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About Mark
Philosophy
I see my work as a specialized form of problem solving. Estate planning involves a variety of legal areas –trust and estate law, family law, corporate law, tax law, real property law - and requires the ability to conceptualize and plan for multiple potential futures. Generally, you are dealing with someone’s entire personal and financial life. It's the big picture and the small details.
I strive to get things done as efficiently as possible. I need to know what a client wants so we don't spend time going in the wrong direction. This means asking questions and carefully reviewing necessary materials. Then asking more questions. Then coming to a consensus on a plan of action that the client understands. By doing this I can solve the problem the client has come to me about.
I take a lot of ideas from negotiation and mediation. Both study the psychology of how people make decisions. Every decision is some combination of emotional and rational. Something may make logical sense but you also have to believe it. I try to be mindful of this in dealing with clients and opposing parties.
I try to look ahead and prevent future problems. I don’t believe it does a lot of good to come up with a solution today that just pushes problems into the future. You prevent yourself from being in a bad position tomorrow by actions today. As your attorney I’ll never be able to prove I’m good at this because if I’m successful nothing happens. But it’s part of the strategy
Experience
I have over twenty years of experience as an attorney, working in administrative law, litigation, and transactional law, training and experience in mediation and arbitration, a law degree from UCLA, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
I've worked as an attorney for large and small law firms, a Fortune 500 company, and vounteered with non-profits.. I believe this gives me a unique perspective on the practice of law and how attorneys and clients of different backgrounds think about issues and cases.
Legal Services
I offer both flat-fee and by-the-hour legal services, depending on the matter type and client preference. We try to find an arrangement that works for both lawyer and client.
Use of technology can streamline many activities, save on costs, and also provide clients with access to information without having to contact the attorney. But not everyone is comfortable with this or finds it effective. I am happy to work in whatever method the client is most comfortable with.
Volunteer Activities
Assisting people who can't afford representation understand their legal rights and resolve conflicts hopefully makes the world a little better. I have volunteered with:
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Ventura County Legal Aid
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Conejo Free Clinic
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Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law
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Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles
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Center for Conflict Resolution
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Conflict Resolution Institute
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LA County Bar Association Arbitration & Mediation Panel