The connection between writing poetry and practicing divorce law seems like a disconnect, but for Triangle Divorce Law Firm attorney Nathan Gudeman, it made perfect sense.
Gudeman packed his course load at Bellarmine University College of Arts and Sciences with English classes to pursue his passion for writing and literature as he earned a degree in English and philosophy. He began to meld his English degree with the practice of law while earning his Juris Doctor from the UNC School of Law.
Gudeman’s practice is exclusively devoted to family law and includes child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence and property settlements.
“There are so many raw emotions and deeply personal issues in play in family law matters,” said Gudeman. “Trials are storytelling exercises where we relay facts and timelines in a story structure.
“A strong background in writing and literature allows me to be far more cogent and clear while enunciating my client’s position to opposing counsel and a judge.”
“Legal writing is certainly different from creative writing; however, there is some overlap, including the ability to fit the facts to the legal standard cogently,” said Gudeman. “Also, quite simply, effective writing makes for effective orating.”
Take Out Their Knees
“We hit below the belt and take them out at the knees,” Gudeman joked about his strategy as a highly competitive Division I lacrosse player at Bellarmine (lacrosse does not use protective equipment below the waist). Absent the physicality, he said the playing field and the law are similar.
“Any attorney who is a trial attorney has to have some level of competitiveness in their nature, because it’s something they enjoy doing,” said Gudeman. “If you go to trial, you’re in there in front of a referee, which is your judge, and competing against the other side, and ideally coming out with the outcome you’re looking for.
“In law, like in sports, you are governed by sets of ‘rules,’ and in an idealistic sense, where everyone begins on an equal playing ground, there is satisfaction in competing to get your desired outcome, and you may get some bumps and bruises along the way.”
There’s No Crying in…
“I can tailor my approach to clients as needed,” said Gudeman. “I am far from callous, but I do not sugarcoat things. Clients need, and deserve, a sort of blunt, straightforward, honest message and not to be held by the hand. I don’t want to be a shoulder they can cry on. That’s not a good use of their money. We are counselors at law, not counselors; there are professionals and therapists for that.
“They need a lawyer to explain the law to them and then strive to give them the outcome they desire within the confines of that law.
“They are coming to me with their worst problems, and my job is to solve them in the best way for their individual circumstances: whether that is an out-of-court resolution or a multi-day trial,” said Gudeman.
“We want to solve problems so that clients can move forward with their lives quickly and efficiently. If a client comes in with an absolute dumpster fire and I can clean it up and send them on their way with a smile on their face, and without having to pay me too much. That is a good deal in my book.”
Working 9 to 5
Work-life balance is paramount to Gudeman. His office and clients know he turns off his phone at 5 PM so he can spend time with his wife, Brittany, and their 1-year-old son, Brock. “I think my clients receive me as ‘fresh’ as I can be each day with that work/life balance in play. I tell nearly all clients, ‘From 9 to 5, I deal with your family; the rest of the time is for my family.’ I think my clients appreciate the humanity behind that.”
For more information, visit triangledivorcelawyers.com.
