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Civility. Courtesy. Respect. Professionalism.
These are words that should be synonymous with “Advocate” but in a world of high stakes, strong opinions, and a general, societal decline in basic manners, how can attorneys fight the good fight while living up to these ideals – especially if the other side doesn’t? We set out to find examples of lawyers who model the way while providing excellent representation.
Getting Along is Not Wrong, an initiative of the IndyBar Standing Committee on Professionalism, is the impressive collection of such positive and compelling behavior.
Family Law—Family Style
Sarah Starkey, Cohen Garelick & Glazier
Working in the area of family law, cases are often highly contentious. I feel extremely lucky to practice in the area of family law in the state of Indiana as I get the opportunity to work with so many great attorneys. It is often very difficult to separate your feelings from those of your client while remaining a strong advocate. I think the good attorneys do just that—they stay professional and civil all while advocating for their clients.
I have had several cases with Sheila Marshall, a highly experienced family law attorney. Not only is Sheila always civil, she goes out of her way to be nice, as does her staff. Sheila and I have been able to settle several cases over the years, and the few times we have not, we have done our job to litigate for our clients, always remaining civil with one another. I think that people believe that for a family law attorney to be considered a “bulldog” he or she has to be nasty and aggressive. That simply is not the case.•
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