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Karyn Gimbel Youso
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Karyn Gimbel Youso
Jacobson & Ratzel
13255 W Bluemound Rd.
# 203
Brookfield, WI 53005-6245
Phone: (262) 780-0460 | Fax: (262) 780-0468
http://www.lowconflictdivorce.net/
Low conflict divorce for high conflict families.
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
Information coming soon.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Restraining Orders
- Child Support
- Custody
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
In addition to mediation and collaborative practice, I specialize in divorce and paternity cases involving domestic abuse, substance abuse, and mental illness. I take a low conflict approach to problem solving in all my cases when possible, seeking to assist parties with cooperation and communication.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Annulment
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation Rights
- Delinquent Support Payments
- Division of Property
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
- Restraining Orders
- Uncontested Divorce
- Collaborative Law
Bar Admissions
WI, Sep 1993
Bar Number: 1022140
Other Court Admissions
State of Illinois; the State of Wisconsin (all courts); and the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin (federal).
Association Memberships
The State Bar of Wisconsin; the Association for Women Lawyers; the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc.; and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
Continuing Education
I both attend and teach continuing legal education seminars on family law. I always exceed the required amount of continuing education hours/credits. I am frequently invited to speak on the subject of domestic violence, as well as the area of collaborative divorce. I am invited annually by the State Bar of Wisconsin to train new Guardians Ad Litem about the subject of domestic abuse in law, and how it should be handled in family court cases.
Papers and Publications
(1) Collaborative Family Law: The Process and the Purpose (Feb. 2008, Wisconsin Law Journal); (2) Domestic Abuse Cases in Collaborative Practice (October 2006, IACP Forum); (3) Legal/Practice Problems GALs Encounter in cases presenting allegations of domestic abuse (April 2006, with Pitre and Aaronson, State Bar of WI); (4) Defining Domestic Abuse and the Effect of Domestic Abuse and Child Abuse in Placement Decisions (April 2007 and 2008 with Daughtery-Leiter, State Bar of WI); (5) Psychological Abuse as a Component of Domestic Abuse (April 2008, State Bar of WI); (6) Psychological Abuse: The Elephant in the Room: How to Identify and Handle it in Custody Cases. Strategies for getting your judge to take it seriously when there's no blood and no broken bones (Jan. 2008, Milwaukee Bar Association).
Example Cases
I regularly handle cases involving substance abuse and/or mental illness, in which one spouse has a drinking problem or mental health problem that needs to be managed. I have above average education and experience in dealing with these issues and excellent management skills for handling that type of case.
I also regularly handle collaborative and/or cooperative cases for parties who do not have great disputes, but have trouble communicating and need legal assistance from someone who will not "pick a fight" or make matters worse. Oftentimes one party will retain me while the other will go unrepresented, but all three of us will sit down to work out the details of the divorce or other family law matter in a cordial manner to save on fees. Because I have above-average problem solving skills, I help couples get past their differences to move forward toward agreement, either in mediation or cooperative/collaborative divorce.
Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
University of Pennsylvania
City:
Philadelphia
State:
PA
Year:
1989
Focus and Accomplishments:
French/Russian language and literature.
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Washington University School of Law
City:
St. Louis
State:
MO
Year:
1992
Focus and Accomplishments:
Law Review - Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law; Environmental Moot Court 2nd place team; Golden Quill Award for Best Brief in Moot Court
Number of Attorneys
8
State Licensed In
I am licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois, but practice only in Wisconsin.
Firm Focus and History
In essence I have been a solo family practitioner in a small firm, until recently when we hired a new associate to round out our family law practice. The firm began as an insurance defense litigation boutique, but as it grew it became more well-rounded and developed into more of a general practice firm. Each lawyer has their own specialty, and may practice in more than one area of law. This allows us to serve a client's diverse needs.
The firm recently celebrated its 10th anniversary! We are located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, which is a suburb of Milwaukee, on Bluemound Road, and is easily accessible from all directions.
Previous Employment Summary
I worked for a variety of small general practice litigation firms until I found my calling in family law. I have a diverse background in bankruptcy, insurance defense, personal injury, worker's compensation, subrogation, landlord/tenant, and contracts. Once I handled my first divorce case, I knew I was meant to help families going through that tough emotional process. I gradually built up my family law practice to the exclusion of everything else, and now practice only family law.
