Karen Miller | Torrance Family Lawyer

• California State Bar
• American Bar Association
• Los Angeles Bar Association

• Certificate of Appreciation from the Los Angeles Superior Court for serving as a Temporary Judge for the past 10 years;
• Long Beach Bar Association Commendation for serving as a Temporary Judge at the Long Beach Superior Court.

In the last year, one of my clients with nine children that he was raising alone was about to loose the family home. His business had collapsed in the last few years because of the economy and his youngest daughter had many operations that had taken him away from other income opportunities. He had tried to deal directly with the mortgage company, to no avail. He was contemplating filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy because he had filed a Chapter 7 only one year before. He hired our law firm and we were able to save his home and bring his monthly mortgage payment down from $ 4000.00 per month o $ 14000. per month per month, which included his property taxes and home insurance. He hired us on the 11th hour before his house went on the auction block and we were able to allow his family of 9 children to stay in their childhood home, continue to go to their neighborhood schools, and not to be displaced. I believe Miller Law Firm with Attorney Karen Miller made a big difference in this client's (and his family of 9) lives.

I believe that over the last 20 years we have built a successful practice by treating our clients like family. However, we vigorously fight for our clients's rights and we do not give up on our clients. We do not allow our clients to be bullied by the other side, and we contiuously advocate on our client's behalf. We regularly receive referrals from our past clients of over 20 years, and we are thankful that they remember our name when individuals are looking for attorneys to represent their friends and family members.

Clients should look for a lawyer they not only get along with (it is a long ride) but also an attorney who is not afraid to speak up for their rights. Often times when clients hire us after they had other counsel, they tell us that their former counsel did not speak up for them in the court room. I am proud to admit that we take pride in speaking up for our clients so they do not get figuratively rolled over in the courtroom. I had one of the best mentors at my law school, Justice Bernard Jefferson who wrote the "The California Evidence Bench book," who taught us the rules of evidence- he taught us our objections. I love to settle cases, but if we have to go to trial, I am ready. This is an important trait in a lawyer, a person who knows how to settle a case, but is ready to take it to trial if needed.

Local knowledge is extremely important to all cases. There are not only the California Rules of Court, Los Angeles Rules of Court, but also the local, local rules of the particular courtroom and Judge one is assigned to. It is imperative that an attorney knows all of the local local rules so they know the important deadlines of each court room and the particular rules of that assigned Judge. A client can loose a case if the attorney does not know the local rules of their Judge.

In a free 10-15 minute telephonic consultation we review the client's case, and then review some of their options and alternatives. If we need a follow-up consultation, in which the potential client emails us copies of information to review, we are also able to provide that for potential clients. The 10-15 minute telephonic consultation is not an infomercial about our Law Firm being in business for over 20 years, etc. It is a valuable session in which we assist potential clients in answering their legal questions.

We need basic information, such as their case number, an overview of their case. We will ask questions based on the general overview and status of their case. Occasionally we will ask our potential clients to email us specific documents that we can review so we can advise our clients effectively.

I listen to our client's needs and goals. I think some lawyers do not listen to their clients and start to operate on automatic pilot. There is no ""one size fits all"" solution to a case. Each client has their own case with different options to reach their own goals. We pride ourselves in creating plans in a cost effective manner, that will resolve our clients cases according to our clients' needs.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is two-fold: (1) for my clients, to achieve their goals in a cost effective manner; (2) for myself, having a happy, satisfied client. We have treat our clients like family and we love to see our clients over the years succeed in life after their legal case concludes.

My other interests in addition to law are (1) fun time with my family (traveling, going to theme parks, beach, etc.) ; (2) playing the organ/keyboard since I was 10 years old (I used to demonstrate the organ in the mall when I was 10 years old). I still have my organ in my office, and I play it as a method of relaxation between clients and cases; (3) honoring God our creator (that is number one in all that we do); (4) playing table tennis (I have a small one in my office, so tennis anyone?).

I regularly serve as a Temporary Judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court for the last 10 years. I enjoy volunteering for this position and I have won several awards for serving as a Temporary Judge. I also have a television show called the Legal Hot Spot which is a bilingual show that deals with "hot" current legal issues, especially in the areas of family law and immigration.