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If Dawn Kaplan had to summarize the mission guiding the law firm she co-founded, making sure that every client feels heard, seen and supported would be at the heart of it.
And that begins with open conversations about expectations that demonstrate a respect for each client as a human being with hopes and feelings that might need to be managed.
“First and foremost, from the very beginning, we all make sure that our clients have realistic expectations, and an understanding of the process and what the likelihood is of achieving their goals—that’s really important to us,” says Kaplan who, along with fellow founder Amy Smith and Michael Weinberg, is among the trio of partners leading family law firm Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A. “We want our clients to feel seen: At the end of the day, they know that we fought for what’s important to them, regardless of the outcome.”
For more than a decade, the firm has benefited from the sisterly bond that Kaplan and Smith share; when Weinberg came aboard in 2019, that familial warmth immediately enveloped him, too, creating a unique partnership built on mutual respect for one another and a common goal of passionately pursuing the best possible outcomes for each and every client.
“Michael and Amy are probably my two best friends in the world—Amy’s like the sister I never had,” Kaplan begins. “All three of us are so very different but so alike in our core values: We say all the time that we may get to the end differently, but we always come up with the same result. That’s important because, when our clients come to us, they all have different needs and wants and they all interact differently, just like in a relationship. Because we’re all so different, we are able to really meet the needs of any client that walks through our door.”
Clients have certainly noticed that they’re treated like family when they trust the Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith team to represent them in all matters of family law, whether it’s working toward a fair and equitable divorce outcome, ensuring that any children impacted by a case have a voice in the proceedings or helping them navigate an inherently emotionally fraught time.
Kaplan attributes both recognizing clients’ humanity and extending diligently personalized legal assistance to them as key contributors in the firm’s incredible growth over the years.
“It’s kind of surreal: Amy and I talk about it all the time, that we were just two girls going out on our own years ago. We never thought that we would build a practice like this!” she says. “The growth has come because of the volume of work that’s out there, but also from getting referrals through prior clients or people who know us and the work we do. But I truly believe that clients want to work with us because they know the three of us really care, that we have that level of passion for what we do. Family law isn’t easy—it’s emotionally taxing—but we enjoy what we do for the people who come into our office and our lives.”
Growth has been part of the firm’s DNA since its beginning more than a decade ago. Adding equally impassioned attorneys to their roster has further ensured that the combined experiences of the partners, the associates and the of-counsel provide service in every area of family law while having easy access to additional expert input.
“People get a sense very early on that we talk about our cases together,” says Kaplan. “Or I’ll say to a client, ‘Let me get my partner’s perspective,’ since we do look at things differently or will take a different approach, and that different approach might be a better way to come at a certain set of facts or circumstances.”
She adds that clients routinely go the extra mile to personally recognize every single team member who helped them through the rough terrain of their case, whether it was through legal counsel or simply being a friendly face on a difficult day.
“After a case, when clients’ lives start to settle down again, a lot of them do thank us and they’re very particular in making sure they name the people they want to thank for making them feel so safe and protected in our office,” Kaplan affirms. “I think that’s what really transcends everything: It’s not phony, they feel our energy and know we’re a united front. People really sense that we’re a team and, more importantly, we’re a family.”
Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A.
Marlton
(856) 795-9400
WKSNJLaw.com
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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 9 (December 2024)
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