the UCCJEA", which is mandatory form for cases with children, or would you like to know it is prepared correctly and ready for your signature?).

Please visit my web site to learn more. I also have a legal blog to inform the local scene about what is going on in Family Law. Finally, feel free to become a fan of Richer Law - Mediation and Family Law Alternatives on Facebook.

If you or a family member or a friend need help, I can provide it. If you are a professional in another discipline, such as a therapist, clergy, or an accountant, and need the assistance of an attorney to help you with your own clients, I can provide it.

As I said in a recent announcement to my colleagues, my goal is to help find their resolution in divorce and family law matters without losing their worth.