1. The Fundamental Tool: The 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument

    It cannot be denied, indeed, that there have been great lawyers, who were not great, orators; as there have been great orators, who were not great lawyers. But it must be admitted at the same time, that, when both characters are united in the same person, human genius has approached as near perfecti…Read More

  2. Arriving at the Simple: Herman’s 101+ Practical Solutions for the Family Lawyer

    “The solutions all are simple . . . after you have arrived at them. But they're simple only when you know already what they are.” --Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) If you've missed 15 years of ABA Family Law Section Annual Meetings, it's okay. We now have a 702…Read More

  3. Income and Asset Discovery: Zuckerman’s Tax Return

    “The United States has a system of taxation by confession.” --Hugo Black “Rich bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others.” --Oscar Wilde Cashflow, cash basis, capital gain, inventory, income, gross receipts, profit, accounts receivable, ali…Read More

  4. This Rather Lengthy Tome: Stephen Easton’s Attacking Adverse Experts

    The record is redolent with familiar dogmatic assertions by experts equally confident of contradictory contentions. --Justice Felix Frankfurter (Railroad Comm'n v. Rowan & Nichols Oil Co., 310 U.S. 573, 583 (1940)). Stephen Easton is a civil trial attorney, and civil trial attorneys encounter ex…Read More

  5. This is Not a Conversation: Daniel Small’s Preparing Witnesses, 3rd Edition

    Col. Jessep: You want answers? Kaffee: I think I'm entitled. Col. Jessep: You want answers? Kaffee: I want the truth! Col. Jessep: You can’t handle the truth! --A Few Good Men (1992) To be clear, Daniel Small’s Preparing Witnesses honors the fundamental principle that a witness always tell the t…Read More

  6. Don’t Screw it Up: Effectively Staffing Your Law Firm

    “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” --Oscar Wilde Note: Jennifer Rose’s book applies to all law firms. We are just focusing on divorce and family law firms here. If you practice as a sole practitioner or in a small firm, including divorce and family law, you have special…Read More

  7. Danger and Opportunity: Pegi Price’s The Special Needs Child and Divorce

    When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity. --John F. Kennedy Pegi Price faced danger in her own life and traveled with that danger through the courts. Her new book shows the opportunity that flowed from her stru…Read More

  8. Welcome to Sarnacki Law Firm!

    Divorce and family law can present the toughest challenges for clients and lawyers alike. Often, the parties involved are hurting, angry, unhappy, and afraid. Emotions run high, and a trusted third-party is required to bring some calm to the swirling storm. David Sarnacki concentrates his practice o…Read More