Georgia Family Law

Economic Impact: Reform Makes Business Sense

Business leaders and business press:

My Advocate Center has been tracking for several years the impact on each community, and on our state.

You’ve seen it in your firms and corporations: the lost time from work, lost productivity, higher levels of stress and inability to focus. You’ve seen the increase in healthcare costs, and the time lost to moving to smaller homes and dealing with children who are not coping well.

Now it is possible to see how the bad practices in Family Court are feeding and escalating these issues, and on a larger scale than you might imagine. You know the divorce rate in Georgia? Across the country? You also are aware of the foreclosure rates here as well.

There is a direct correlation between what we are measuring and reporting on, and the economic impact felt by both our business community and our citizens. When you see the data it will be an easy decision to make. Backing reform over how our families and children are treated as they work through legal conflict will become a priority.

If the economic impact is not a concern to you or your business, then think about what is happening that could also happen to your children and grandchildren. As we are proving now, no one is immune.

On Twitter:

#ReformMakesGoodBusinessSense #AtlantaNews

#BusinessofDivorce #FamilyCourtReform

#LostRealEstate #EconomicImpact

LinkedIn:

Discussions are developing around the country between professionals, professionals and parents, and in the business and healthcare communities regarding why we should collectively address these bad practices, and how to help our families and communities recover. The numbers are too staggering to ignore any longer. And now we have the data and the solutions.

http://www.linkedin.com/company/my-advocate-center-llc

New Series: What Lawyers Say

Day One: Lawyer Quote #1

Social Media Rocks. Why? Good lawyers are getting the word out. We are listening.

It is NOT all attorneys and judges involved in wreaking havoc on unsuspecting citizens.

This is anonymous for now, until we have permission to use his name:

“Reforms are definitely needed in [my state]. To establish reforms that benefit the parties will require the participation of family law lawyers who support certain changes, too many which can be listed here. (MAC: we agree) That said, it’s no secret that the family law system is a business. Additionally, it should be generally understood that model does not serve clients well, unless a client gets lucky and hires a highly ethical and competent family law lawyer who is more interested in resolving the divorce as amicably and efficiently as possible, rather than generating the most billable hours. I’ve seen far too many examples of the latter.

I was told by prior employers that I solved cases too quickly, and that by doing so, I cost that employ tens of thousand of dollars that could have been generated from the case (had I not resolved the parties issues so soon). That’s the primary reason I decided to work for myself, so my hands would not be tied, in terms of helping people resolve their divorce without costing so much, and without the unnecessary generation of conflict.

To put out a fire, one should apply water, not gasoline. Many family law lawyers apply gas to increase the fire. The brighter and longer the fire burns, the more money they make. Of course, one who has a conscience (such as myself) finds this approach beyond deplorable.

Again, it’s no secret (at least within the industry) that most family law lawyers don’t bend over backwards to resolve conflict as quickly as possible, whether their reason is to generate more billable hours, or they lack the skill (professional/legal or interpersonal) to help parties resolve conflict in a competent manner. (MAC note: why should this secret be kept from the public?)

Most lawyers are adept at conflict. Also, many get into family law for the wrong reason (because there’s plenty of work and it seems like an easy area of law, and it’s also easy to start a solo practice). Hence, parties are at high risk that once they initiate their divorce process and hire a lawyer, that their problems will escalate.”

* This is just one sample: lawyers all over our country are stepping forward to say they are OVER being labeled along with those who commit fraud, breach fiduciary duty, commit legal malpractice…or who are just plain lazy or greedy, or all of the above.

Keep it coming!

#Courage #ThrowawayClient

What many lawyers – not all – want you to do