Last week in a fit of desperation, I asked a client facing a domestic violence related charge how he met his ex-girlfriend, the complainant. The man, who had tried to fire me on the last court date, softened his expression. He shook his head and launched into an intimate, if at times off-color, tale of love at first sight. Our conversation sparked ideas for trial strategy, and also re-built trust between us. Personal details served a professional purpose.