The Manely Firm, P.C. - July 2022

The Manely Firm, P.C. - July 2022

All family law. All around Georgia. All around the world.

J uly 2022

GOOD REPRESENTATION STARTS WITH HEARING OUR CLIENTS OUT S top , L ook , and L isten

Listening is critical — but it’s easy for many attorneys to forget that. In many ways, we’re technicians. We’re very good at crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s, and we memorize the law and processes for a living. Listening to our clients and understanding the outcome they want — not the one we think they should want — doesn’t always come naturally. It requires concerted effort and dedication to the people you’re serving. July 18 is World Listening Day, and I think more lawyers should seize the opportunity to assess their listening skills. It’s one thing to develop creative strategies or make brilliant arguments in a courtroom, but that alone can’t make you a great attorney. You also need to understand your client and put their wants and needs first. Many family law attorneys meet a client, look at their intake paperwork, and say, “They need a divorce!” They’re not wrong, exactly. But I’ve learned that what the client really needs is a happier life. Divorce is just the process to get them to the

next phase of their journey. To set up the client successfully for whatever comes next, we should be willing to let them take the lead and acknowledge that they know their own life best. I can’t say that I’ve always felt this way. Most attorneys fresh out of law school have an ego, and I was no different. I just spent all this time in law school — what was the point if I couldn’t show other people how smart I was by talking all the time? Fortunately, I learned that it wasn’t all about me; others, sadly, never do. Failure to listen can impact people’s lives and sometimes make all the difference in subtle, but critical, details regarding the division of property or care for minor children. However, listening to our clients shouldn’t be confused with passively doing whatever they ask. We employ the principles of active listening to understand both what our clients want and uncover the need behind the need. For example, take a woman who tells us her husband should have custody. Many attorneys would take that statement at face value and immediately start working toward that goal. But if you ask some additional questions about why she feels this way, you might uncover that her husband has abused her for years and destroyed her sense of self-worth. She may think she has nothing to offer her children. But in reality, she has been the only one caring for them and keeping them safe. A case like that is complex and must be handled with care. But you’ll never get that far unless you take the time to get curious and hear the person out. If an attorney takes the short view of only getting a client to the end of a case, it does the client’s future an injustice. Developing an interest in our clients’ thoughts and feelings is how The Manely Firm gets to a point where we understand their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. We may only be with our clients for a short while, but we’re thinking long-term. We want to know where our clients want to be in 10–20 years. So, we have to ask — and take the time to hear and understand the answer. –Michael Manely 1

Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685

I s I t T ime for a D igital D etox ?

• Turn off notifications. Constant notifications can be incredibly distracting, so silencing them allows us to focus more on our surroundings. • Disconnect before bedtime. Turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep to relax your body and mind. Another benefit is that you’ll feel less stressed, especially if you compare yourself to others on social media or get lost in negative news cycles. Perhaps the most notable benefit of a digital detox is reclaiming your own time. Checking your cellphone and scrolling through social media can quickly become a subconscious habit. Before you know it, an hour or two has passed. Even watching television can take up huge chunks of your day. With a digital detox, you get that time back, and you can reallocate it to healthier activities. If you feel like you need a break from your electronic devices, take one. It could lead to a healthier and happier life. A W hole N ew W orld MEET JANET SIERRA!

When you need a break from your busy life, you probably look at your cellphone. And when you need a break from your cellphone, you might watch TV or browse social media on your other devices. This cycle of never-ending screens can be taxing on your mental health. Everyone hits their breaking point at a different time, and you may not even realize when you’ve reached your limit. If you find yourself getting angry or upset at posted content, consistently comparing yourself to others, or feeling depressed, it may be time for a digital detox. But what is a digital detox? It’s taking a break from electronic devices, such as your cellphone or tablet mindlessly scrolling through social media or news stories.

Now that you know what it is, how can you detox yourself?

• Schedule a break from your devices. Even if it’s just for a half-hour, use the time to do other activities, such as exercise, household chores, or even gardening.

Janet Sierra started as a receptionist at The Manely Firm one year ago after finishing her bachelor’s degree. “Doing something with law interested me,” she says, “and everyone here has been so welcoming. They’re all eager to help me grow professionally and answer any questions I have since this is my first ‘adult job.’” She has taken such a liking to the legal profession that she is now working on a paralegal certificate. She hopes to advance within the firm eventually, but right now, she is enjoying the good company of her colleagues and gaining a better understanding of family law. Janet’s parents were born in Mexico City, and she is a first-generation immigrant. Though she was born in Atlanta, Spanish is her first language. This skill now comes in handy at The Manely Firm due to our diverse clientele. Janet often assists with interpreting for Spanish-speaking clients who seek our help, and she someday hopes to secure certification in interpreting and translation.

