What am I paying for?

If you are an attorney who doesn't want to be blamed for the way a case turns out, I have a few suggestions:

1. Write and file orders when you say you will, or at all.

2. Contact opposing counsel with information when you say you will, or at all.

3. Call witnesses more than two days before the case is to go to court, or at all.

4. When a violent and threatening ex-husband fails to appear for a contempt hearing, despite the fact that he was correctly served and the proof of service is in front of the judge, avoid consenting to a do-over.

5. When composing a settlement agreement, be sure to read to the original order and have it nearby while you write.

6. Retract your original estimation that the settlement you have written will change the single most important clause in the original order, the primary reason she is standing there in court, more than 10 seconds before she is signing it in front of the judge affirming that she signed of her own free will.

7. Forward important, informative letters from opposing counsel to your client. Keep the bullying, non-factual, saber-rattling ones to yourself and counter them, or not, as your experience and education determine.

8. If family court is completely broken, as you say, and you are in no way responsible for any of the disasters, stop taking money for rolling around in it.