My “Why”: Deep Background on Respectful Treatment of Clients and Opponents

Respectful treatment of people really matters in life and is central in employment law disputes. This has been an ethical cornerstone of my practice for over three decades now. It was drilled into me early in life. While I may make mistakes in the heat of battle or otherwise, it is always my intent to treat clients, opposing parties, opposing advocates and judges and juries with respect. Every individual deserves this.

I grew up the eldest child of a teacher and daycare provider in rural Minnesota. Each summer from my first year of high school, I worked alongside siblings, Dad and teachers and early childhood educators at a school for the children of migrant workers who traveled to our area to do hard work in the sugar beet fields. From a young age, I saw discrimination and mistreatment directed toward hard-working folks just because they spoke Spanish in their families and looked different than most people around town. It wasn’t right.

Dad and Mom taught me to treat everyone with respect and dignity—whether family, friend, teammate or opponent. Dad said, “treat everyone the same and that way you’ll never need worry how you treated someone.” I was taught to deal with others honestly. I took these lessons seriously and continue this principle in my law practice every day. I truly hope my opposing counsel say and will continue to say that I am a polite but firm and effective advocate of my client’s cause.