Page 9 - Dallas Vol 5 No 3

I have had many mentors over the years, and believe that no legal education is complete without them. ey impart information that you cannot learn from books, codes or professors. e best mentors never answer questions directly, but give mentees more ways to think about the issue.”
wants and expects prior to coming to trial. e corollary to this is to be sure that your client knows exactly what he or she wants and expects. is sounds like really basic advice, and presumably every lawyer knows this before trying a case; however, sometimes courts are ill equipped to give a litigant what they truly want from any given con- ict. In some cases, even if a client “wins” in a lawsuit they will nd themselves unsatis ed with the result. Preparing your clients for what they can realistically expect from liti- gation is one of the most essential parts of trying cases. AALM: What do you nd most challenging about your profession?
Garcia: Lawyers and judges are experts at con ict resolu- tion – day to day they see and resolve more con ict than most other professionals. Helping people to nd resolu- tion can be one of the most rewarding things you can do, but the exposure to near constant con ict adversely a ects one’s mental health. Lawyers experience staggering rates of depression and substance abuse compared to other professions. e challenge is for self-care. Most of us do not do it enough, and many do not recognize the warn- ing signs when they are in dangerous territory. It would be wonderful if we could collectively learn better ways to avoid the pitfalls associated with our work.
AALM: What do you believe is the biggest di erence be- tween practicing law and presiding as a judge?
Garcia: Practicing law requires more knowledge and ex- perience in business and administrative areas. Many law- yers are responsible for the infrastructure of keeping the o ce doors open and running. Payroll, accounting, col- lecting are all parts of keeping your o ce open.
at level of business skill is not required to preside over a court. is a ords judges the opportunity to study and understand the intricacies of the law and the problems presented to them. Presiding also exposes one to a broad- er, more diverse perspective of legal issues. Even within a specialty (like family law), attorneys may focus their ca- reers in complex property division, child protection or en- forcement. Judges do not have the freedom to concentrate exclusively in areas like that.
AALM: What do you love about your job?
Garcia: Courts o er people the opportunity to resolve
their con ict without resorting to violence. is is so im- portant. Getting people past their con ict and on the road to healing for a better future for themselves and their chil- dren is probably the most rewarding thing that I can do. AALM: Are there any changes in the legal community that you are excited about?
Garcia: e legal education o ered to me and my peers 25 years ago was excellent. But over time, our community’s legal needs and our economy have changed. It’s exciting to see how legal education is evolving to meet those needs. Students today learn di erently. Many schools still ad- here to the Socratic method of inquiry to hone students’ critical thinking skills, but they are also complementing that method to adapt to students who have grown up in a digital age. Giving students more hands-on training with practitioners and an emphasis on checking in more fre- quently during are among a few changes that promise to enhance today’s students.
AALM: What do you do in your spare time? Hobbies? Garcia: In the evenings, I teach family law to students at SMU Dedman College of Law. Interacting with students is a rewarding way to get to know future lawyers. I enjoy practicing yoga and have been known to run long dis- tances (I have run a marathon, two half-marathons and nished a triathlon). I am not the fastest athlete, but I am very determined. I also enjoy sewing the occasional quilt for family and friends. Other than those activities, my fa- vorite thing to do is to spend time with my husband and daughter.
AALM: Do you have any mentors? What are some of the most important lessons they taught you?
Garcia: I have had many mentors over the years, and be- lieve that no legal education is complete without them. ey impart information that you cannot learn from books, codes or professors. e best mentors never answer questions directly, but give mentees more ways to think about the issue. e lesson? e question a young lawyer asks o en overlooks some important aspect of the issue. If you are having di culty, change your perspective and try to think about the problem in a di erent way.
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