(Reprinted from the Business News of Santa Clarita) Former Court Commissioner, Ross Stucker Launches New Business Law Practice Although he has been a lawyer for more than 19 years, Ross Stucker feels similar to the way he felt when he was first starting out. After serving as the Court Commissioner for the Municipal Court in Santa Clarita for two and a half years, Stucker recently opened a private practice specializing in business matters and collections. Just days after his tenure for the court expired, he opened his private practice in the Newhall Law Building on San Fernando Road, He is building his business, one client at a time. A court commissioner is a sworn judicial officer, elected and hired by the judges of the court to assist them in performing their duties. As a commissioner of the court, Stucker handled civil matters, small claims, unlawful detainers, law and motion and all of the varied duties of any judicial officer. He enjoyed the opportunity to teach people about the consequences of their actions. "I always made an attempt to explain my decisions, in order to provide grounds for learning. If the violation was traffic related, I explained the public safety threat that the action posed," Stucker said. His desire to educate to speak in layman's terms, was evident even as I sat in his office conducting this interview. This is an important element of his personality and professional demeanor that he sees as crucial to his private practice. He likes to say that he specializes in diplomacy. As a commissioner, the law only allows for certain decisions to be made. The law does not always fit the situation precisely, so often both sides end up losing to a degree. Because of this, Stucker often recommended that parties avail themselves of voluntary mediation services to avoid the "all or nothing" that often results in court. Taking into account this insight, Stucker approaches his practice with "common sense and diplomacy." I avoid extensive battling when diplomacy is the more appropriate option," Stucker explained. His experience as a commissioner gave him a unique perspective into local legal workings. It was from behind the bench that he saw the need for a local business lawyer who could handle collections. "All of the lawyers handling collections came from over the hill," Stucker said. "There is a need in this rapidly growing business community for lawyers who can provide full business-to- business service, including the handling of collections." There are limited collections agencies in business locally. Additionally, collections agencies often need to rely on lawyers when legal action needs to be taken. "The client incurs the cost of the attorney, in addition to the fees charged by the agency. The agency retains the 'claim' or 'assignment of rights,' which is the right to repayment of the money owed. Because of that, the client looses a good deal of control over the matter," according to Stucker. It is his goal to provide legal assistance that is professional, competent and accessible to local businesses. "Starting out in private practice is not easy," Stucker states. Although it is much easier starting out in private practice than when he started out in law. He worked his way through law school with a full time job in a grocery store, which he attempted to retain until he found work in his field. "The store cut my hours and it was quite a struggle for those first few months," he recalls. The struggle was worth it and he soon found work with a firm. Starting out this time around he knows his business and has the added experience of viewing it from both sides of the bench. Although it is much easier this time, it is still a new venture. This time, as when he initially entered into the practice of law, he is looking forward to the journey. |