First Admitted: 1983, California

Professional Webpage: http://www.mcnifflaw.com/about_us

Bar/Professional Activity:

Co-Author of "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Symposium Reference Materials" 2022, 2022
To show lawyers how best to serve divorcing people, for over 25 years, Mr. McNiff has donated countless hours educating lawyers and others. For over 25 years, he wrote and updated the Los Angeles County Bar Reference Book chapter "Family Law Tips & Techniques" every year 1996-2019, 2021, 2022. The Los Angeles County Bar has over 15,000 members. He has presented educational programs throughout California for many years, including: Can the Clarity and Transparency of Visuals Create Better Co-parent Outcomes? Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow presentation for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts AFCC 60th Anniversary Conference in 2023; and The Power of Visuals to Open Minds for Difficult Conversations Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow presentation for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-California AFCC-CA Annual Conference, 2020, the California State Bar each year from 1995 to 2005, and in 2007, local bar associations, AAML and NBI. Mr. McNiff also served as a Judge Pro Tem and as an Arbitrator for 10 years ending in 2004., 2021

Videos:

Why Picture Your Divorce? To see how to choose wisely. To avoid a bad divorce., Why Picture Your Divorce, 2014
Too many parents fight over their children, treating their kids as the ammunition and the prize. Fighting over children creates pain, usually with no realistic chance of gain. A lose-lose-lose proposition., How Parents See Not to Fight Over Children, 2014

Representative Clients:

Mr. McNiff's clients include successful business owners and professionals, entertainers, athletes, and other people with the financial means to afford the best legal representation in divorce, cohabitation, Marvin claims. Mr. McNiff is not at liberty to disclose client's names because the professional rules in California require attorneys to preserve the secrets of the client at every peril to the lawyer.

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Certified Specialist in Family Law 1994-2024 by State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization., 2023

Pro bono/Community Service:

To show lawyers how best to serve divorcing people, for over 25 years, Mr. McNiff has donated countless hours educating lawyers and others. For over 25 years, he wrote and updated the Los Angeles County Bar Reference Book chapter "Family Law Tips & Techniques" every year 1996-2019, 2021, 2022. The Los Angeles County Bar has over 15,000 members. He has presented educational programs throughout California for many years, including: Can the Clarity and Transparency of Visuals Create Better Co-parent Outcomes? Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow presentation for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts AFCC 60th Anniversary Conference in 2023; and The Power of Visuals to Open Minds for Difficult Conversations Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow presentation for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-California AFCC-CA Annual Conference, 2020, the California State Bar each year from 1995 to 2005, and in 2007, local bar associations, AAML and NBI. Mr. McNiff also served as a Judge Pro Tem and as an Arbitrator for 10 years ending in 2004., 2023

Honors/Awards:

Would family litigants be better served if they were allowed to see upfront, at the outset, what can happen when family litigants make the standard choices the family court system imposes upon them?, Can the Clarity and Transparency of Visuals Create Better Co-parent Outcomes? Materials, Workshop and Visual Diagrams Screen-show, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-AFCC 60th Anniversary Conference, 2023
In this visual age, you must show clients their potential options and likely consequences so they can easily see the right divorce decisions. Please show (non-DV) clients Lorene Schaefer, Esq.'s great visual, Dispute Resolution Continuum, so they can see and understand their dispute resolution options: https://www.slideshare.net/LoreneSchaefer/dispute-resolution-continuum-21161231. , Co-Author of "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Symposium Reference Materials" 2022, Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Symposium Reference Materials" 2022, 2022
In this visual age, you must show clients their potential options and likely consequences so they can easily see the right divorce decisions. Please show (non-DV) clients Lorene Schaefer, Esq.'s great visual, Dispute Resolution Continuum, so they can see and understand their dispute resolution options: https://www.slideshare.net/LoreneSchaefer/dispute-resolution-continuum-21161231. , Author of "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" 2021, "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book", 2021
Certified as Family Law Specialist by California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 1994, Certified as Family Law Specialist by California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 1994, California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, 2020
Author of "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" annually 1996-2019, Author of "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" annually 1996-2019, "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" annually 1996-2019, 2019
Sole U.S. Lawyer Speaker at International Conference on Multisensory Law 2014, January 27 & 28, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Colette R. Brunschwig of the University of Zurich Legal Visualization Unit, pioneer in Visual Law and Multisensory Law, invited Mr. McNiff to present to international lawyers and designers his award-winning visual guide, "Picture Your Divorce"., International Conference on Multisensory Law, University of Zurich, Switzerland, 2014
"2013 Global Ebook Awards Bronze Medal Winner for Relationships/Sexuality", "2013 Global Ebook Awards Bronze Medal Winner for Relationships/Sexuality", "2013 Global Ebook Awards", 2013
"USA Book News Best Books of 2011 Award Finalist for Parenting/Family: Divorce", "USA Book News Best Books of 2011 Award Finalist for Parenting/Family: Divorce", "USA Book News Best Books of 2011", 2011
"National Indie Excellence Award Finalist for Divorce, 2011", "National Indie Excellence Award Finalist for Divorce, 2011", "National Indie Excellence Award", 2011
Chair, North San Diego County Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialists, 2011-2012 Chair-Elect 2009-2010
Appointed by Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Chair to Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Family Law Policy.

