My first contact with family court was many years ago when I was the Special Master of the Fourth Circuit Court of Davidson County. I investigated custody cases and submitted a factual report (no recommendations) to the Judge to assist him in his rulings. I often sat in the courtroom and observed high powered lawyers going at clients and each other in an effort to zealously represent their clients. I was encouraged by the Judge to go to law school and I believed from the very beginning that it was my job as an attorney to keep my clients out of court. I have always believed that it is the responsibility of all professionals whether Judges, attorneys, mediators or mental health professionals, not to make the divorce worse than the marriage.