The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Section will present its annual Saul Tischler Award on April 9 to two family law attorneys who have made significant lifelong contributions toward advancing the development of the practice and profession, through community service, education and advocacy. This year’s recipients – Amy Shimalla and Amy Wechsler of Lawrence Law in Watchung – are longtime veterans of the NJSBA Family Law Section, Somerset County Bar Association and frequent CLE lecturers on family law matters. The pair spoke recently about the award and their careers.
What does it mean to you to receive the Tischler Award?
Amy Shimalla and Amy Wechsler – To both of us, receiving the Tischler Award is a recognition by our state bar peers and colleagues that alternative dispute resolution is a thriving and vital component of family law justice in New Jersey. By now, we all realize that without ADR – mediation, collaborative divorce, parenting coordination and arbitration – the court system would be utterly crippled. This award is truly a celebration of ADR, and receiving the award together is the culmination of over 30 years of our combined and individual efforts to advocate for the integration of ADR, especially mediation, in family law and to encourage lawyers, judges and other professionals to become effective mediators. We are honored to have been chosen for the Tischler Award this year.
What do you love most about being a family lawyer and why did you choose that specialty?
Shimalla – I love helping people through the most difficult time in their lives. Lawyers are problem solvers, and in family law we have the ability to create a resolution that is best for the family as a whole.
I discovered my niche in family law after the birth of my second child in 1989. Before then I mostly worked in a small, local general practice that on occasion handled family law matters, which I enjoyed the most. After joining a small boutique family law firm, my practice has focused on family law ever since. I found I could help families reach a resolution that can work for all members – most importantly the children – rather than advocate for one party over the other in an adversarial setting.
Wechsler – My first job in the law was at a big firm, doing commercial and product liability litigation. This was great training, but it wasn’t where my heart was. Family law was a natural return to my roots, given my educational background with a bachelor’s degree in child development and master’s in clinical family practice. Practicing law, especially family law, is at its best a helping profession. People come to us in distress, angry, fearful of the future for themselves and their children, and unsure what path to take to navigate their divorce process. Guiding them on this daunting journey is a privilege and a remarkable opportunity to make a difference.
What guidance can you offer young family law attorneys or attorneys in general to excel in their careers?
Shimalla – I would suggest finding the area of law that feels like the best fit. Like the old saying “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Being a lawyer is hard work and you take on the stresses of your clients, but if you love what you do it is far more enjoyable. Once you focus on that area, learn it well. Join related groups such as state and local bar associations. Being a member of the Family Law Section, for example, is very beneficial for providing great networking and learning opportunities.
Wechsler – Treat colleagues with respect. Relationships with other lawyers matter, and to the extent you cultivate and nurture those relationships, your professional life will be much more successful and fulfilling. Recognize that dealing effectively with people is a lifelong learning process, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you mess up. Divorce is a solution to a set of problems, so do whatever you can to keep the divorce process from creating more problems.