| Attorney Profiles - Child:Jody Meyer Yazici |
Jody Meyer YaziciPartner jyazici@davisfriedman.com "I help my clients stay true to their own priorities and values, especially when difficult situations arise during the process," states Jody Meyer Yazici. "I always tell my clients: 'Don't get caught up in the games. Identify where you want to be at the end of this process, and we'll work together to get you there.'" Yazici speaks with authority. With partner Muller Davis, she has just finished the Eleventh Edition of The Illinois Practice of Family Law. At 3,000 pages in two volumes, it is the most widely used text in the field by practitioners, judges and law students in Illinois. Being the co-author of a family law classic was not something Yazici anticipated when she decided to be a lawyer, at age 10. After Northwestern University, Yazici went to Cornell Law School, intending to practice international law: "Then I took a writing course taught by a divorce practitioner, and I liked the immediacy of family law. I wanted the opportunity to help real people with real problems." In 1994, she returned to Chicago specifically to write the first edition of the book with Davis, and has been with Davis Friedman ever since. She likes the balance: "I work with clients on a daily basis. Plus, I have the academic side of my practice where I produce a comprehensive reference book that is not only well-accepted but also has really made a difference in the field." Every week, Yazici skims West's Illinois Decisions that include all the cases published by the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. She annotates those most relevant to the practice of family law for the next edition of The Illinois Practice of Family Law. "My constant review keeps our firm at the forefront of our practice," she explains, noting that the pages in the annual edition have more than tripled since it was first published 18 years ago. In addition to her writing and editing skills, Yazici is a good listener, who cautions clients about losing sight of their goals. "I always encourage my clients to contain their anger or fear or revenge so those emotions do not drive the litigation process and derail the ultimate outcome they seek. Ninety-five percent of our cases get settled because, ultimately, it is the clients themselves who have the biggest stake in obtaining an equitable and workable result. Family law is so fact-specific," she explains. "You can't just plug in a formula. We work together to craft a resolution for each client's circumstances." Keeping emotions in check, Yazici finds, is an essential role of counsel. "I can't act with the same level of emotion as my client. If I get as angry as my client does, I can't accomplish what I need to do. I empathize with them. I know that the divorce process can be painful. But I remind my client, 'My role is to get you out of this situation and get you refocused on goals for your future." |
Yazici observes, "Sometimes the demands of the other side are unreasonable, and opposing attorneys can create a lot of unnecessary animosity to divert attention from our primary goal of reaching a favorable and final resolution." She concludes, "That's not what we do here. Davis Friedman has a really strong ethical identity that we have cultivated and maintained over many decades. This perspective gives us the credibility to obtain the best results for our clients. It is not accidental that we are the kind of attorneys we are." Admitted to the Bar1994, Illinois EducationNorthwestern University, B.A., 1990 Professional MembershipsIllinois State Bar Association; Member, Family Law Section Accomplishments and PublicationsWith Muller Davis, The Illinois Practice of Family Law, West Group, Editions 2010-2011, 2008-2009, 2007-2008, 2005-2006, 2003-2004, 2000-2001, 1998-1999, 1996-1997, 1995 |
