Maria Tsao Tu

I call myself the "Common People" lawyer. I was raised to be self sufficient ever since I was old enough to babysit and deliver newspaper. I worked to put myself through college, law school and master degree. During the first phase of my law practice, My objective was to become a "rich and famous" lawyer. When I clawed my way there to the top, I couldn't figure out why I was so unhappy...So, I walked away from everything --my high paying salary, my condo by the lake, my personal shopper, my rich clients with limos and yachts, my supporters for politics, including my law practice.... IT TOOK 10 YEARS for me to realize that the most important thing in my life is not the admiration and envy of others, but what makes me the happiest. In 2004, I finally had enough courage to come back to the practice of law. I fell in love with being in the courtroom fighting the difficult fights. In the courthouse, I have cried, laughed, screamed, yelled, shouted, hated and loved, and all could happen in one day.... My colleagues have described me as "a lawyer with a passion". Whatever.... I love being in the courtroom.