The Scene
or grandparents' arrival. They have an
understanding, a special empathy for
many years of long hours to finally get
their clients."
to the point where she got to choose
The Sherman attorneys have
what work she did, and for whom.
worked on some cases with the Jewish
"I always wanted to feel rewarded
Federation, including issues with
for my work," says Tucker. "If I work
recent immigrants from the former
hard, I make money. If I don't work,
Soviet Union, and will on occasion
there's no money." She craved the flex-
accept a pro bono case in the commu-
ibility and freedom that comes with
nity.
owning your own business.
Michael notes that immigration
Tucker shares office space with her
attorneys must be available seven days
old firm, Dixon MacDonald, and is
a week, 24 hours a day. "A person
still "of counsel" should the firm need
whose future is at stake feels the need
her assistance. The eight Dixon attor-
to be able to reach their attorney at all
neys still guide her when she has ques-
hours," he says.
tions, and also provide her with some
The three siblings agree that 5 per-
necessary resources.
Jackie Stamell and her brothers Mike and Ted Sherman go over a case.
cent of their work is knowing the "ins
But now, Tucker provides counsel
and outs" of the law; the other 95 per-
for a few Jewish-owned small business-
their own with a new immigration-ori-
cent is customer service. Whoever is the
es like hers. Tucker observes that in
ning ahead. She also handles resolu-
most responsive, the most empathetic,
ented
firm.
order to have a successful small busi-
tion of estates in probate court.
The
decision,
says
Ted,
was
actually
they say, will bring in the clients.
ness, regardless of the field, the busi-
fairly
easy
"We
each
bring
a
unique
The Shermans know that trust is an
ness must fill a specific niche in the
Family
Affair
area
of
expertise
to
our
firm,"
he
important
component for any partner-
market.
explains. "Our expertise is different,
Spending the weekend at the
ship, and say they have always been
Tucker found it easy to determine
University of Michigan law library is
but because it is all within the same
close. Once the idea for their own
what her niches would be, as they
becoming commonplace to another
field, it works well in our firm.
family-run firm began to germinate,
turned out to be matters in which
Combined, we can cover all aspects."
young attorney, Ted Sherman.
the three were excited to have the
she's always been interested. Since col-
The
young
firm's
clients
come
from
In
January,
Sherman,
33,
of
opportunity to start a firm from the
lege, when she took a course on sign
Franklin,
started
his
own
practice
in
120
countries
and
speak
50
different
ground up.
language "just for fun," Tucker has
West
Bloomfield
with
two
partners
he
languages,
although
most
individuals
worked with many clients who are
has known all his life: brother Michael
who want to make the United States
hearing-impaired. She enjoys putting
The Down Side
Sherman, 35, and sister Jackie
their permanent home speak at least
her sign language skills to use, and
However,
working for one's self isn't
(Sherman) Stamell, 29. No fights
some English. There are few insur-
feels that her clients are more comfort-
always
easy.
While she doesn't miss
about whose name would go first on
mountable language barriers, and
able with her because she can "speak
"the
pressures
of a large frrm," solo
the letterhead; the firm's name is
Michael speaks Hebrew, which aids
their language."
practitioner Rachel Tucker needs .to
Sherman Law Group.
him with Israeli clients.
While she had been interested in
work equally long hours in order to
Ted
says
he
always
knew
he
wanted
"We often see people from any
estate planning for some time, Tucker
finish the job. "My clients rely on me
to become an attorney. He attended
unsettled part of the world," says
stumbled upon her second niche
solely, so I need to provide them with
the University of Michigan for both
Michael. "If the political and econom-
somewhat accidentally. She took the
personalized attention," she says.
undergraduate and law school.
ic climate is in turmoil, people want
case of a gay couple who wanted to
In fact, Tucker laughs that she
Michael of Bloomfield Hills, however,
to leave."
create an estate plan that would leave
sometimes
must force herself to work
thought a career in medicine was in
So far, most of the Sherman Law
assets to one another. Tucker leaned
regular
hours,
or else she would "bring
his future, until a middle school dis-
Group clientele have been referred by
that unlike married couples, gays are
work
home
every
night and every
word of mouth. The lawyers aid one
section class changed his mind. Law
treated as singles by the law and face
weekend."
person, who in turn will tell his family
was his next career choice.
different issues when it comes to
As chair of the finance committee
Stamell, who now resides with her
and friends.
finances.
of
the Women's Bar Association, and
However, explains Ted, it's "only
husband in Birmingham, was an
For example, if one partner
a
member
of Jewish Federation's
the select few who will actually qualify
English major at the University of
becomes ill and does not have a plan
Young
Adult
Division, Tucker still
Michigan, but was inspired to pursue
for a U.S. visa. You need to have lined
in place, the healthy partner does not
finds
time
for
an active social life,
up a good job, or have family here in
the law by a class she took.
automatically become the patient's
and
says
that
many
of her attorney
These siblings had something more
order to even be considered."
advocate; should the ill partner die, his
friends
are
"jealous
that I don't have
Because Detroit is the center of the
specific in common — an interest in
or her property reverts to the immedi-
to
deal
with
as
much
pressure as
automotive industry, a large number of
immigration law. Michael worked in
ate family, rather than to the other
they
do."
engineers attempt to immigrate here
general practice for two years on his
partner.
She notes that many of her friends
own, until he received an opportunity
every year, creating a steady flow of
Tucker creates plans that allow
from law school have already dropped
to work for a small immigration firm.
potential business. The Sherman lawyers
clients to make medical decisions for
out of the profession, seeking alternate
Ted
began
his
law
career
as
a
patent
also work closely with Beaumont
their "significant others." She notes
careers.
lawyer, and found he enjoyed working
Hospital in Royal Oak, which searches
with regret that "the problem is, in
And the down side to being on her
for medical physicists from around the
with scientists and engineers, many of
general, most people wait until it is
own?
"Spending a lot of time on
whom arrived from other countries and
world for its research institute.
too late."
administrative
issues, dealing with
"Immigration is really a specialized
were dealing with a myriad of immigra-
In the case of an elderly parent", she
clients
who
cannot
pay or collecting
tion issues. He joined his brother at the
type of law," says Michael. "There are
adds, if the parent becomes mentally
on
judgments,"
says
Tucker.
many Jewish and foreign-born attor-
immigration firm two years later.
incompetent, it is sometimes too late
For her part, Stamell hopes that
neys who practice in this particular
A year later, Stamell joined her
to determine exactly what their wishes
‘‘the hardest part of starting a firm
field. They are people who have gone
brothers at the same firm.
are.
has passed," referring to the chal-
through the process themselves, or
After three years of working togeth-
Tucker has spoken to various
lenges the siblings faced during the
have heard the story of their parents'
er, the siblings decided to strike out on
groups advocating the benefits of plan-
3/30
2001
88