A Profile in Balance By James G. McGiffin, Jr., Esquire
David Bever : His Head in the Clouds is All Part of the Plan By James G. McGiffin, Jr., Esquire and Lauren McDuffy
matriculation with a bachelor’s degree, he decided to venture from the farm lands of Indiana and set his sights on a law school in a big city near an ocean (it did not matter which city or even which ocean). Hofstra made David an attractive offer, and there he went.
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f I aspire to be the best lawyer I can be, I must first try to be the best person I can be. I am fortunate to know many lawyers who have succeeded in their work, in part, because they are excellent people. This column in The Journal will feature an article on one such lawyer. Each featured lawyer will exemplify the art of balance in life. I have learned much from these people. Perhaps readers will also benefit. - Jim McGiffin • • •
David Bever is one of those people who always knew what he wanted to be. He is also part of the generation that grew up watching lots of Law and Order on television. Sam Waterston’s portrayal of prosecutor Jack McCoy made a big impression. David knew he would be a lawyer. Born and raised near Indianapolis, Indiana, David grew up on a farm an hour east of the city. He did not leave the chickens and the sheep far behind when he attended college at Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Indiana, to study Political Science with an eye to law school. Upon his 26
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While at Hofstra, David started a computer consulting business. He had helped law school friends with computer issues, and when those friends went to work in law firms, they remembered David’s talent for computers. He also participated in the Public Justice Foundation. The activity in which he engaged that must have had the most profound impact was his work in the Family Law Clinic, which he enjoyed and which pointed him in the professional direction he maintains today. David was not devoted solely to professional discernment while a law student. He availed himself of an internet-based social introduction service and met Megan, an occupational therapist from Felton, Delaware. When he knew that relationship was right, David was First State bound, not realizing at the time how it would immediately feel like home. David worked as a clerk with Family Court Chief Judge Chandlee Kuhn for a time, completing his requirements for bar admission while learning about the Family Court, then found a home at