Monday Profile: Bernard F. Finn

 Bernard Finn, who leads the Sinas Dramis family law division, brings 38 years of experience in handling many domestic relations matters, including divorce, separation, spousal support and maintenance, and child custody and support issues.

Finn has been recognized in “Best Lawyers in America” for Family Law, every year since 2001, 2012 Lawyer of the Year – Family Law (Lansing) and Michigan Super Lawyer 2009, 2010, and 2011. He also devotes a portion of his practice to criminal defense law. 
He lives in East Lansing with his wife and cat.
By Jo Mathis
Legal News
 
What is your most treasured material possession?  An earthen crock my father brought over from Europe.
 
What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Stay physically fit. It’s very arduous.  
 
Favorite local hangouts: Buddies Pub & Grill.
 
Favorite app? USA Today.
 
What is your happiest childhood memory? My bar mitzvah.
 
What would surprise people about your job?  How little money you end up with at the end of the day.
 
What has been your favorite year so far? 1986, the year I came to the Sinas Dramis Law Firm.
 
Why did you become a lawyer? Because I did not like what I was doing.  I was in real estate and decided to go to graduate school. It took two years for a master’s, or three years for a law degree.  The latter seemed to make sense.
 
If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? Abraham.
 
What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? The Western Wall in Jerusalem.
 
What did you do in recent weeks? I completed the New York City Marathon.  
 
If you could have one super power, what would it be?  The ability to settle more cases.
 
What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Live in the moment.
 
What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Not guilty on a first degree murder.
 
What do you do to relax?  Walking relaxes me.   
 
How would you describe your home? I would describe it as a place of refuge.
 
If you were starting all over again and couldn’t go into law, what career path would you choose? Architecture.
 
What’s your biggest regret?  My father’s passing.
 
What word do you overuse? Parsimonious. 
 
What is something most people don't know about you?  That I have competed in 10 marathons.
 
 
If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? Abraham, Moses, and Leon Uris.
 
What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? Glass blowing.
 
What’s the best advice you ever received? Never be the third lawyer in a case.
 
What do you drive?  A yellow Mini Cooper. 
 
What would you drive if money were no object? A two-door BMW.
 
Favorite place to spend money:  Paris.
 
What is your motto? Keep your head down and hit the ball hard every day.

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