Lawyer for the Dog

Sally Baynard #1

by Lee Robinson

"Fresh, smart and funny, this is a fast-paced Southern page-turner in the tradition of Jill McCorkle and Ellen Gilchrist—a terrific book." —Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks

One of the sharpest attorneys in Charleston, S.C., Sally Baynard isn’t your typical southern belle. She’s certainly not what her mother hoped she’d grow up to be, especially since she divorced her husband, Family Court Judge Joe Baynard, and his historic family with their historic wealth and historic houses. Maybe Sally was never going to be a proper society lady, but her success as a public defender and family lawyer have been enough for her. She’s represented murderers, burglars, drug dealers and lately has taken on some of the thorniest divorces, all cases closed with her Sally Bright Baynard wit, charm and brains.

Or have they? One case she’s never successfully closed is her marriage. And when Judge Joe assigns her to one of his divorce cases by appointing her as the Lawyer for the Dog -- Sherman, a miniature schnauzer-- she’s forced into close quarters with him again. Juggling the needs of the dog, the angry owners, her amorous but uncommunicative ex-husband, her aging, Alzheimer’s-ridden mother, and the expectations of the court is more than Sally could have imagined. And as rascally Sherman digs his way into Sally’s heart, he brings along his charming vet Tony, a man who makes Sally question her views on love and marriage.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Chick Lit, Dogs, Romance, Mystery, Southern

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2015

About the author

Lee Robinson practiced law in Charleston, S.C. for over 20 years and was elected the first female president of the Charleston Bar Association. She has been writing since high school. Her first book of poetry, Hearsay, won the Poets Out Loud Prize from Fordham University Press, and she is a three-time winner of the South Carolina Arts Commison's Fiction Prize. She and her husband, Jerald Winakur, were co-recipients of the Literary Excellence Award from Gemini Ink, San Antonio's center for the literary arts. Lee lives on a ranch in the Texas hill country, where she is surrounded by many wild critters--some of them human!

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
When attorney Sally Baynard is appointed by Joe, her ex-husband who is a judge, to represent the interests of a dog in a divorce case, Sally wonders about Joe’s mental state. Still, she takes the case and meets up with the Harts, husband and wife who both claim to want the dog, Sherman. I enjoyed this book. It is an amusing tale with a serious undercurrent about marriage and friendship as well as parent and child relationships. And then there is Sherman, a miniature schnauzer. He is a cutie. Anyone who has ever had a dog that holds a special place in their affections, should be able to associate with this couple. To Mr Hart Sherman is a mate, to Mrs Hart he is a replacement child. However this story is about a lot more that a court case and a dog, it is more about human relationships. Sally, not only still has feelings for her ex-husband, but she has her share of personal dilemmas trying to juggle a career and having her mother who has Alzheimer’s living with her.
Lawyer for the Dog is a quick, short read. Will I read the follow up book Lawyer for the Cat? Probably not. While I think the concept was fun for this book, I suspect another along similar lines would lose the appeal for me. Worth reading this one though.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I want to take Sherman home! This was a memorable little dog, one that I would love to have as my own. The lawyer was so funny, caught with needing to care for a dog and not really knowing how to fulfill such a ridiculous assignment. The dog's "parents" are divorcing and both want custody as though Sherman is a child.

There are a few mild curse words, and a mention of a couple being in bed together, but nothing more is shown. It was definitely refreshing to find an enjoyable, humorous story for the secular world that didn't make me feel dirty for having read it. I did recommend it to a couple of friends.

I received an ebook from NetGalley for review and was not required to leave a favorable review.

[Karyn Niedert · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lawyer for the Dog" was a truly sweet and cute little story that kept me guessing the whole time. I loved that the author created an "older" woman with enough sex appeal to balance the interest of several men at once. I'll look eagerly forward to Lee Robinson's next book!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, light read about a lawyer who is representing a dog in a divorce custody battle. Not too "cutesy", but it's a story with interesting characters of substance.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Bright Baynard is a high flying divorce lawyer with a lot on her plate when her ex husband, who presides over local court, calls her in to help with a case - and become the lawyer for a dog stuck between two warring parents. Now on top of looking after her ailing mother, Sally must look after Sherman and determine which owner he is better off living with - and not fall in love with him in the process.

This was a really lovely, easy to read book that I flew through and was one of those type of books that felt a bit like a balm to the soul and just a whole load of nice! Which I really appreciated it.

This is a great book for anyone who loves a nice contemporary story that flows really well, has some really lively characters - both main characters and side characters like Gina and Dolores - as well as perfect for anyone who loves dogs because Sherman is just the cutest thing ever and even made me think about a mini schnauzer in my future!

