When Bob Downs first became a lawyer, he wanted to make a positive impact on society. As a general practice lawyer who was active in his community, he was drafted into politics and served in the Illinois House of Representatives with award winning distinction. In the end, however, he decided that the best way he could help people was through family law – as a lawyer and a leader in reform issues.

Later, Bob's wife and partner, Barbara Downs, joined the practice. With an LLM in taxation, Barbara brings a strong financial background to the firm. Today, Downs Law Offices may not be the largest family-law firm in town, but it has a reputation for being high-quality practitioners of all aspects of family law.

"Family law is about good people going through bad times," says Downs. And it's an area that demands caring, responsive law services to assist the parties and their children through the process.

A practice with strong principles

Bob and Barbara Downs have high standards for their practice. "We believe in telling clients the truth," Barbara explains. "We don't just say what they want to hear. There are no unrealistic expectations, no games." The firm takes time to educate clients on the mechanics of their case and involve them in the process. With their associates, interns, and support staff, Bob and Barbara use a team approach to serve clients. "Every case is a team effort for us," says Barbara.

Likewise, professionalism and civility are important core values to Downs Law Offices. The firm encourages good relationships with opposing lawyers and parties, because it aids settlement. "We don't churn fees by engaging in unnecessary litigation," says Bob. "It not only increases costs, it also throws gas on the fire, aggravating poor relations between parties."

Focus on settling cases out of court

While the firm engages in litigation when necessary, they stress mediation and collaborative law when appropriate and make every effort to achieve a peaceful divorce settlement that satisfies both parties. The firm believes that a constructive and civil approach to divorce best serves clients and their families.

"Every one of our associate attorneys has 'come through the ranks', starting out as law clerks, interns, or paralegals. They distinguished themselves in law school and earned an invitation to stay with us as attorney members of the team," says Bob.

The firm has a very successful child-custody practice. "Our work with clients is based on the child's best interests," says Bob. “I can tell quickly if custody will be a serious issue. For us, it's not necessarily about determining which parent is unfit, but which parent better addresses the child’s needs while allowing the other parent to continue a relationship with their child after divorce."

An influence on Illinois family law

Bob, who was the first family lawyer in 20 years to become President of the Illinois State Bar Association, has helped bring changes in state legislation regarding family law. As a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council, Barbara also works to make Illinois divorce laws more family-friendly. Areas of current reform efforts are child support, custody laws, and attorney's fees.

Satisfied clients

Downs Law Offices has a history of satisfied clients, resulting from deeply held principles of honest, empathetic, high-quality family law. "We get terrific responses to our surveys," says Bob. "We get people through this period with the least damage possible and a positive outlook. That's the greatest satisfaction we could have.

"We love what we do and hope it shows."

For more information, or to book an initial consultation, please contact these divorce attorneys:

Downs Law Offices, P.C.
150 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1870
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1657
Phone: (312) 781-1963
Fax: (312) 781-1962
Website: www.downslaw.com

Robert K. Downs has written the following articles:

Articles:

• Basic Facts about Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Proceedings
• Questions You Should Ask Prospective Divorce Lawyers

FAQs:

• "How long will my case take?"
• "How much will my case cost?"