I started out as a public defender and one of the reasons I became a criminal defense attorney starting as a public defender was just really social justice and thinking the system is unfair and wanting to help people. I think it’s one of the most important things people can do as an attorney. And so, what I try to do and what the people I work with also try to do is to be very client focused. If you’re representing someone, you should know about them, you should learn about them, you should come to care about them. And going to court might be routine to us in a small case but it’s not routine to that person. It’s a very personal thing and every case is different. If there had to be one overall philosophy, I would say that it is particularized attention to the individuals we represent rather than looking at it as a transaction.

One of the hardest things is it’s so emotional for the client because sometimes their family may be turning against them, everything seems extremely unfair, the penalties are so harsh they feel like the world’s collapsing in on them and they’re very angry about it, as I would be, as anyone would be. One of the things I feel like you’re constantly trying to help clients with is this is long game. It’s not about emotion. You can’t decisions out of anger. You have to look at the big picture and think everything through. Because quite often, sadly enough, because of the way the system is a result in a case might be the best one you can get, it might preserve your career and your freedom but it’s not the one you want, which is dismissal of all charges. And I think it’s really hard for people to not want to react in an angry way or in an emotional way because it’s just sometimes just very, very unfair what’s happening to them. But I think one of the big things is as hard as it is, slow down and make the right decisions. Don’t make decisions out of emotion and be patient also.