Bruce Law Firm - July 2022

Bruce Law Firm - July 2022

We are All Ears HOW WE EMPLOY THE ART OF LISTENING Bruce Law Firm is here for you.

At Bruce Law Firm, we do more than practice law. We listen to, understand, and empathize with our clients. And while we can’t claim to be experts in the art of listening, we have learned a lot over our nine attorneys’ collective 50 years’ worth of work. In the spirit of World Listening Day on July 18, we want to share some of those lessons. We meet with potential new clients during our initial consultations to develop the best plan for their unique issues. People pay good money to hear legal advice and develop a strategy. But being a lawyer isn’t just about studying and passing the bar exam. To create a plan for each client that truly addresses their situation, we first need to listen. Sitting silently and passively listening won’t work. To make sure that we truly understand what our clients are saying, we need to actively listen. That means we ask follow-up questions, show our geniune interest, and paraphrase the clients’ words. We also can’t jump to conclusions without hearing our clients first — even if we sometimes feel like we’ve seen it all.

Listening also requires a lot of patience. It can be extremely difficult for people to talk about their private lives with a loved one, let alone a stranger. It takes time for people to open up and trust us. We do our best to make them feel comfortable by meeting in a quiet space, making eye contact, and devoting all of our attention to what they’re saying. Sometimes they even need to take a break, and that’s okay, too. It also helps to be prepared. Our intake team (Mayra, Diana, Eduardo)— the people our potential clients speak to first — are trained in active listening. So, we’re all ears from the first phone call. The consulting attorney then carefully reviews the intake team’s notes before their first meeting. That way, we can focus on the client’s most pressing concerns. Once we have a clear direction and purpose, we can provide insight into their cases, make suggestions, and answer common questions. Once they retain our firm’s services, we pair each client with an attorney based on both needs and availability. The relationship between the

attorney and the client is crucial to obtaining the best outcome, so we schedule a series of weekly calls and meetings. They’re designed to educate the client on their legal strategy and ensure they understand all of the details of their case. As with the initial consultations, these meetings involve a great deal of listening by our attorneys. We can’t know what our client wants unless they tell us, so we ask about their vision for the future and what they want out of their case. Once we’ve identified our client’s needs, we can help them walk through the divorce process to see the fireworks and feel the freedom on the other side. As our firm’s family law case progress, our clients know we’re always here to assist. Our goal is to help people get through a challenging time with the support they need to live happier, more fulfilling lives. Sometimes the best way to do that is by sitting down, being quiet, and just listening.

–Ashley and Christopher Bruce

561-810-0170 • 1

Level Up Your Outdoor Cooking Space

Let Freedom Ring

With These Handy Features!

Outdoor kitchens were trendy in 2021 — and they’re still a must-have! If you plan to either build an outdoor cooking space or level up the one you have this summer, consider these game-changing features. 1. THE FLAT TOP GRILL: With a flat top, you can cook anything outside. Imagine outdoor breakfasts with pancakes and eggs! You can also cook burgers with lots of toppings without worrying about food falling into the flames. 2. THE WARMING DRAWER: Warming drawers make even the biggest barbecues easy to use. You can pre-grill your corn and stash it inside, keep sides toasty while you pour drinks and socialize, or warm up the buns for your dogs and burgers. 3. THE OUTDOOR ICE MACHINE : Install one of these, and you’ll never have to sprint inside for ice again. It’s a particularly handy feature if you have an outdoor bar and love to mix cocktails for your guests.

Keeping Kids Entertained on July 4

Summer is well and truly here, and so is its biggest holiday — the Fourth of July! In addition to celebrating our nation’s founding, Americans use the day to kick back and have a good time. The only question is how to keep the kids busy while you’re enjoying a chance to relax. You have a few options to keep everyone engaged and happy, and we’ve compiled some of our favorites here. Get crafty. Every kid loves a good project, especially if it comes with a chance to get a little messy. Keep your kids entertained by having a few red, white, and blue-themed crafts on hand. Think of how many ways you and your kids can make a flag — with balloons, painted popsicle sticks, buttons, or streamers — and try as many as possible. Use ribbons to create a DIY windsock or wand, or create “fireworks” with pipe cleaners. And if your family prefers baking together, add red, white, and blue icing or sprinkles to favorite treats for a fun (and delicious) time. Have a picnic or barbecue. There’s something special about eating outside in the summer, especially for children. It almost feels like you’re breaking the rules, making it extra fun. The trick here is to have your kids participate with age-appropriate tasks. Depending on how old they are, they might be able to cut fruit or vegetables, gather condiments, or act as a “helper” who runs things back and forth for the chef. After you’ve eaten (or maybe before, if you plan to overindulge), have some kid-friendly games like cornhole or horseshoes on hand. Better yet, cool down with a water gun fight! See the fireworks. It’s a classic for a reason. Even as an adult, fireworks can feel like magic — but there’s nothing quite like enjoying them as a child. Fourth on Flagler in downtown West Palm Beach is our area’s biggest Independence Day celebration, with food, games, activities, and music happening before the big nighttime show. If you’re looking for a smaller crowd, check whether one of your local municipalities is doing their own fireworks. Or better yet, scout out a quieter viewing angle from a nearby park. Your kids will never forget those giant “booms,” and you never forget the look of awe on their faces.

