Jacobson Legal Group
Firm Overview
Family Law â Traditional Divorce â Collaborative Divorce
Family Law â Traditional Divorce â Collaborative Divorce
It is always more difficult to get divorced than to get married. Divorce can be complicated by feelings of anger, failure, resentment and guilt. All those emotions come together during the divorce process, leading otherwise reasonable people to act unreasonably. Your choice of lawyer will greatly impact the quality and outcome of your divorce.
Attorneys Karyn Gimbel Youso and Holly Alsteen of the Milwaukee/Brookfield law firm of Jacobson Legal Group, provide family law advice and representation, with a concentration in traditional and collaborative divorce. Promoting cooperation and communication between parents, Attorneys Youso and Alsteen work above all else to seek and preserve the well-being of children. They also handle cases involving separation, child custody/support matters, child placement/visitation, maintenance/alimony, paternity, post-divorce/paternity modifications, and issues surrounding domestic violence. Attorneys Youso and Alsteen assist people facing difficult times to make informed choices about their future, and the future of their families.
In particular, Atty Youso's practice focuses on high-conflict families, including those with domestic abuse, mental health issues, and/or substance abuse. She is committed to providing strong, effective, and practical counsel to clients facing a wide variety of challenges in their personal lives.
Additionally, Attorneys Youso and Alsteen are among the few collaboratively-trained family law attorneys in the entire State of Wisconsin â and are dedicated to helping their clients benefit from the many advantages that collaborative law offers. Out of over 13,000 licensed and active attorneys in Wisconsin, only approximately 175 are collaboratively trained and practicing collaborative divorce. A healthier and more productive alternative to traditional adversarial litigation (fighting in court), the collaborative divorce method involves the participation of mental health professionals and a financial specialist in addition to the parties and their attorneys. An entire âteamâ of professionals is available to the couple to assist them through their difficult situation, keeping them focused on their priorities and minimizing their fears of the unknown.
Contact Wisconsin family law and divorce lawyers Karyn Gimbel Youso and Holly Alsteen for straightforward advice and representation tailored to your unique needs. For your convenience, Attorneys Youso and Alsteen offer a flat fee one-hour consultation with no further obligation to you, and is available for evening appointments as necessary.
Flat-Fee Initial Consultation
Visa/MasterCard accepted
Evening appointments can be arranged
Jacobson Legal Group is conveniently located in Brookfield, Wisconsin at the corner of Bluemound and Elm Grove Roads. Counsel regularly serves clients throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan area, including Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Racine and Ozaukee counties. Her clients have hailed from the communities of Brookfield, Elm Grove, Waukesha, New Berlin, Mukwonago, Muskego, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, New Berlin, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Bay View, Franklin, Greenfield, Greendale, West Allis, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, River Hills, Bayside, Mequon, Thiensville, Germantown, and Menomonee Falls.
13255 W. Bluemound Road, Suite 203
Brookfield
WI
53005
- (262) 780-0460
How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?
After spending years practicing litigation and seeing the wounds it causes, our firm has a philosophy of seeking out and encouraging low conflict dispute resolution wherever possible. We understand the emotions that accompany divorce, and we have the patience and knowledge to help a client process those emotions to make better long term decisions. We hear the word "aggressive" when describing lawyers, and we are not impressed. We prefer to think of ourselves as "effective."
What experience or education distinguishes your lawyers from others
--20 years of practicing law, currently practicing family law exclusively
--Dedication to Collaborative Process and low conflict style of practice means significant mental health background and training and coordination with mental health practitioners
--Signinficant training in Divorce Mediation, Collaborative Divorce Process, Marital Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution Process, and Family Law
--24 years combined history in the practice of law, 14 years devoted exclusively to family law
What distinguishes your law firm from others?
--"Triangle" approach means someone is always available to help the client
--Significant volunteer/community involvement means the attorneys have ample resources and contacts available when necessary to help in their cases
--Combination of seasoned lawyer and recent law school graduate means the client gets the benefit of old world training and courtroom experience and new world technology and research familiarity
--All-female practice group is supportive and reassuring; we respect each client and treat each relationship as a partnership
Karyn Gimbel Youso
Attorney Karyn Gimbel Youso, of the Milwaukee area law firm of Jacobson Legal Group, S.C., has been providing counsel to clients for over 20 years. A former general practice litigator, she nowàpractices exclusively family law, predominantly Mediation and Divorce, with a unique emphasis on the cutting edge field of Collaborative Process. Her diverse legal background is helpful to clients as most divorce cases involve a variety of issues which go beyond mere family law.Â
As a mediator, she assists couples who don't have attorneys as well as those who are represented, and her mediation skills are particularly useful in the highly emotional case.
