Views from mediation

Mood music

Today was a tough grind at the family courthouse. 4 Monday trial settings. 1 trial, 1 continuance, 1 pref set by coordinator and 1 reset due to court’s schedule. Total time clocked 6 hours.

What a week yall! Mediations settlements & impasses! Snow day! Lots of phone calls, zoom hearings and submission.

Today was a good day. I’m also home and starting on a new recipe. This is what qualifies for a win.

A statue of a griffin with snow

#HoustonSnowDay

This week was a default trial, lots of discovery, some client consultations, lots and lots of phone calls and a lot of rescheduling. Here’s to a restful weekend!

If the courthouse is closed, it’s safe to assume that my office is closed

Sometimes I wish we could review clients the same way they review us.

I’m picking up some dinner at a favorite Italian place. The following is on the wall: “patience is not simply the ability to wait- it’s how we behave while we are waiting”

And I feel that in my bones yall.

Today I took a case to trial and got everything my client requested. What a great Monday!

The best feeling in the world is calling a client and telling them we won. That does not get old and it’s my favorite part of this work. #familylaw #lawyerdiaries #livingthelaw #lovingthelaw

Today I was immensely thankful for Zoom. It was a 3 minute appearance prior to docket call and I was so thankful I didn’t have to
1) drive to the courthouse
2) find parking
3) dress for court given the weather
4) pay for parking
5) show up early enough to do all that
6) bill my client for that

PSA #harriscounty #harriscountyfamilylaw

First Sunday at the office this year, getting ready for a busy week at SGB Law!

I am looking forward to 2025. I hope for more opportunities to learn and grow.l and I am sure I’ll have plenty

The most rewarding moments really were when I mediated for colleagues. I don’t do it often. & I should mediate more in 2025. But the trust from colleagues to try to find solutions to keep them out of the courthouse and tailor a solution for each family really brought me a lot of satisfaction.

The biggest wins this year were the ones at the courthouse, and getting some closure on some old cases. Keeping families from the perils of the courthouse also was a big part of my work the year.

Many years ago, I would not have dreamed that I’d be successful as a lawyer out on my own. So many friends and colleagues knew I’d be successful before I saw it myself

Many wonderful clients who trusted me with their families, to find solutions amidst chaos and in some cases present their case in court. Many wins and a few loses at the courthouse. But incredibly proud of all the hard work.

I am really thankful and proud of the small practice I’ve built.

I’m sitting here thinking about the last year at the office, the last day the office is open this year. What a great year!

Cases in the greater Houston area and a few other Texas counties.

Last mediation of the year. You settle many and impasse the rest.

Enjoying some peak puzzling

If you and the Court are just friends, why are you e-filing with it at 11:59 p.m., Matt?

I made the leap! Here are to better things in 2025

Today I got this Christmas card from a former client. I had met this family back in 2017. I got them custody of a newborn family member. They came back to me a few years later. Eventually, I got them to adopt this family member, their son. It was one of my first SGB Law cases. This made my week.