I wasn't always an attorney. Before practicing law, I was a teacher for thirty-five years. I taught at a number of schools. I started teaching math and social science in 1984 at Bishop Amat High School. I also taught at Monrovia High School, Duarte High School and Rialto High School. I coached football, track, basketball and softball.

 

I also had a number of different jobs before teaching. I sold ladders. I refinished wood floors. I did taxes. I have unloaded containers. I have worked with real people from different backgrounds. I think this gives me an advantage in working with people in family law.

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I started law school in 1994 when I was thirty-seven. I was married with three kids, so I had to keep working and go to school at night. 

I went to the University of La Verne School of Law because it was close to my home in Rancho Cucamonga. (The law school was still located on the La Verne Campus). I graduated from law school in 1997; but kept teaching.

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​I retired from teaching in 2019. I started working full time in family law and probate. I found that things have changed since my own divorce, and not all for the better. Technology had made the job much easier, but attorneys were charging twice as much.

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It became clear to me our family law system is not working. People are paying their attorney too much and receiving too little. Overbilling was not only accepted but encouraged. Too many people cannot afford an attorney.

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At the family law firm I worked at, maybe ten percent of the people who came in for a consultation actually hired us. People came in for their free consultation scared, confused, angry – and there was nothing I could do for them because they could not pay the high fees -  most of which would have to be paid up front.

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I wanted to start a law firm where I could help people who could no or would not pay high fees. Divorce is hard. Child support and visitation issues are tough to deal with emotionally. Your attorney should be there to help you through the process, not make matters worse. People should be able to pay a fair price for legal representation.

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It helps that I have gone through the process of divorce, spousal support, child support and visitation on a personal level as well as a professional level. I was married for 14 years before my divorce. I have two children, a son and a daughter, and a step-daughter. I have paid spousal support and child support. My ex-wife received child support from my stepdaughter’s father. I understand visitation schedules, dealing with holidays and sharing expenses.

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I keep my expenses to a minimum so I don't have to worry about high overhead. I can charge a reasonable price. I have no real incentive to overcharge. I can focus on helping people and making a difficult process a little easier. 

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