The side plot in this book is sad as Sally's mother is living with Alzheimer's and it is slowly getting worse, and Sally needs to think about looking at care homes for her. The descriptions of Sally's mom and the little things that seem so simple but are hard for her now was really sad to read about and it could be upsetting for people who have experienced loved ones suffering from the same disease.

I do think parts of this book were a bit too fast for my liking and I do think it's because it's a shorter book (about 250 pages on Kindle) and the author wanted to have everything in there. Sally's relationship with the vet seemed to go from zero to 100 in literally a few minutes. I was really disappointed that Sally didn't adopt Carmen the beagle (Poor Carmen!) at the end as I really expected her to do that.

[Danni The Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It’s such an easy read.
It is mad that a dog needs a lawyer, you really feel for both sides of the party and of course Sherman the main man.
Sherman just sounds brilliant apart from pooing in the bedroom not cool.
It touches on quite a few things divorce, love, Alzheimer’s. I think it’s very well written and a moving story. Thank you

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book when a GR friend read it this summer and enjoyed it.

The blurb says more, but basically a lawyer is made the lawyer for a dog when a couple in the midst of a divorce are fighting over it. There are many pleasant things about the novel, and if you want something fairly light that has a bit of humour and drama mixed up together plus you love dogs, you may well enjoy it. The author practised (okay, it's an American, so she practiced) law for over 20 years, so I suspect that the legal stuff is realistic and I know know what bifurcate means in legalese, and I hadn't even known I wanted to ;), but it's relevant here.

[Gerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What follows is an honest review of this hardback book I received in Goodreads Giveaways.

I did not plan to read Lawyer for the Dog so quickly, but once I started it, I could not put it down. I loved the setting of Charleston; as a southerner, it's one of my favorite cities. And, of course, the book cover got me right away ... a great photo of a very adorable miniature schnauzer. The story was quite engaging and different, with moments of sadness and humor intermixed. I don't want to give away too much of the story line here, but basically we travel with Sally Baynard, a 49 year old lawyer, as she attempts to deal with her current situation of being court appointed guardian for Sherman (the dog, of course) who is owned by the divorcing couple of Mr. and Mrs. Hart. Add to that is the fact that Sally herself is divorced from the judge of the family court, Joe (is he still in love with Sally?), and she is sole caretaker for her mother with advancing Alzheimer's. And, all of that leaves little if no time for romance (with her ex-husband or someone else?) or time for herself; or a dog, for that fact, but yet it all happens in this very cute story. I found Ms. Baynard to be a very likable character who spent a lot of time not only representing her clients but genuinely being concerned for their well-being. I am anxiously awaiting a followup to this book! Great job, Lee Robinson! Absolutely loved this book and will make sure my daughters give this one a read too!

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 to 4.75 stars

i loved everything about this book. Sally's life is a mess, mostly self-inflicted, but she's such a likable character you want her to figure things out. 49, divorced, and emotionally bruised after her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, she just wants some normalcy back. Unfortunately, when Judge Baynard, her ex-husband, appoints her the lawyer for a dog in a custody dispute, things seem to be going even more off the rails. Sally doesn't know anything about dogs, and she's quite sure she doesn't want to learn. Soon, she's caught up in the case, captivated by Sherman's bright black eyes and soft doggy sighs. Now she's more determined than ever to do right by Sherman, but the feuding couple are giving her all kinds of headaches.

Quirky characters, goofy clients, and a cute dog make this a must read for dog lovers.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4 stars because it was super cute and evoked all kinds of emotions. In the short span of 230 pages, I giggled, felt anxious, was happy and then cried for a good 2 chapters. I had a lot of similarities to the main character which was definitely one of the reasons why I enjoyed this.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accidentally bought this book on Audible.

What a wonderful story! Interesting characters and rich dialogue. Great reader. A dose of humor and humanity to weave this book into a gem. So glad that I made this accident.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just loved this book. A good read for any lover of dogs.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warmhearted, amusing story about Sally Baynard, a sharp and witty attorney whose aging mother lives with her in Charleston, her ex-husband who is the judge in her current divorce case, the divorcing couple who are fighting over custody of their dog Sherman, and his charming vet. When you want a light, entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion, pick up this novel. If the title doesn't do it, the dog on the cover will convince you to read this book.

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. I anticipated it from the moment I first saw it and was thrilled to receive an eARC from Netgalley (which does not influence my review). But let's talk specifics. First of all, the cover is great. What a cute, adorable dog. And guess what? The dog on the cover matches Sherman's description. You would be surprised the books with dogs on the covers which aren't even close to accurate or perhaps do not contain a dog at all.