Educational Background:

UCLA Law School, J.D., 1983., 1983

White Papers:

In this visual age, you must show clients their potential options and likely consequences so they can easily see the right divorce decisions. Please show (non-DV) clients Lorene Schaefer, Esq.'s great visual, Dispute Resolution Continuum, so they can see and understand their dispute resolution options: https://www.slideshare.net/LoreneSchaefer/dispute-resolution-continuum-21161231. , "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" 2021, divorcing people, People Beginning Or Ending Relationships, 2022
From 1996 to 2019, Mr. McNiff authored or co-authored the following reference books, articles, chapters, or educational materials for Bar educational programs: "Analysis of Financial Considerations", "Custody Trial Preparation & Presentation", "Ethics in Family Law", "Recent Developments in Family Law", "Support and the Self-Employed Individual", "Maximizing Support Results", "Marvin Claims", "New Challenges and Options for Family Lawyers and their Clients", "Family Law Techniques and Trial Tips"., "Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" annually 1996-2019, 2019

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Can the Clarity and Transparency of Visuals Create Better Co-parent Outcomes? Materials, Workshop and Visual Diagrams Screen-show for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-AFCC 60th Anniversary Conference, Co-Author, Organizer, Moderator, Speaker, Can the Clarity and Transparency of Visuals Create Better Co-parent Outcomes? Materials, Workshop and Visual Diagrams Screen-show, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-AFCC 60th Anniversary Conference, 2023
In this visual age, you must show clients their potential options and likely consequences so they can easily see the right divorce decisions. Please show (non-DV) clients Lorene Schaefer, Esq.'s great visual, Dispute Resolution Continuum, so they can see and understand their dispute resolution options: https://www.slideshare.net/LoreneSchaefer/dispute-resolution-continuum-21161231. , Co-Author, ”Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Symposium Reference Materials" 2022, "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" 2021, 2022
In this visual age, you must show clients their potential options and likely consequences so they can easily see the right divorce decisions. Please show (non-DV) clients Lorene Schaefer, Esq.'s great visual, Dispute Resolution Continuum, so they can see and understand their dispute resolution options: https://www.slideshare.net/LoreneSchaefer/dispute-resolution-continuum-21161231. , Author, "”Family Law Techniques & Trial Tips" for "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book" 2021, "Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Reference Book", divorcing people, People Beginning Or Ending Relationships, 2021
The Power of Visuals to Open Minds for Difficult Conversations Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow for Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-California AFCC-CA Annual Conference, The Power Of Difficult Conversations: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Creating Connection, Compassion and Calm in Family Law , San Francisco, CA, February 7-9, 2020., Co-Author, The Power of Visuals to Open Minds for Difficult Conversations Materials and Visual Diagrams Screenshow, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-California AFCC-CA Annual Conference, 2020
Picture Your Divorce Decisions A to Z shows every key decision every divorcing person needs to understand and make to succeed., Author, Picture Your Divorce Decisions A to Z, Amazon.com, 2012
"Family Law Techniques and Trial Tips", Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section Symposium Reference Book, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, Author, "Family Law Techniques and Trial Tips", Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section Symposium Reference Book, 2019
"New Challenges and Options for Family Lawyers and their Clients", Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in California, 2013 ed. (Aspatore Books, part of Thomson Reuters), Author, "New Challenges and Options for Family Lawyers and their Clients", Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in California, 2013 ed. (Aspatore Books, part of Thomson Reuters), 2013
Mr. McNiff authored or co-authored the following articles, chapters, or educational materials for Bar educational programs: "Analysis of Financial Considerations", "Custody Trial Preparation & Presentation", "Ethics in Family Law", "Recent Developments in Family Law", "Support and the Self-Employed Individual", "Maximizing Support Results", and "Marvin Claims"., Co-Author, Ethics in Family Law, California State Bar Family Law Section, 2007

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Mr. McNiff created the Triple National Award finalist decison-making guide "Picture Your Divorce" to help people make better decisions before, during and after divorce., 2010

Industry Groups:

American Bar Association (1984-)
Business Owners
Certified Legal Specialist (1994-2024)
Entertainment
Sports

Terry McNiff