Attorney Beatrice Larsson Snider relishes easing pain at the toughest times in her clients' lives. Managing the activities of her law firm, dedicated solely to family law, gives her every opportunity to do just that. The firm employs eight attorneys, three of whom are board-certified family law specialists with 20+ years' experience each, and a total staff of 22.

Family law cases, involving custody matters, child/spousal support, property division and especially business value, can be complex and labor intensive. Doing the job right requires a large staff that has developed significant expertise. Because so much is at stake, Snider believes it is imperative to have good legal counsel from a firm that has the resources to tackle the complexity of such lawsuits.

"You don't know what things are going to turn up. It's such a dynamic area of law," she says. "It really helps tremendously to have our depth of staff, so that no matter what comes up, we have the bases covered and can protect our clients' interests."

But it's not enough for Snider and her colleagues to be zealous advocates for their clients. They want to make a broader impact.

"I chose to be a family lawyer because I believe it is the field of law that has the most impact on individuals and families in our society," Snider says. "I feel this is the most important field of law there is, with the greatest opportunity to do good." She wants to be her clients' legal and emotional "rudder" at a time when they are in the middle of the most significant life changes they will ever go through.

"This time is so crucial, and what we are doing is so important... It's a time when family lawyers have to come up to the task," she says. "With the experience and depth of staff that we have, and the passion and caring that we have, that is our strength—and why we succeed."