James A. Valente

I started my career as a "conflict counsel," assigned to cases where the public defender had a conflict. I tried many cases large and small to verdict, and developed an understanding of how to defend in a wide variety of situations. Now that I do private defense work, I have much more time to pursue investigation, novel theories of defense, and to spend valuable time with the client.

Since I've reduced the amount of criminal work I do, I've increased my personal injury caseload. It may sound odd, but the trial skills developed in criminal court (utilizing the rules of evidence, making quick decisions on your feet) are perfect for civil trial work, too. It's been very rewarding to help injured people get what they're entitled to from those who are too irresponsible or greedy to treat them fairly.

Divorces are hard for those going through them as well as their lawyer. A person going through a divorce faces the loss of everything they've worked for, time with their children, and an order that can impact their life for years to come. I am not a "bulldog." In my experience, that type of advocacy leads to less resolution, increased attorney's fees, mutual contempt, and it is no more effective (and much less credible) in a courtroom.

I am grateful, in a sense, that death cases are so rare. They demand a great deal of care, and even a great result, in our system, is worthless on its face, because compensating someone for the loss of a loved one is not possible. That said, there is great value in accountability. Pursuing wrongful death suits allows a family to force those who intentionally or negligently take the life of another to stop making excuses and take responsibility - and there is great value in that.