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Eric L. Shapiro
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Eric L. Shapiro
Shapiro Law Group
400 Perimeter Center Terrace NE
Suite 900
Atlanta, GA 30346
Phone: (770) 604-9292 | Fax: (770) 604-9248
http://www.elslawyer.com/index.html
Personal understanding & professional experience
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
I handle cases that involve family law, business law, and real estate issues.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Restraining Orders
- Enforcement Actions
- Child Abuse
- Domestic Violence
- Elder Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Adoptions
- Child Support
- Children's Rights
- Custody
- Foster Care
- Paternity
- State Child Protection
- Visitation
- Marriage
- Power of Attorney
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Guardianships & Conservatorships
- Powers of Attorney
- Grandparent Rights
- Termination of Parental Rights
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
I handle cases that involve family law, business law, and real estate issues.
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
Bar Admissions
GA, Jul 2000
Bar Number: 637795
Other Court Admissions
State of Georgia and Northern District of Georgia Federal Court.
Association Memberships
Georgia Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education seminars and webinars on the topics of family law, business law and real estate litigation. I tend to exceed the required amount of continuing education hours on a yearly basis.
Example Cases
I have litigation practice of which, between 60-70% is devoted to family law issues. At any given time I have several contested divorces, modifications of previous awards and/or contempt actions pending.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
Emory University
City:
Atlanta
State:
GA
Year:
1989
Focus and Accomplishments:
Political Science.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Touro Law
City:
Central Islip
State:
NY
Year:
1994
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Georgia
Firm Focus and History
Shapiro Law Group is a general practice law firm concentrating in the areas of business law, family law and real estate litigation matters. Our firm provides legal services to individuals and corporate clients throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Regardless of the practice area, we strive to present practical real world solutions to your problems. In all of our matters, one variable remains constant: a commitment to respecting and understanding our clients' best interests. Our goal is to provide the best legal representation available and to ensure that each client receives the personal attention they deserve.
Good legal representation requires good people. Our clients can feel confident about working with us and knowing that we approach your needs with the same care and diligence with which we handle our own business and personal matters.
I opened my office in 2002.
Previous Employment Summary
My previous employment was:
2000-2002 with Baum & McGahren, LLC, Norcross, GA (Associate)
1996-2000 Agins, Siegel & Reiner, LLP, New York, NY (Associate)
1994-1996 Barness, Glasgow and Hariri, PA (New York, NY (Associate)
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I like an educated client, just not one that is convinced they are better suited to planning the strategy and focus of their representation than an attorney is. I always ask a client's opinion on how I plan on proceeding, but I need a client that understands that they are paying for my experience and is willing to rely upon that experience.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I review client-prepared documents on a fairly regular basis.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am not willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves. Honestly, I view this as a bar complaint waiting to happen. Once someone asks for my advice, either I start preparing an opinion letter on documents they are having reviewed or I am representing them. There is no middle ground.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I have nine aunts, uncles and cousins who are members of the bar. I sometimes think that while growing up, I was barely aware that other professions awaited me. Needless to say, with that many attorneys in the family becoming a lawyer may have seemed pre-ordained. If nothing else, I learned how to effectively argue around the dinner table. In reality, I was never sure that I would enjoy practicing law for a living. While in law school I read a statistic that over 50% of the people who graduate from law school do not end up remaining in the practice.
This seemed a rather daunting statistic and, in the beginning of my practice, I can understand why practicing law is not for everyone, even those who commit three years of their life to its' study. However, it was not until I opened up my own office in 2002 that I truly began to appreciate how my efforts help people and protect their livelihoods. I am glad that I made the decision to go to law school and I am happy that I stayed with the practice over the last 14 years.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Many life and educational experiences have contributed to making me a better lawyer. However, without a doubt the single greatest influence on my daily practice was the birth of my son, Benjamin, in January 2002. In my family law practice, I truly began to understand that ramifications of the choices my client's were faced with making in custody and child support decisions. Until my son's birth, and later my daughter's birth 23 months later, I was dealing in abstract and can barely believe how I understood the questions my client's were asking. Now, putting myself in the shoes of my client, has been an easier task, making me a more effective advocate.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
In the last eight years family law has grown from a fairly small part of my practice to between 60 and 70% of my workload. I began my litigation practice in New York City, handling real estate and business litigation matters. When my wife and I relocated to Atlanta in 1999 to raise a family near her mother, I continued my practice in basically the same manner as I had up north. However, I was approached by a client who I had helped in the break-up of his company and a dispute he had been having with two other shareholders. He asked me to help him in his divorce as he liked the job I did on his "business divorce". I quickly learned that the basic skill sets I learned in litigation were transferable to family law matters. Then, primarily through mere happenstance, the practice areas of my business grew. I still get most of my new clients by referral from existing or past clients.
What do you like best about your career?
Honestly, I like working for myself. I enjoy the flexibility that a small business affords me and the amount of time I still get to spend with my wife and children. I choose an office space that is a little over a mile from my home, but is also conveniently located for my clients. Also, I would be lying if I did not acknowledge the financial rewards that practicing law offers. This is clearly an important aspect of why I choose to continue practicing law. All of these factors combined allow me to maintain a fairly normal family life and, at the same time, dedicate myself to my client's interests.
Tell us about your law firm:
At this time I am a solo practitioner. I have a dynamite assistant, Shannan, that has been with me since she graduated from Emory Law School last year. Although she has not sat for the bar exam as of yet, I expect her to in the near future. Either way, her education and experience are a tremendous help to me. Although she is unable to give legal advice, her legal education gives her an insight into the problems clients are facing. In turn that allows me to be a more effective lawyer and to present helpful solutions.
What are your strengths and style?
Practical. Practical. Practical. I am less interested in fighting a "legal' battle that only spends my client's resources without consideration for the consequences of proceeding with litigation. If a client spends $10,000 litigating a matter that only nets him/her $8,000, it does not matter if we were correct about the law. I am aware of how lawyers are perceived in this country and do my best to move against the stereotypes.
Personal Interests:
I love to read. I collect wine (well actually, I just buy wine I like to drink), but mostly I like to spend time with my family. They are the reason for my hard work and the inspiration for my zealous representation of my clients.
Office Manager/Assistant
Shannan Rahman Spicer
Fax
(770) 604-9248
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
I see new clients after normal hours and on weekends on a regular basis.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
No foreign language spoken.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Fees depend upon the case.
Hourly Rates
$300 per hour.
Free Initial Consultation?
I offer a free telephone consultation with no time limit. In the event that I bring a client in for a formal consultation, I charge a flat $300, regardless of the amount of time we meet for. In the event a client decides to retain my services, I will waive the first hour fee for my consultation.
Typical Retainer
The typical retainer is between $3,000 and $6,000, depending on the type of matter.
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 applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
