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Trial and trial again

A very tough but very satisfying week in custody cases. The math:

2 custody trials
+2 clients who are great parents
+2 opposing attorneys, with a combined 60 years of practice
= 2 verdicts, each awarding custody to my client

I honestly don’t like to toot my own horn on these things (even though as most people know, us lawyers are pretty full of ourselves), but days like this are the times that I wouldn’t trade this job for any other. Litigating for injuries, broken contracts, real estate – I’m not knocking it, but I’ve always felt the most gratified in litigating custody of a child. Clients will make more money or find another job, but they won’t make another of this unique child.

Make no mistake, child custody is an ugly, undesirable process best avoided by all parents – but when it’s unavoidable, and you believe in your client as the right parent for that child – having your client being awarded custody is an absolutely incredible feeling.

There are bad days, when being a family lawyer isn’t all peaches and cream. But days like this sure can make up for it.

— Gavin, 3/7/2012

Gavin K. Doi

Gavin, a founding partner of Doi/Luke, was born and reared in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, graduating from McKinley High School, and receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law in Denver, Colorado. Previously, Gavin worked with the Child Support Enforcement Agency and the AmeriCorps Domestic Violence Clinic. An advocate of pro bono legal work, Gavin volunteers time with Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii and the Hawai’i State Bar Association. In 2013, Gavin co-authored the book Child Custody Litigation and Settlements (Aspatore Books/Thomson West), penning the section "Working with Your Client Towards a Successful Child Custody Case." Gavin is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the HSBA Family Law Section, and was presented with the 2002 Justice Award by the Hawaii State Bar Association, which honors one lawyer annually for their outstanding contribution to the ideals of justice. The Hawaii Access to Justice Commission honored Gavin in 2012 for his pro bono service to the community. Gavin has extensive experience in divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, restraining orders, and other family law matters, and has a Distinguished rating with Martindale-Hubble®/Lawyers.com, and an Avvo rating of 10 out of 10. He can be e-mailed at: gkdoi@islandlawyers.com .

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