Activities and Awards
Collaborative Family Law Council of WI - Public Education Committee Chair 2005-2007
Milwaukee County Family Law Self-Help Clinic - Volunteer 2001-2007
"Rising Star" as rated by Milwaukee Magazine and Law & Politics 2006
"Super Lawyer" as rated by Milwaukee Magazine and Law & Politics 2007
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I would always prefer a more educated client, as long as that education is coming from a reliable source (books, literature, videos, and other attorneys), and not the "helpful neighbor" or "protective relative." While neighbors and relatives mean well, they are not usually reliable sources of information, even if they have stories of their own to share about their own family court experiences. Each person's family law case is uniquely different, and therefore will have a unique outcome. There is no one-size-fits-all application of the law to any set of facts, so any information from friends and family should be regarded with great caution.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am always happy to review client documents, as long as the client understands I cannot verify the information contained in the document without seeing source documents as well (i.e. I can't know if the 401k numbers are right without seeing the statement). Certainly I regularly help clients prepare their self-help forms without having to go to court on their behalf. Often I will prepare the forms for them, without being retained to go to court for them. I call this a "scrivener" service, and my retainer agreement is simply limited in scope to this service.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am able to offer limited consultations (up to 3) to clients who want to represent themselves in court. More than that leads to some uneasiness on my part, since the court believes the party to be unrepresented, and handles the case differently than had the client been represented by counsel. In my opinion, regular meetings with an attorney "behind the scenes" without disclosure to the court would be a misrepresentation to the court.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
Ironically, I thought I would make a good lawyer because I am very good with words and very good at arguing. Now, 16 years later, the facility with words serves me well, but I look for every opportunity to avoid arguing whenever possible.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Certainly being a wife and mother allows me to understand the experiences of my family law clients who are struggling to make choices about their spouses and children. My own extended family has faced divorce, dysfunction, substance abuse, mental illness, and other challenges, giving me the first-hand experience and compassion needed to be non-judgmental as a person and insightful as an attorney when working with clients who have similar issues. I am also very mindful of the cost of handling cases with those issues.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
It became clear to me after handling my first divorce case that I was meant to be a family lawyer. I have a strong emotional bond with the issues, the work, and the clients and their families. There is a necessary psychology that goes into family law, which is a strength of mine. Each client goes through a cycle of emotions in handling their family law matter - anger, sadness, grief, resentment, failure, guilt, worry, relief, resignation, and even hope. I greatly enjoy seeing my clients transform from the unhappy and difficult emotions to the more hopeful ones, since most do. I especially enjoy knowing that I have been able to assist them during their difficult transition period, making their transition easier, more positive, and less painful.
What do you like best about your career?
My goal in every case is to get clients from Point A to Point B with as little anxiety and pain as possible, soothing their fears, and giving them advice and direction. I have the ability to offer meaningful solutions at an important crossroads in each person's life. I am not exactly a friend, since I am a paid professional, but I certainly feel like I am helping and offering support as much as any good friend would. I go home each night feeling like I've made a difference in the world.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am currently the only family law practitioner at the firm, although we are hiring a new associate this spring for our growing practice. We also have a supportive legal assistant who is available and attentive to all of the clients' needs. We have a team approach to handling files here, so if one person is not available another person can always help the client.
What are your strengths and style?
I am very attuned to the emotional needs of my clients, and make myself regularly available by phone and email. I am fairly direct, some would say blunt, but that is done in an effort to keep client's case on track. If a client wants to pursue a course of action that I think is unreasonable or hopeless, I will be honest in saying so rather than waste the client's time and money pursuing fruitless causes. I have great respect for my clients, and usually defer to their litigation choices. However, I do have great experience and expertise and therefore I do not simply "take orders" from clients. Rather, we are partners in trying to achieve positive results for the client.
Personal Interests:
In addition to raising three small children with my husband, I am a professional singer and enjoy reading and the performing arts.
Office Manager/Assistant
My legal assistant is Dena Corey. Our office manager is Amy Billingsley.
Fax
(262) 780-0468
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Late hours on Wednesdays only.
Emergency After Hours
No
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I offer a one-hour flat-fee consultation for $200. Anything beyond that is billed at my regular hourly rate.
Hourly Rates
$225.
Free Initial Consultation?
No; I offer a one-hour consultation for the flat fee of $200.
Typical Retainer
Retainers depend on the type of case and their facts. Typical divorce retainers/security deposits are $2500, unless they involve domestic violence, in which case they are substantially more. Post-judgment (after divorce) retainers are generally less. My retainers are security deposits and are not used to pay monthly bills, but rather remain in my trust account as a security until completion of your case. You are billed monthly and expected to pay your bill each month. At the end of your case you may use your deposit to pay your final bill, or it is refunded in full to you if your bill is current.
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