Good luck and happy cooking!

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What Is Time-Sharing? And How Does It Affect Your Family?

If you have children and are no longer in a relationship with their other parent, you’ve probably heard the words “time-sharing.” The term gives many people visions of being stuck in a room with a strong-armed salesperson for hours. Fortunately, we’re talking about a completely different type of timeshare. So, what is it? Time-sharing is the term Florida has chosen to replace the word “custody” in our state. The goal was to frame parenting as an equal responsibility between parents, not one that falls solely on mothers, as it did in the past. The presumption in any divorce case is that both parents will spend time with the children. There are three different types of time-sharing in Florida. The first is equal time-sharing, which is considered the gold standard. In this arrangement, children will spend 50% of their time with each parent. Majority time-sharing defines a situation where the child spends more time with one parent than the other, which can happen for many reasons. Supervised time-sharing is unusual and

rarely affects our clients. Courts use it in cases where one parent is a danger to their child, and the arrangement prevents them from being alone together.

Mediators and judges generally push for equal time-sharing whenever possible. But prohibitive factors like distance between the parents’ homes, the child’s schooling or health needs, or a parent’s work responsibilities can force a different outcome. The primary consideration in all cases will be the child’s overall well-being, so parental fitness and the child’s preferences will be considered, as will a history of violence or substance abuse. Determining whether a family will use equal, majority, or supervised time-sharing is only the first step. Next, the parents will have to create a parenting plan, which determines when the child spends time with each parent and how the switch-offs will happen. There are many different parenting plan structures, and the best arrangement is different for each family. Time-sharing is often the most contentious and emotional issue in a divorce case. Many parents cannot imagine not seeing their children every day, and they almost always want what’s best for their kids. Don’t wait to discuss any concerns with the Bruce Law Firm attorney handling your case. We’ll be here to answer your questions and help find a resolution that’s best for everyone.

Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara

BLF sponsored the Posse horse show back numbers!

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

Fresh crab and lemon make this crowd- pleasing pasta dish perfect for summer.

Ingredients

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12 oz bucatini pasta

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3 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, grated 1/2 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

8 oz fresh crabmeat

1/4 cup drained and rinsed capers, chopped 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

1 tbsp grated lemon zest 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

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Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste

6 large egg yolks, beaten

Directions

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook pasta until not yet al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook oil and garlic until lightly toasted. Add capers and black pepper, then stir for 2 minutes. 3. Add reserved cooking liquid to skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in pasta and cook until al dente. Remove from heat. 4. Stirring constantly, pour egg yolks quickly into the mixture. Add cheese and chives, stirring well until sauce is creamy. Add crab, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss together and season with salt. 561-810-0170 • 3

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How Bruce Law Learns By Listening page 1

Celebrating Independence Day with Kids Outdoor Cooking Inspiration You Need page 2 Understanding Florida Time-Sharing Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara page 3

Oceanside Activities to Try This Summer page 4

Oceanside Activities the Entire Family Can Enjoy

The summer season is officially underway, and many Americans are planning to take a trip to the beach to celebrate the occasion. If you’re going on a family vacation to the ocean for an extended period of time, you may be worried about keeping everyone entertained. That’s why we put together a list of some of our favorite oceanside activities to try this summer. Your summer vacation will be filled with fun and excitement after trying some of these great activities! Get active. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on the beach and listening to the calm repetition of the waves, but maybe you want a little more excitement by the ocean. If that’s the case, there are plenty of sports to try. You can bring a football and throw it around in the water or on the beach. You can buy a net and set up a game of beach volleyball to get everyone involved, or you can try one of the many new beachside sports hitting the market like Tidalball, pickleball, and Spikeball. Tidalball is the beach version of cornhole so if you haven’t played it yet, you definitely want to check it out. Experience nature. The wildlife and environment of the beach are most likely drastically different from what you can experience back home, so make an effort to see all you can. At many beaches, you’ll be able to see dolphins, whales, and sea rays from the shore. You can also look in the sand for crabs and small crustaceans. By simply standing still and taking in all of the sights and sounds of the ocean, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the surroundings. Ride the waves. You don’t need to be an experienced surfer to venture into the water on a board. Of course, you can take surfing lessons at many beaches, but you can also get in the water on a bodyboard for a thrilling experience. Additionally, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards if you want to be on the water, but not necessarily in it.

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