Mary was recommended to me by a well-known, recognized Austin family law attorney. This endorsement reflected confidence in Mary by her colleagues and the knowledge that she would work to the utmost to win. In my case this was a high conflict and complicated divorce which she won decisively. I have come to believe that Mary is talented and gifted lawyer. Over the 18 months I worked with Mary, I came to understand-though not knowing the law-that there are outer and inner aspects to a successful case.
The outer has to do with the technical aspects of the law and knowing it cold. I came to believe that she knew the minutiae of the minutiae. But it is not only that Mary knows the law but she also continually works at fine tuning it to circumstances. In my case, Mary dealt with a pre-nuptial agreement executed abroad. Her brief to the judge was innovative and convincing even though she had not advocated before His Honor before. She knows what needs to be done and will have the client working effectively-saving legal costs- on needed detail of the case from the beginning. This non-stop drive to perfect a case insures no loss of momentum even if there are setbacks such as court reschedulings. She continually seeks improvement on the legal argument modifying as circumstances change which they did with my spouse. Importantly, her court performance is confident and very powerful.
The inner aspect of the case is the work with the client; keeping them fighting and never giving up; helping him or her not to act from bad ideas or react from their worst instincts. This means getting to know the client well enough to make them their own best advocate. This also requires reassuring in case of client doubt or fear, and moderating client emotion and worry so that these feelings do not undermine the hard, cumulative work done by both attorney and client so that they both ultimately, as a team cross the finish line as winners.
In summary, one wants a situation where when the court is over an unknown bailiff spontaneously tells you that you had a ‘heck’ of a lawyer.” Mary is that kind of attorney.
I have an addendum to make to my first review and that is to note that Mary is in the case even after the court has decided. She continues to support months after my divorce was final. She realizes that while the court decision might be positive, the final victory is getting the client back on track, into a positive life. Perhaps for her the case never ends because it is about people not the least of which are the children involved.