Our main character Sally, is a lawyer and is appointed as Guardian ad Litem for Sherman during his parents' divorce. My degree is in criminal justice and so much of what was discussed in the book rang true to my experience with courts. Robinson either has experience in this area or did some great research. Sally is a strong, independent, middle-aged woman and it is refreshing to see that type of character for a change. The struggles in her day to day life are not far-fetched and I enjoyed reading about her triumphs and tragedies.

Before you thing this is automatically a "feel good" dog story, think again. Sally is not a dog lover and basically gets thrown into a position she initially sees as ludicrous. There are great side characters, some minor love interests and some family drama.

I can't say enough good things about this book. If you like contemporaries, dog stories or just great writing, please pick it up and give it a chance. I devoured it in less that 2 days and my only regret is that I can't enjoy it again for the first time!

[Sharon Redfern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawyer for the Dog is a quirky but heartwarming story of a woman of a certain age who becomes the guardian ad-litum for a cute Schnauzer named Sherman. When divorce lawyer Sally Baynard's ex-husband appoints her to do a custody study for a dog, it opens a whole can of worms for all involved. Sally's ex has just separated from his second wife and is making overtures in Sally's direction which is stirring up old memories and feelings. Sherman's owners are in the middle of an acrimonious divorce and as Sally gets more involved she finds out there is more than meets the eye to that situation as well. Adding to Sally's stress, her mother has Alzheimer's and it is getting harder to keep her home. Finally, a handsome veterinarian is making Sally wonder if she could find love again at her age.

I really enjoyed this book. Sally is a wonderful character who can be brash and confident one moment and then insecure the next. As she becomes more involved emotionally in Sherman's situation she opens up to possibilities in her own life. I loved the interplay with her assistant/friend. I also enjoyed the southern influence of the book. As a New Englander, I'm always fascinated by the way that life and tradition is portrayed in the South.

I look forward to reading other books by this talented writer.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's be honest - I picked this book up because of the adorable dog on the cover. But also because one of the reviews compared this author to Ellen Gilchrist. Ellen Gilchrist she ain't, but Lee Robinson did write a perfect little summer read. I particularly liked how everyone reacted to the irresistible little Sherman. Hell, I fell in love with him, too!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. It wasn't super memorable, which is why I'm only giving it 3 stars, but I did enjoy it while I was reading it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this first adult novel from Lee Robinson and hope that she'll keep writing for grownups. Excellent character portrayal. I'll be looking for more from Ms. Robinson.

[Amberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started and finished date – 27.11.25 to 30.11.25.
My rating – Three Stars.
This book was fine, but I really bored read this also I think people who like Mimi lee gets a clue by Jennifer J. Chow or the dog sitter by Zara Stoneley may like is book. The cover of the book was okay, and I think the colour palette at was used on the cover of book was fine. The writing was okay, and the writing was easy to follow also the ending of book was fine. I think both the setting of the book and the atmosphere was okay, but it was bit blend. the mystery was fine, and romance was okay bit boring. I found the paced in the book was very rushed and the paced was unsteadied. The characters were okay, but they needed to be flash out bit more.

[Gloria Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd story about a female lawyer, her ex-husband, judge for the case, and a divorcing couple. Ex-husband,, the judge, requested that a lawyer be appointed to represent the interests of the dog because of a custody fight over it. It was an easy fast read with some amusing parts. The story touched on other parts of the lives and romances of the people involved in the case. It was interesting, but nothing to write home about.

[Kiana Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a typically heartfelt, cute, easy read. I read it very quickly. It’s not a book that’s going to stick with me or that I’ll definitely recommend to others. But I don’t want others to see this review and think they shouldn’t read it. There’s really nothing to not like about it. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I will read the second book though, Lawyer for a Cat. 3 and half stars for me.

[Sara Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. The characters are well written and the plot moves at a steady pace. The main plot regarding the dog in the title is the enjoyable part of this book. I found the sub-plot (regarding the main character's mother having alzheimers) very emotional to listen to for personal reasons. This took the edge off the story for me. All-in-all, not a bad book.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read.  If you like to read about dogs and their relationship to people, you will definitely enjoy this book.  You can read this book on two levels.  It is a fun read about the custody of a dog and it also has all the underlying relationships that are so much deeper.   It is a quick, enjoyable read.

[Kathleen Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed something to read for my reading challenge and found this book in Readers Digest Condensed Large Print. Is that cheating. It was a nice little story of a 50 year old lawyer who takes on a case as the dogs lawyer and ends up with his vet.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this is like sitting in a lounge with a good friend. We won’t talk of much, perhaps some gossipy news now and then, but mostly, we’re just happy in our bout of comfort and bit of peace together.

[Mary]

I read readers digest large type
2017 # 2

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Natty · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot more going for this book than you might think at first. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!