Springfield attorney Samantha M. Hodapp is leading a new law office representing men in divorce cases.
The new office opened on March 6 as part of the St. Louis-based family law firm Cordell & Cordell, which has offices in more than 30 states.
Hodapp says that being a woman representing men in court provides her a unique perspective, but her main interest in any case is her client - whether man or woman.
"Unfortunately, men tend not to get a fair shake in the courtroom," Hodapp said. "That’s where I come in. ... What motivates me is aggressively representing the rights of men who often do not get the level playing field that women receive in court. Men are often perceived as the enemy in family cases, but that shouldn’t be the case. I’m here to be their advocate and guide them on this sometimes arduous journey."
Hodapp says she actually wanted to be a doctor before choosing law.
"But after determining math wasn’t my thing, I thought of other areas I could go in that would allow me to help people," she said. "There is something genuinely satisfying with helping someone get their desired results."
Contact Patrick Yeagle at [email protected].
