I've been asked many times over the years when and why I decided to become an attorney. When I was a kid, I was what's called a latchkey kid. After school, I watched a lot of reruns on television. One of my favorite shows was Perry Mason.

At the end of every Perry Mason episode, Perry managed to deftly cross-examine and get a witness to confess on the witness stand. Poof! Perry's client always got off. Wow. The man and his team had skills.

I'd only met one attorney and judge in real life - after I'd been hit by a car around age 6 years old. They were both so kind to me. That closed the deal for me. So, after being mesmerized many times by Perry Mason and learning that I really enjoyed social studies, I made my decision in 11th grade - I was going to law school despite having naysayers (including my own mother). I'm the first and only attorney in my family.

I admit that by the time I got to law school and heard many success stories, I had dollar signs in my eyes. I realized soon that other than making enough money to live a good life, money was not a priority for me. I've had many trials and tribulations, personally and professionally. My priority in life is to be at peace with myself and others. I've found that being empathetic and helping others helps me feel more peaceful and content. Money's great (especially for feeding my love of shoes) but peace and contentment are absolutely golden to me. Taking the high road is so much smoother and easier than the low road.

With so much negativity in the world, I think some people have a hard time believing that my optimism and empathy are genuine. Those closest to me know that it's real. I hope that my clients draw the same conclusion and benefit from it.

Always consult a qualified, criminal defense attorney about the specific facts of your case.