Why did you decide to become an attorney?
I had a career in place already, as the manager of a public radio station in St.Louis, but became intrigued with the idea of a legal career after working with attorneys on our Board of Directors. I found their work interesting and they encouraged me to consider attending law school.
What experiences (work and personal) help you to be a better attorney?
As a former manager of a public radio station in St. Louis, I learned to deal with all sorts of people at their best -- and worst. In my legal career, my commitment to providing assistance to low income people through the Legal Aid Society has been beneficial in many ways. It has helped me hone my abilities to talk through the troubles that a client may be experiencing, like abuse and domestic violence, and get to a place where we can address their legal issues, like divorce or protection orders. Through my Legal Aid Society experience, I've come to understand the multitude of factors in a client's life, legal and otherwise, that might need to be addressed in order to help them move past their problems.
What made you choose your primary area of law?
The need for low income family law assistance was great when I began working for the Legal Aid Society so I learned to focus my energy on how best to serve those needs. I quickly came to enjoy the challenges and rewards inherent in helping families in the midst of divorce, unmarried people in need of custody arrangements for a child, or domestic violence victims in need of a protection order as an effective deterrent to their abuser. In helping domestic violence victims, I especially like that I can see the results quickly when I've helped to extricate them from a violent situation.
What makes your law firm unique?
I provide individual attention, understand that the parties and their children in a divorce are going through a tough time, and, when appropriate, I use whimsy to try and ease the burden. I answer my office phones myself and return messages quickly if I'm out of the office. I try to provide my clients with prompt, effective, caring legal assistance. The client and I work together as a team. I give the client the option of doing some of her own "homework" on the case, so that she can save money on my attorney fees. Finally, I have offices in Worthington, Dublin, and Easton (by appointment) for the convenience of my clients.
Describe your ideal client.
My ideal client is upfront about their financial limitations and honest about their ability to pay fees, allowing me the ability to plan for flexibility when necessary. An attorney and client are more likely to be successful meeting their legal goals when their relationship is based on partnership and a relationship of trust.
Describe your personal interests and hobbies.
Free-lance actor, writer and radio personality. I work regularly for WOSU-FM, the NPR classical music station.
Describe your charitable activities.
In the past, I have served as a volunteer for the Columbus Bar Association's Lawyers for Justice and also the Columbus Bar's Homeless Project, where I visited shelters to provide pro bono legal services to the homeless. I have also worked with victims of domestic violence to assist them in obtaining divorces, custody, child support, and protection orders. I have talked to community groups about domestic violence. I volunteer for food banks periodically and in December, I help the Salvation Army, packaging food for people in need.
