Angie Russo
We sat down with Women to Women Network member Angie Russo, of Cafferky Russo Law, and here’s what she had to say…
Who are your clients/customers?
My primary clients are people who are going through the divorce process. I take private cases as well as court-connected mediation through Columbia County. Divorce can hit anyone and I love helping a variety of clients with a spectrum of needs.
How do you help your clients/customers?
I have a very thorough intake process. I like to meet with potential clients early before they’ve even met with divorce attorneys. So many people don’t realize that there is more than the “straight-to-court” option. I offer free informational sessions to discuss the process of mediation and the collaborative law approach to reaching a positive resolution.
These sessions can be for individuals or two people who would like their divorce to be a peaceful process. I get them together and walk them through it. At that point, they can decide if they’d like to work with me or receive a referral to another mediator, attorney, or further professional support.
I really feel that families aren’t meant for court. Going from one household to two can already be really expensive, so getting people to a place where they can co-parent while saving a lot of money on divorce attorneys is my goal.
What brought you to this line of work?
It may sound cheesy but I really enjoy helping people. I was a teacher before I was a lawyer and what interested me about my students was connecting the things in their lives that impacted their ability to learn in the classroom.
Eventually, I went to law school and ended up being a deputy district attorney for a number of years. Most of my cases at that time were intimate partner violence cases. Creating a relationship with the survivors by helping to demystify the legal process for them was very rewarding.
When I relocated I did a series of informational interviews, meeting with people who did out-of-court divorce work. It made so much sense to me. I realized in Family Law I could connect with people in the way I like and help them through a tough transition in life. If a divorce takes place in a healthy way it can positively impact a family for generations. I was really drawn to that aspect.
What brings you the most joy in your business?
It is so satisfying to help couples get to a place where they can co-parent, save money, and make it through the trauma of divorce in a positive way.
Marital status isn’t what impacts kids. Reducing conflict to help people co-parent is what matters. While I don’t work directly with children, I believe getting parents to a place of agreement makes happier kids and that brings me joy. After all, having happier kids in the world makes a happier world in general. I wish my parents had this support when going through their divorce, so being able to help in this way means a great deal to me.
What defines you/your business?
I would say my dedication to the out of court process and commitment to my clients fully understanding their options defines my business. Also, since I have previously worked in inner-city schools and with intimate partner violence cases, I am experienced with working in tough situations. This helps me to stay relaxed in higher conflict environments.
The warm and caring teacher part of me comes out during mediations to make people feel comfortable and informed. In teaching, we say, “you build a basket and then you decide what information to put in the basket.” I focus on client relationship building which helps get to the core of what makes them happy and how they will feel satisfied in an agreement.
I am unique in that I am open to individual sessions to get the background for more productive joint sessions. This builds rapport so my clients can express themselves, feel heard, and understood. This makes it easier to come to a mutually satisfying resolution.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about your business?
I believe most people can do an out-of-court process with the right professional support sought early. Seeking mediation is not an easy thing to do, but usually, in the long run, the outcome is a lot better.