Westside Office - "People Would Never Go to Torrance"

• When I left the Superior Court to start my practice, a number of people told me I needed to have an office on the Westside. They gently told me people from 90212, 90024, 90049, the Palisades, Malibu and the Valley would never go down to Torrance---not even to see you, David. So I have an office in Westwood, 10921 Wilshire Blvd. #610, 90024.
  
• I even attend events for the Beverly Hills Bar Association and yesterday, the Santa Monica Bar Association. There was a fascinating program on counseling by court order(Family Code section 3190). Family Law attorneys, a judicial officer and mental health professionals discussed how counseling can be helpful for divorcing families. One of the lawyers who helped write the law was present. When I asked a couple who were ordered have co-parent counseling with me what the judge said, they told me "He said he didn't want to see us in his courtroom again; it would be better for us if we were in counseling. I'm still seeing them, and they haven't been in court.
• According to "Juno" Collaborative Divorce is the latest thing in divorce. A 2-day training program is scheduled for professionals on May 9,10, 2008 at the Sheraton Gateway. (See lacfla.com). Although there was no joy in hearing about Robin and Garces Williams divorce, it was encouraging to hear they will using Collaborative Divorce to help them "close the book gently."