I like helping people solve problems that they can't solve themselves. Most of my cases involve business disputes, property damage from fires or floods, or personal injuries. That means that emotions are usually running high by the time I first meet with the client.  I spend a lot of time up-front with my clients to understand their problem and how they want to resolve it.  Clients need to know that cases usually take 1-2 years to bring to a head, and that isn't cheap. They also need to know, though, that their lawyer will take on their problem as if it were her own problem--and represent them as if they were her own family.  Even though a lot of my clients are from large companies, they still need to know that I have the skills and the dedication to help them resolve their legal problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.