Michele Sacks Lowenstein
Lowenstein Brown, APLC
2650 Camino del Rio North
Suite 308
San Diego, CA 92108
Map
Phone: (619) 298-6246
http://www.lowensteinfamilylaw.com
San Diego Divorce Lawyers–Divorce with Respect
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
People who are looking for creative solutions to the problems they face. Our emphasis is on cooperative and negotiated settlements involving divorce, child custody and visitation and child and spousal support. We provide litigation services when negotiations fail.
See my article Information You Should Have About Selecting a Divorce Lawyer.
For current articles, see my blog MICHELE TALKS ABOUT FAMILY LAW.
Sub-Topics
Abuse
- Child Abuse
- Domestic Violence
Children
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Children's Rights
- Paternity
- Visitation
Couples
- Civil Unions
- Domestic Partnerships
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Restraining Orders
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
People who are looking for creative solutions to the problems they face. Our emphasis is on cooperative and negotiated settlements involving divorce, child custody and visitation and child and spousal support. We provide litigation services when negotiations fail.
See my article Information You Should Have About Selecting a Divorce Lawyer.
For current articles, see my blog MICHELE TALKS ABOUT FAMILY LAW.
Sub-Topics
Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
Annulment
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1981
Bar Number: 101707
Specialty Certifications
Family Law
Other Court Admissions
State Bar of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; United States District Court
Association Memberships
California State Bar Association, San Diego County Bar Association
Continuing Education
Participated in 3-day Interdisciplinary Team Training in Collaborative Law with Stu Webb, the founder of Collaborative Divorce; Completed 40 hour mediation training with Nancy Foster and Jessica Notini at the Northern California Mediation Center; Numerous seminars on psychological issues. Because I am a Certified Family Law Specialist, I am required to take 60 hours of continuing legal education in Family Law over a period of 5 years to be recertified. I generally take many more hours than that.
Papers and Publications
I have had extensive experience practicing before the Superior Court as well as the Court of Appeals. I have represented parties in eight published decisions. My articles about family law are posted on my web site.
http://lowensteinfamilylaw.com/California-Divorce-Library.php
Example Cases
There is no such thing as an insignificant case. Helping someone through his or her family law matter means making a difference in that person's life. Practicing family law means that every case is a significant case. When children are involved there is added significance. The size of the marital estate does not dictate the significance of a case. People don't want to lose what they have, be it $100,000 or $10,000,000.
Education
California Western School of Law
J.D.
San Diego
CA
1981
Cum Laude
Winner of Nathan Burkan Competition
Thomas Edison College
B.A.
Trenton
NJ
1978
Humanities
Number of Attorneys
2
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
I established this law firm at the end of 1981 after I graduated from law school. We focus on creative problem solving.
Previous Employment Summary
I have had my own office since I was admitted to the Bar in 1981.
Activities and Awards
I have been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV® rated attorney, the highest rating available to any individual lawyer. I have lectured on the topic of family law to attorneys and other professionals. I periodically serve as a judge pro tem for the San Diego Superior Court. I have been named by the San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the Top 100 attorneys in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011. Also, I have been selected as a San Diego Super Lawyer for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Additionally, as part of my involvement with the Family Law Committee, I was on a committee which drafted legislation to require parents to support their children beyond age 18 if the child is still enrolled in high school. That legislation became effective in 1985. I am currently co-chair of the Family Law Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association and previously served as the chair in 1992.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
Clients need to be educated to be able to make good decisions. Who better to assist in this than a certified family law specialist?
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
It depends upon the context. If the client has retained me, my office prepares all the documents. If the client is representing himself or herself, I will review such documents if the circumstances are appropriate.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
While this is not something I often do, it is something I have done and am willing to do again if the circumstances are appropriate.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I decided to become a lawyer because I felt it would allow me to help people in times of crisis.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Even after 25 years, I find that I still learn something from every case I am involved in. People are unique and their situations are always different. Becoming trained in collaborative divorce and mediation was transformative for me because it showed me a glimpse into the world of the possible.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I sometimes think it chose me. There is really nothing more interesting and satisfying than helping people work through the difficult issues they are faced with in dissolving their relationships.
What do you like best about your career?
I enjoy the intellectual challenge of problem solving.
Tell us about your law firm:
When you retain my office, you retain a legal team. We are a small boutique law firm and the client will receive my personal attention and work with my associate attorney, paralegal and secretary. We return all telephone calls promptly, which generally means the day the client calls. Selected as one of the top 100 attorneys in San Diego in 2005 and 2006.
What are your strengths and style?
I feel my unique strength and expertise is in looking for creative ways to resolve disputes. Over 90% of my cases are resolved without court intervention. If court intervention is required, I use my creativity to position the client for a favorable outcome. I also have a good knowledge of how the tax code impacts property settlements. We have to determine which assets will best suit the client's long-range financial goals and objectives; including retirement planning.
I think of myself as a conference room lawyer. The first thing we do when we are retained by a client is determine whether a meeting with the other party and his or her lawyer will assist in the resolution of the issues. So, nearly all of our cases, regardless of whether they are collaborative, will start in the conference room, where we will try to assist the parties to come to a resolution without court intervention. If we are not able to resolve the matter and court intervention is necessary, we evaluate different strategic approaches with thorough preparation and follow through on the litigation strategy the client and I have chosen.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy traveling with David, my husband of 30 years. Collecting art and antiques; cooking; reading biographies, because fact is always stranger than fiction; attending the theatre; collecting vintage copper jewelry; practicing yoga; and spending time with my 3-legged cat, Mattie.
Office Manager/Assistant
Rosemarie Morgans
Office Hours
Monday through Thursday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Some Spanish
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
We do not offer any fixed price services. We bill by the hour.
Hourly Rates
$395.00 for Michele Lowenstein
$295.00 for Elizabeth Brown
$275.00 for Associate Attorney
$195.00 for paralegal assistance
Free Initial Consultation?
We do not offer a free consultation. I charge my hourly rate. In that meeting, I will evaluate the case, frame the issues and discuss the client's options. My consultation lasts at least 60 minutes and may be longer, depending upon the complexity of the matter.
Typical Retainer
It depends upon the specific circumstances of each case. Generally, it can range from $5,000 to $10,000.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.
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