Masterson Law

⚖️ Part 2 of this series ⚖️

⚖️ We see this sadly all too often - client honestly dont know how to assess their lawyer. A helpful PSA in a 2-part series ⚖️

It is hot 🥵

Not “summer is winding down” hot. Not “cute little iced coffee” hot.

It is everybody is one minor inconvenience away from filing a grievance with the universe hot.

And respectfully, I think we all need to remember something:

Your lawyer is hot too. 😂

We are also tired. We also have 47 things happening at once. We also occasionally write something on the wrong day, forget where we put something, need a few more minutes to call you back, or stare at an email for a moment wondering whether the appropriate response is “certainly” or simply closing the laptop and walking directly into the woods.

We are human beings doing a very human job for other human beings who are often going through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

We know you’re stressed.

We know you’re worried.

We know none of this is fun.

And most of us really, genuinely are doing the best we can to help.

So perhaps, for the remainder of this approximately 147-degree Missouri summer, we could all extend each other just a tiny bit more grace.

Your lawyer.
The court clerk.
The cashier.
The delivery driver.
The person who took 2.7 seconds too long when the light turned green.

Everybody.

We are all hot.

We are all a little tired.

And nobody needs their head ripped off today.

Drink some water. Find some air conditioning. Say a prayer. Give somebody the benefit of the doubt. Pleeeeeeeease.

We can resume our regularly scheduled grievances when it is 72 degrees outside. 😂

⚖️ We had an awesome time presenting on the ethical and effective use of AI in the law firm at the Missouri Bar Family Law Conference this year ⚖️

⚖️ Come and see us at the Missouri Bar Family Law conference where Eric and I will be presenting on the efficient and ethical use of AI in the family law firm, Friday at 3:30 p.m. ⚖️

⚖️ We couldnt help ourselves …

⚖️ “Why I Sometimes Say No”

Not every client is the right client.

One question surprises people during consultations:

“Why wouldn’t you take my case?”

The answer is simple.

Because hiring a lawyer is a partnership. I often use the line from a movie - “hiring a lawyer is like couture, it needs to fit right or it’s a disaster.”

Sometimes I decline representation not because the case lacks merit…

…but because the relationship isn’t likely to succeed.

If someone has lost confidence in every professional involved—

their lawyer,
the guardian ad litem,
the judge,
the therapist,
the mediator—

I have to ask a difficult question:

Will changing lawyers actually solve the problem?

Sometimes the answer is yes.

Often the answer is no.

Part of my job is recognizing the difference.

I’d rather decline a case than promise something I don’t believe I can deliver.

That’s not giving up on someone.

It’s being honest.

And honesty is one of the most valuable things your attorney can offer.

Masterson Law
⚖️ The right representation begins with the right partnership.

⚖️ Sometimes the best time to hire me… is after someone else. ⚖️

Some of my best cases are the ones that arrive halfway through the fight.

Every week, I see the same pattern.

Someone comes into my office after months—or even years—of litigation.

Discovery has been done.
Temporary orders have been entered.
A trial is already scheduled.

And they quietly ask:

“Is it too late?”

Usually…

No.

In fact, some of the strongest work I do is stepping into cases that have lost direction.

That doesn’t mean I wave a magic wand.

It means I spend hours reading every pleading, every exhibit, every transcript, every email, and every order before I ever step into a courtroom.

Then we identify what actually matters.

We stop chasing distractions.
We build a strategy.
We prepare for trial with purpose instead of panic.

Can every case be turned around?

No.

But many can.

Just understand that changing attorneys late in the process is rarely inexpensive. You’re asking a new lawyer to learn months—or years—of history in a matter of weeks.

It’s intensive work.

But when the right strategy is applied at the right time, it can make a tremendous difference.

Masterson Law
⚖️ Strategy matters—especially when time is running out ⚖️

ADHD doesn't cause divorce. Untreated ADHD symptoms can make relationships much harder to navigate.

Research has found that adults with ADHD have a higher risk of divorce than those without ADHD. The reasons are understandable. Forgetfulness may be interpreted as not caring. Difficulty following through can feel like broken promises. Emotional impulsivity can escalate conflict. Executive functioning challenges often leave one partner feeling like they're carrying more of the mental load.

The encouraging news is that ADHD is highly treatable. Medication, therapy, coaching, organizational systems, and learning how ADHD affects your relationship can make a tremendous difference. Many couples improve significantly once they stop viewing these patterns as character flaws and start addressing them as symptoms.

If you or your partner has ADHD, don't assume your relationship is doomed. Understanding the condition is often the first step toward building a stronger marriage. Our ADHD couples specialist at Best Life is Dr Benson.... Reach out to [email protected] to schedule with her.

Sources: D'Onofrio et al., Journal of Attention Disorders; Barkley RA; CHADD.