Susan K. Scott

I have a strong belief the role of a family lawyer is to guide my clients through a process that is often complicated and stressful. Through my years of practice I have found the number one driving force behind the disputes is fear. Fear of the unknown has an incredibly powerful influence on both the parties. I feel it is important to advocate strongly on behalf of my clients, but part of that advocacy is a duty to redefine the family unit without destroying it. No two cases are ever the same and as such I carefully evaluate each and every individual's goals. I take an educational approach because I respect my client's ability to partake in the process. While I do my best to see whether we can resolve the issues without taking them before a Judge, I understand there are some issues which require judicial determination.

In the event one of my cases proceeds to the point of trial I make absolutely certain the case and my client are fully prepared. I take a realistic and straight forward approach to the trial. In my opinion there are very few cases which require judicial intervention if an attorney genuinely understands the laws and is familiar with the particular Judge assigned to the case. However, this does not necessarily translate into the opponent taking a realistic stance on the issues and this is an unfortunate obstacle to resolution without a trial.

Whenever I am consulted for a legal problem I always encourage my potential clients to interview more than one attorney. Why? Because you should trust who you hire; you must feel confident in communicating the good and the bad facts of your position; and you must feel confident with their knowledge and ability to competently assist you. If your situation was not important, you would not be seeking legal counsel - make sure the person you hire respects this above all else or you are in for disappointment.