Chicago Attorney Lester L. Barclay has about 40 years of experience practicing family law, helping people through their worst times, and navigating a path for parents and children through the thickets of emotional court cases.

In this Episode 45, recorded on September 18, 2026, co-hosts Barry, Marjie and Kevin join Lester in a wide-ranging discussion of the problems, challenges, solutions and war stories we have encountered in our years of family-law practice. Lester has a deep understanding of the human side of this business, has worked on hundreds of cases, and he's the author of 'The African American American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down,' available on Amazon.com

Attorney Lester L. Barclay practices in Chicago. To schedule a consultation, and to experienced his kind, professional approach to this difficult business, visit his website at barclaylawgroup.com

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About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters," a project spanning over five years:

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

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CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

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Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu call his cell # 312-493-4241

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Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

Minnesota Attorney Shelley Torvinen finally found us in the big city (Chicago) after a long drive to our virtual studio*. With a promise of hot chocolate and plenty of encouragement, we coaxed her from her car, walked her through our weed-strewn parking lot, and down the stairs past a creaky iron door, to a rusty office chair. We cleared away a pile of spiders and dust, gave her a seat at the table with us, and then applied our usual psychological pressure.

In this Episode 44, recorded on March 12, 2025 by the light of a Coleman gas lantern and between bites of Norwegian lutefisk (in honor of our Minnesota guest,) Shelley did not wilt under our interrogation. It's clear that Shelley, despite laboring in the trenches for over 30 years, has not lost her enthusiasm and compassion for the practice of family law. We spent an hour jabbering about situations, stories, hints and creative ideas -- and family law and procedures in three states (Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.)

Hopefully, our non-lawyer listeners will find our wide-ranging discussion to be useful and helpful!

Attorney Shelley Torvinen practices in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, handling family-law cases in courtrooms and courthouses big and small, far and wide. To schedule a consultation, and maybe be treated to hot chocolate and lutefisk, visit her website at www.wiscotalm.com or call her at (218) 625-2239.

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About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters," a project spanning over four years:

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system. They don't always agree

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu call his cell # 312-493-4241

* (we actually record our episodes remotely using Zoom.)
=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

We met with Attorney Carmen Quinones, from Wilmette (a suburb of Chicago.) She's fun to talk with. Parking her car in our weed-strewn parking lot and making it safely down the stairs to our drafty, underground virtual studio, Carmen brought a wealth of knowledge, kindness and good humor to our round-table discussion. She has uncounted years of experience, both as a psychology professional in Virginia and Illinois, and as an attorney for adults and children here in Chicago.

In this Episode 43, recorded by flickering candlelight on October 23, 2024, with small creatures scurrying around on the floors and walls (it was almost Halloween,) Marjie, Barry and Kevin put Carmen under extreme psychological pressure to spill some secrets and tell some war stories, and she did not disappoint.

While she is appointed by judges to represent children in some cases, she is also hired by parents and spouses to represent them directly in other cases. To schedule a consultation with Attorney Carmen Quinones, and to tap into her warmth and insight, call her at 847-920-0200.

==================

About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters," a project spanning nearly four years:

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu call his cell # 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF