Discussion Post
o Bill and Laura have been married for twenty years, but won't be much longer. They have decided to divorce, after realizing that for the past three or four years they have led two singularly distinct lives. This was clear to them when their daughter graduated from college and moved out of the house. The husband makes considerably more money than the wife, and although they have no prenuptial agreement and do not live in a community property state, the husband has agreed to split their assets, including retirement packages, right down the middle. Because they believe in remaining the best of friends after the divorce, and feel they have nothing to fight over, they want to use one lawyer to help them file the documents required to end their marriage. They make an appointment to see their good friend Nancy, who drafted their will and helped them sell a second home. Can Nancy represent them? If she does, what attendant problems might arise for all three of them?
o Working in a family law clinic, Gretchen sees many sad situations, some of which are made worse by the legal system. Whether it's abusive spouses, or custody battles, or children scarred by battles waged between parents, Gretchen has seen it all, and sometimes wonders whether she is making a real difference in the world. Even though the family law clinic's attorneys make salaries that are much smaller than what their traditional firm counterparts make, too many of Gretchen's clients are in extreme financial distress. When Gretchen saw in a case file last week that one of her clients is about to be evicted from her apartment because her ex-husband has not paid any child support in a year, Gretchen decides she has to put her intentions into action. She is planning on withdrawing from her savings and writing a check to the client for her unpaid rent. May Gretchen do this? If she can't, what rule would prevent her from doing so? Are there any other options Gretchen might choose to help that client other than writing a check to her?
The response should include a reference list. One-inch margins, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.