George Robert Carpenter

My Approach to the Practice of Law

In the simplest terms, an attorney is a problem solver. Specifically, a client comes to the attorney with a problem and seeks the attorney’s assistance in fashioning an outcome that will, from the client’s perspective, solve the problem.

Generally, an attorney’s assistance is required for one of two mains reasons. First, the problem might require a solution that is too complex for a client to solve without the professional and/or legal experience of the attorney.

The second, and far more common reason to seek the assistance of an attorney, is that often times there is an opposing party with the same problems as the client, but with a vastly different idea of what an appropriate outcome should be. When this occurs, I must then persuade the opposing party or a judge that the outcome my client seeks is the most just. This requires a good sense of pragmatism, as well as legal knowledge and ability.

While many people say that they want an attorney that is tough or aggressive, and that will fight for them, they often do not think about what that means. To me, being tough means finding out what my clients wants and not settling for less.

This does not necessarily involve attacking or destroying the opposite party which can have long-term consequences. Often times, such an approach merely results in the parties hating each other, and lawyers making a lot of money. If I can get what my clients want by being nice, then I will be nice. If I must take a case to trial, I will be prepared and put on the best case possible even if it involves presenting facts that the opposite party finds offensive so long as they are relevant and have a bearing on the case.

I never lose sight of the fact that in custody cases, the parties will still be dealing with each other, and their children will still love BOTH of their parents, long after the case has been completed.