While many people feel it is difficult to work with people going through a divorce, I see it as an opportunity to help people move beyond their difficulty to a better life.
I have been an attorney for more than 30 years. Family law has always been the primary focus of my legal practice, with other practice areas being discontinued over time. I have made a conscientious decision to make family law my primary practice area, eventually to the exclusion of all other types of law.
Involvement in Professional Education
Professional legal education has been a primary interest of me. Although attorneys are required to receive a fixed amount of legal education, I typically exceeds these requirements by a factor of about three times. For most of the past 20 years I have been actively involved in the program committee of the Family Law Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, often as chair or co chair. In this role I have taken the lead for my professional group for determining and carrying out the professional education program for my family law colleagues in Contra Costa County. In recent years this has been typically 10 one hour programs a year, one or two 2-hour programs and an annual high caliber three hour program presented by either a national expert or a panel of regional authorities.
Personal Interests
Besides professional interests, I have a long time interest in public art. I am currently is one of the three co-leaders of Art in the Courthouse, a community foundation of the East Bay Community Foundation. Previously I was president of the Pleasant Hill Art Council and the Pleasant Hill Arts Commission, during which I led the commissioning and financing of a major art piece for the Pleasant Hill Community Center. I have also organized and led annual trips to view the performance art at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, among other activities. In 2007, I was recognized by the Superior Court of Contra Costa County for my support of fine art in the courthouses of Contra Costa County.
