Resources: For My Clients, Potential Clients, Self-Represented, and Colleagues.

/fAs I have explored how to do this job, to innovate, and to share my ideas, I have encountered and even created some useful resources. Here they are:

1. I make the editorial decision to start with my new book first, “Perspectives of a Small Town Lawyer: Ideas For Potential Clients, Clients, Friends, Family, Colleagues, Adversaries, Judges, Legislators, and Change Leaders”. It is a distillation of, and a reference to, my 1400 pages of blog writing, and its 360 articles. Sections include – “legal checklist” ideas;  practical tips on preparation, organization, and law office management;  concrete information on WV Family Law;  information about personal injury and other contingency fee cases;  my thoughts on mediation, negotiation, and other methods of dispute resolution; new concepts on “future of the law” and access to justice for low and moderate income litigants; and some of my deepest and most serious views on the problems of our culture and our world.
2. For rock solid information focused on WV Divorce Law, read “Divorce in West Virginia : The Legal Process, Your Rights, and What to Expect”, by Charleston Lawyers Lyne Ranson and her daughter Brittany Ranson Stonestreet.         It is thorough, detailed, and informative.
3. The next two books are general, not W.Va. centric, one by a male who represents only men, and one by a female who represents only women. I question how one can maintain perspective if they only represent one gender, but the content of each is pretty good. They are:
   1. “The Ten Stupidest Mistakes Men Make When Facing Divorce and How to Avoid Them” by Joseph Cordell, Esq; and
   2. “Hit Him Where It Hurt$: The Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Divorce, Alimony, Custody, Child Support, and More”, By Sherri Donovan, Esq.
4. I caution anyone who walks into divorce or other family law case with adversarial intent. Collaboration is an option that I would like to consider and explore before, “hitting where it hurts”. It is good to have a lawyer with both skillsets.
5. The next two books have many competitors. These two rated well with Amazon.
   1. One deals with bad behavior in children. This is a common phenomenon when a child’s life is turned upside down, where one or move parents doesn’t really know what he or she is doing, and when the child encounters different parental style, from 2, 3 or more sources.
   2. The other discusses the concept of cooperation and collaboration between divorcing or conflicted parents. They are:
      1. “The Baffled Parents’ Guide to Stopping Bad Behavior”, by Kate Kelly, and,
      2. “Cooperative Parenting and Divorce: Shielding Your Child From Conflict: A Parent Guide to Effective Co-Parenting”, by Susan Bly Boyan, M.Ed., I..M.F.T. and Ann Marie Termini, M.S.,L.P.C.
6. “The Secrets to Marketing & Automating Your Law Practice: A Lawyer’s Guide to Creating Systems, Getting Clients, & Becoming a Legal Rainmaker”. It is a good primer and reminder on the subject.
7. Three books on innovations in the resolution of family law and civil cases:
   1. “Unbundling of Legal Services: A Family Lawyer’s Guide”, by Forrest S. Mosten and Elizabeth Potter Scully;
   2. “Collaborative Divorce [Handbook: Helping Families Without Going to Court”, also by Forrest Mosten, Esq.; and
   3. “Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits”, by Lainey Feingold.
8. An older book, focused on financial matters, and a bit cynical is “The Ten Biggest Mistakes Women Can Avoid: How to Protect Yourself, Your Children, and Your Assets”. A plus is you can find a 2003 version for $.35 at Amazon, plus shipping!
9. Finally, is an important source for lawyers and litigants who are dealing with interstate custody issues, “Child-Custody Jurisdiction: The UCCJEA & PKPA” by Marie Fahnert and Me’lyse Mpiranya, an ABA publication. On this subject, what you do not know definitely can hurt you!

This post was written by Burton Hunter