Karyn Gimbel Youso earned her law degree from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and earned her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.Â
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Atty Youso is one of only approximately 175 practicing Collaborative Divorce attorneys in all of Wisconsin, and educates her clients about the many benefits that the low conflict style of Collaborative Practice offers. As a result of her active involvement with the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Atty Youso coordinates with many professionals from other disciplines (financial specialists, mental health providers, vocational experts, real estate professionals) to provide the best possible results for her clients. In addition to her involvement with CFLCW, Attorney Youso is a member of The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and the Wisconsin Association of Women Lawyers.
Atty Youso is married with three small children, and participates actively in her community.ÃÂ She has served on the State Bar Family Law Section Board, the Governor's Council Domestic Violence Workgroup, and is an active fundraiser for her children's school.
Areas of Practice
- 65% Divorce/Collaborative Divorce/Separation
- 25% Mediation
- 10% General Family Law
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1992
- Wisconsin, 1993
Education
- Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 1992
J.D.
Honors: Golden Quill Award Recipient
Law Journal: Journal of Urban & Contemporary Law, Contributing Editor - University of Pennsylvania, 1989
.
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Speaker, "Ethical Considerations for Lawyers Representing Domestic Violence Victims."ÃÂ Wisconsing State Bar Association, 2011ÃÂ
- Speaker, "Mediation and Negotiaion in the Resolution of Custody and Placement Cases." Legal Action of Wisconsin, Volunteer Lawyers Project, 2010
- Speaker, "This Doesn't Make Sense: Interpreting and Understanding the Behavior of the Domestic Violence Client and the Abuser", with Atty Anne Daugherty-Leiter, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2009
- Panel Presenter, "Domestic Violence and Supervised Placement Issues", Milwaukee Bar Association Bench/Bar Committee 8th Annual GAL Training, 2009
- Speaker, "The Effect of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Placement", with Atty Anne Daugherty-Leiter, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2008
- Speaker, "Psychological Abuse: The Elephant in the Room; How to Identify and Handle it in Custody Cases. Strategies for getting your judge to take it seriously when there's no blood and no broken bones.", Milwaukee Bar Association, 2008
- Speaker, "The Effect of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Placement Decisions", with Atty Anne Daugherty-Leiter, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2007
- Speaker, "Evaluating and Addressing Domestic Violence and Parental Alienation in Family Court Placement Disputes", with Carmen Pitre and Dr. Jon Aaronson, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2006
- Speaker, "Domestic Abuse and Collaborative Cases" with Atty Nancy Cameron and Dr. Jon Aaronson, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, 2006
- Speaker, The Building Blocks of Collaborative Family Law - Marketing Your Collaborative Practice, Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc., 2006
- Speaker, The Building Blocks of Collaborative Family Law - Marketing Your Collaborative Practice, Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc., 2005
- Speaker, The Building Blocks of Collaborative Family Law - Marketing Your Collaborative Practice, Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc., 2004
- Speaker, Power and Imbalance In the Collaborative Setting: The Many Faces of Domestic Abuse, Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc., 2004
- Speaker, "This Doesn't Make Sense: Interpreting and Understanding the Behavior of the DV Client", with Atty Anne Daugherty-Leiter, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2009
Holly Alsteen
Holly Alsteen represents individuals in all legal matters affecting the family, including divorce, separation, post-judgment matters, paternity, c
Holly Alsteen represents individuals in all legal matters affecting the family, including divorce, separation, post-judgment matters, paternity, child custody and placement, support issues, and restraining orders. Attorney Alsteen is a trained mediator and is certified in Collaborative Law. Whenever possible, Attorney Alsteen takes a low conflict approach to problem solving, which saves time and money, and decreases the emotional costs of family law matters, especially when children are involved. She does understand, however, that certain cases are inherently high-conflict and she is prepared to provide compelling and zealous representation in such matters.
Before entering private practice, Attorney Alsteen clerked for the Honorable Maxine White, Milwaukee County Family Court Judge, she served as a mediator in Milwaukee County Small Claims Court, and she worked at the Guardian Ad Litem office of Milwaukee County Children's Court as an advocate for the best interests of children. She demonstrates her commitment to the community by providing volunteer legal services to a variety of local programs, including the Milwaukee County Family Law Self Help Clinic, Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic, and Kids Matter Inc.
Attorney Alsteen is committed to providing sound legal advice and acting as a strong advocate for her clients. By focusing her practice on family law, Attorney Alsteen is able to remain current on legal trends and provide her clients with comprehensive legal representation. She understands that her clients may be experiencing a difficult and emotional time in their lives and she strives to provide personalized representation to fit each client's individual needs.
Areas of Practice
- Traditional Divorce
- Custody/Placement Disputes
- Paternity
Bar Admissions
- Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
- Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Juris Doctorate - University of Wisconsin, Madison
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Family Law Section
Member - Milwaukee Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member - Milwaukee County Family Law Bench Bar Committee
Member - Waukesha Bar Association
- Collaborative Family Law Counsel of Wisconsin
Member - Association of Women Lawyers
Member
Pro Bono Activities
- Milwaukee County Family Law Self Help Clinic
- Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic
- Kids Matter Inc., Pro Bono Attorney