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Taking Care of Families

Last reviewed by Rita Herrera Irvin, 11/26/25

Overview

Family law is more than a legal practice — it is a commitment to helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. In this video, several McKinley Irvin leaders discuss the firm’s core philosophy: compassionate advocacy, genuine partnership with clients, and a deep belief in supporting families as they rebuild and move forward.

Title: Taking Care of Families
Speakers:

Key Takeaways

  • Family law is personal. Clients come to us during moments of crisis, transition, and emotional difficulty.
  • Compassion drives great advocacy. Passion for family law and genuine empathy are what push attorneys to go above and beyond.
  • Trust is essential. The attorney-client relationship must go deeper than technical advice — it requires rapport, understanding, and respect.
  • Clients can rebuild. With guidance, preparation, and support, clients often emerge stronger and more stable six to nine months after beginning the process.
  • Listening is critical. Understanding a client’s needs, fears, and goals is the foundation for effective representation.

Transcript

Marc Christianson, Managing Partner:

I like helping people. Everybody in this firm loves helping people. I mean, this is a one-on-one where you can see the direct impact of how this process has impacted people. Changing relationships is always difficult, but there are cases where clients come in and they're at the end of their rope, and at the end of the process, maybe six to nine months down the line, they're able to move forward in a healthy, productive way.

Rita Herrera Irvin, Founder:

The difference between a good attorney and a great attorney is the passion for family law, because it's that passion for family law, that really great desire to help people that is going to get you through the difficulty.

Sands McKinley, Founder:

In order for somebody to do this work, day after day, year after year, and feel complete and feel satisfied and happy doing that work, they have to have this internal compassion, empathy, and personal need to fulfill this sort of role for their clients.

The people who work at our firm have chosen to be there in time of need for people who are in serious crisis. In order to do that well, you have to develop a relationship beyond just a technical relationship. It has to be a rapport of trust and sincere caring for the person, and their experience, and their outcome.

Jennifer Payseno, Partner:

That's what's driven me to stay and practice in the area of family law, is the connection you have to your client. To be able to see the tremendous impact you can have and help in a system through a very difficult time that they have when they come to you. So, listening and understanding what their needs are, and also understanding that this is a process they typically have never been through. So, helping them understand how it works; helping prepare them, so that they can have expectations and to understand what that will entail.