This is a letter from before I started using Avvo.com in 2010:

Dear Mr. Horowitz,

My name is “Jose A.” Last July of ’08 I was charged with a Domestic Violence which is a felony. I was told to go with the public defender, but on the first hearing my public defender didn’t do anything for me. I was fortunate to have a sister that helped me hire you as my lawyer. That was the best thing I ever did. You made me feel like a regular person, not this other evil person that they were trying to make me to be. I am not a U.S. citizen and if I was convicted with this crime I could have been deported even though I’ve been here most of my life. I just want to let you know that from the bottom of my heart I really appreciate the great work you did defending me. You not only reduce [sic] my charged [sic] to a misdemeanor, but also the charge was change [sic] from domestic violence to false imprisonment of a Jane Doe. With that being reduced I wasn’t deported. My sentence was from three years probation to one year depending upon completion on my 52 weeks domestic violence class. My family and my children are in great debt to you. Thank you so much.

“Jose A.”
September 1, 2008

[Note: First, I should note that “Jose A.” is not this client’s real name. His name was changed to protect the privacy of him and his family. Also, of course, I cannot reduce someone’s charges. I convinced the Deputy District Attorney that the circumstances of the case — it involved an accident — did not deserve a felony domestic violence charge which would probably result in deportation. An agreement was reached which required “Jose A.” to be on probation for a misdemeanor and to take anger management classes. Since “Jose A.” intended no harm to anyone, the charge was changed from felony domestic violence to a non-violent misdemeanor charge. This will help “Jose A.” to avoid deportation and his young children will be able to receive financial support and visits from their father which would not have been possible if he was deported. To this day, “Jose A.” is doing very well and there have been no further incidents.]