Mexican food my parents make from back home!” Being bilingual has inspired a passion for learning new languages, and she is currently trying to learn Turkish. She grew up watching telenovelas (Latin American soap operas) and discovered some similar Turkish shows on YouTube. “Now it’s a little obsession of mine,” she says. Her other hobbies include spending time with her 7-year-old niece, Bella, and participating in Disney fan culture. “I love going to Disney,” she says. “When I take a vacation, I usually try to head down to Orlando.” It’s a passion she and Bella share. “It’s so much fun because she’s obsessed with Disney like I am,” Janet says. “We’re hoping to take her on a trip to Disney next year.” For Janet, the best part of her work at The Manely Firm is getting to know other people. “I enjoy talking to people and hearing about their stories — even from the little snippets I’m able to get,” she says. “I recently had a call with a Mexican attorney, and his practice is in the same area my family is from. This job is a really nice way of connecting with people!”

“I love being a first-generation immigrant,” Janet says, “because I get to enjoy all the traditional

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www.allfamilylaw.com

Offering Unexpected Perks and Amenities

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” —R alph W aldo E merson

OUR MODEL FOR CONCIERGE-LEVEL SERVICE

When choosing an attorney, one of the most important considerations is how they make you feel. A lawyer may have a great success rate and a mountain of accolades, but if they make you uncomfortable, the relationship won’t work. You need to be able to open up to your attorney and be completely honest to achieve the best outcome. That’s one of the reasons why we strive to put our clients immediately at ease and go out of our way to show we care. Our clients are not just faceless cases lost among legalese, and we aim to prove it by offering unexpected perks and amenities. One small way we do this is with check-in phone calls to see how our clients are

1. OFFER UNEXPECTED PERKS OR AMENITIES.

2. PERFORM RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

3. PROVIDE A SUPERIOR DIGITAL EXPERIENCE.

4. PROVIDE AN ENHANCED IN-OFFICE EXPERIENCE.

5. REMOVE CUSTOMER PAIN.

6. SERVE AS A TRUSTED ADVISOR.

S ummer C rab and L emon C arbonara

doing and how we might be able to help. As we’ve shared before, we also have a list of referrals for every service you can imagine. If you need help changing your last name, finding a new pediatrician, or hiring a tutor for your child, we’ve got you covered with a list of people we trust to treat you right. We also aim to surprise our clients with gifts that show we’re thinking about them and their busy lives. Each new client receives an onboarding gift of a notebook with a small and convenient charging station tucked inside. It’s both a way to show we care and a useful tool. The notebook helps our clients stay organized, prepare for meetings, and keep track of their thoughts. Meanwhile, the charging station helps ensure they can always remain connected, even when they’re on the run. We do all of this because we know how valuable the attorney-client relationship is to every case. We also want to build a lifelong connection with each client and become their go-to legal experts. Their needs may not always fall under our practice areas, but we’re always glad to provide a trusted referral. It’s because our clients matter to us. Once every case is over, we also provide our clients with a “bon voyage” gift. It’s a way to celebrate their new beginning while also showing that we hope to be in their lives for the long haul through questions, future legal matters, and client referrals. We’re always glad when a case is over, but we hope it doesn’t mean the relationship has to end.

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

I ngredients

• • • •

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 1/4 cup drained and rinsed capers, chopped 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper 6 large egg yolks, beaten

• • • • •

8 oz fresh crabmeat

1 tbsp grated lemon zest 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

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Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste

•

D irections 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.

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Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685

211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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How Listening Drives Our Work

The Benefits of a Digital Detox Meet Receptionist Janet Sierra!

How We Offer Unexpected Perks and Amenities Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara

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What Exactly Is the Rosetta Stone?

N ot J ust a L anguage T ool

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE REAL ROSETTA STONE

Rosetta Stone is one of the world’s most popular and well-known language- learning softwares, but many users have wondered about where its name came from. The original Rosetta Stone was once the most enigmatic Egyptian artifact that confounded scholars for a number of years. When they finally cracked the code, one of the lost secrets of ancient Egypt was revealed. The Rosetta Stone is a slab of granite that has inscriptions of a decree issued in 196 B.C. by Egypt’s ruler at the time, Ptolemy V, and a group of Egyptian clergy members. The decree was written in hieroglyphics, ancient Greek, and Demotic, which was a script used by the common people. Experts estimate the stone’s creation was over 2,000 years ago. The slab was discovered in July 1799 by a group of French army engineers who were operating under Napoleon Bonaparte’s orders near the Egyptian town of Rosetta. The British Army would go on to defeat France in Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1801. Under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria, the British claimed the Rosetta Stone, along with other Egyptian artifacts found by the French. The British relocated the stone to the British Museum in London, where it was stored in a temporary structure until they could strengthen the floors of the museum to support its incredible weight. Various scientists studied the artifact with no success, and it was ultimately deciphered by French linguist Jean-Francois Champollion.

Champollion discovered that hieroglyphics were a combination of phonetic and ideographic signs. Earlier scientists had falsely

inferred that hieroglyphics were simply symbolic picture writing and nothing more. For his discovery, Champollion was named the founding father of Egyptology.

If you’re interested in viewing the Rosetta Stone, it is still on display at the British Museum in London where it’s been displayed for 220 years, with the exception of a temporary relocation during World War I. While the Rosetta Stone has called London home for hundreds of years, there have been recent requests to return it to its homeland in Egypt.

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