Edward Lowenschuss

Edward Lowenschuss
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Edward
Lowenschuss

What made you want to go into your field?
My parents were both lawyers and my father encouraged me to pursue a legal education, even if I was later to decide not to practice law, because it provides such a strong foundation for almost any career. I grew up in the 1980's when LA Law was a hit show on television, which glamorized the legal profession. That show actually turned me off a little bit to law because it made me view being a lawyer more cynically, as a business rather than a means for seeking justice. When Ally McBeal came on the air in the 90s, I felt better about being a lawyer, because the characters did not take themselves so seriously. They were able to have fun and still excel in the courtroom and win cases for their clients. Of course, Ally McBeal was a bit less realistic than LA Law, but it is funny how fictional television dramas can subtly shape your attitude and way of thinking.

What do you like most about your job?
I like being an advocate for my clients and fighting for them to obtain justice or remedy a wrong. I take even more satisfaction, though, in being able to counsel clients to protect themselves from forseeable problems so that they can avoid unnecessary conflict and costly litigation. It is fun to be able to fashion legal arguments by taking a rule of law or analogizing the facts of a previously decided case and applying them to a current problem. Even thought the law is defined and consistent, there is still room for a lawyer to be creative in the interpretation of what the law means and how it should be applied in a specific situation.

What challenges do you face on a daily basis?
Litigation can be very stressful because you are constantly facing deadlines, there is pressure from opposing counsel, as well as from your own clients, and success in court depends on a lot of factors which are beyond the lawyer's control. A litigation attorney has to be very prepared, but also able to adapt quickly when things go a little differently than expected.

What characteristics does someone need to be successful in your field?
Certainly, a lawyer needs to be honest, hardworking, detail oriented, analytical, and an effective communicator. However, a good lawyer should also be openminded, a creative thinker, and have the ability to view issues and problems from various different perspectives. Most importantly, a lawyer should be passionate about the law and in the zealous representation of his or her clients, while still being able to appear dispassionate and objective.

©2005 Santa Barbara News-Press