Me? So how much do you really want to know, other than I was voted Valentine King in 2nd grade?
I grew up in Texas in the 60's. I had great parents and a pretty good childhood and, as a result, I'm pretty damn well adjusted today. As my kids will tell you: I don't have self esteem issues. In high school and college I was a pretty good shot from the top of the key but I was also good at looking down court for the open guy. That's pretty much what I do now in the legal world--try to think a few steps ahead and look down court for workable options for my clients.
I graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1985 and immediately moved out to North Carolina. I like it here. I've been married to my attorney wife since back in my Texas days, we have three adult children who are healthy and polite to folks and I'm happy about that and proud of all of them. I've been in a solo practice since 1988, have a nice place to work not far from my house, and spend a lot of time figuring out how to make my office run faster, cheaper, better. But, importantly, I tend to enjoy my clients and I think they feel the same. Like all lawyers I've made mistakes, but overall, I do a pretty good job. I've not made a ton of money but I've done alright - the house is paid for, the cars start and get me where I going, the kids are though school and I've got a big fancy TV so I can watch basketball when I'm not slaving away on this website. So life is good. I try to bring that attitude to my work.
And I like to fix legal disputes. My approach: let's calm down, get to the broken part, and try to fix it, quickly and cheaply. I try to be relaxed about the disputes I handle but I doubt you will find anyone in the court house who thinks I'm stupid or can be pushed around. I protect my clients and I get the job done. I get to the point and, if you are my client, I make you get there as well. And I've done about everything lawyers do in smaller towns - murder trials, personal injury trials, a never ending stream of domestic cases, wills, lots of bankruptcy cases and just about anything else you want to call it when I have clients who are getting kicked around. I don't go looking for trouble, but the legal system does not scare me and I don't let it scare my clients.
There are lots of really good attorneys in the Buncombe County area. I know and like most of them, but I wake up every day thinking I can do as well or better than any of them. I am just competitive by nature. But I also know taking my client into a knife fight is seldom the right answer. There is, of course, always a time to stand firm, but a good approach is to push the client harder to understand the dynamics of the dispute and find a compromise which works. A good lawyer forces the client to consider and respect the viewpoint of the opposing side and look for just the right moment when turning the other cheek and not hitting back is the answer. So I'm proud of being a "fix it" guy. And though my gladiator days are mostly behind me, if I can't settle the case I don't worry a bit about coming to court and setting out my client's position to a judge or 12 jurors. After 20+ years it's still fun and still feels like good work.
Can I take care of your matter? Probably. If not I won't take your money or waste your time. And I will give you good service at a fair price: faster, cheaper, better. Oh, and make no mistake: I'm still really proud of that Valentine King thing.
Clarke Kent Wittstruck