BABY ADDS CHEER TO FAMILY PRACTICE

BABY ADDS CHEER TO FAMILY PRACTICE
No age barriers at Fairfield law firm

It's not uncommon for a wise judge or an astute attorney to be described by admiring acquaintances as "born to the law."

Little Sinead Maas is only four months old but she's already on her way to earning the sobriquet even though she's never opened a law book - at least not to argue a case.

Sinead, the daughter of Fairfield attorneys Thomas and Jaye Ryan Maas, spends a lot of her time in her parents' downtown law office which, unlike most other such workplaces, offers such amenities as a crib, playpen, child swing and a brace of baby bottles readily at hand in the office refrigerator.

"There are a lot of binkies in this office," Jaye observed as she deftly wove her way from office to conference room with Sinead firmly strapped to a baby carrier on her chest. "We've got a big box of toys, too. The clients' children love this place."

The husband-and-wife legal team, both formerly employed by the Solano County Public Defender's Office, were married in 2006 and opened their own law firm in a 1920s-vintage cottage on Webster Street last June.

Sinead was born on July 13 and, rather than leave her with day care or relatives while they pursued their careers as criminal defense attorneys, they made Sinead a part of the firm.

"I wasn't planning on bringing her to work after she was born, but she was six weeks premature and the only thing that seemed to comfort her was being close to me," Jaye explained while Sinead snoozed through an afternoon interview. "She's been working here ever since."

The presence of a baby in a busy law office just blocks from Solano County Superior Court might seem incongruous, but Thomas and Jaye Ryan Maas say she brightens their lives and the lives of their clients.

"Most of the people who come to us for the first time are mothers, wives, fathers, brothers or sisters trying to find an attorney to represent a loved one," Jaye explained. "It's all about family, and having Sinead right here in the office reminds all of us just how important family is. Because we have a lot of serious cases, she really brightens things up."

Thomas' sister, Anne Maas, another former deputy public defender, also has joined the firm and contributes to the friendly atmosphere with a bright smile and ready laugh.

Family members rotate child care and legal responsibilities, from court appearances to the filing of documents and washing out baby bottles.

"She's a real people person," said Anne. "She likes to meet people, different people, and they like to meet her. A lot of the time our clients bring their kids with them, and we're glad to see them."

Of course, there are times when an infant's presence can be a little disconcerting, particularly over the phone.

"She's just finding her voice, so we get a lot of singing in the background - just a lot of happy blah-blah-blah-blah,' ' Jaye explained.

Taking care of a baby and running a law office can make for some unorthodox working hours, too.

Once you're awakened in the middle of the night to fulfill parental responsibilities, it's sometimes easier to hit the books and work on a case than it is trying to get back to sleep.

"Our motto might be 'The Maas Law Offices - A Family of Insomniacs,' ' Jaye quipped.