Mad About You

What's the worst part of the job?

The frustrating part about the system is that it isn't always right or always fair. Innocent people are sometimes convicted. Guilty people sometimes walk away. And you have to adjust to the notion that you are a participant in an imperfect system.

Is there anything you want the general public to know about your field?

Most of the people who are involved in the practice of criminal law are involved because they love people. The idea is that in order to get justice in an imperfect system, someone has to fight for it. And that's what thousands of people are doing every day -- many of them court-appointed, underpaid, overworked and what have you. But their dedication to the system of justice is what ought to be exalted, not the fact they represent a particular individual who may or may not be accused of something very serious or difficult to understand.

The Used-Car Salesman

Wanda and Frank Lewark have been in the used-car business for 40 years. A non-traditional, laid-back attitude guides their work at Auto Buying Service in Fairfax, and the rewards have flowed from there. The office walls are covered with "Quality Dealer" plaques. Wanda, 64, has been officially commended by the Virginia General Assembly for her community service and is the first and only woman to have won the National Quality Dealer Award from the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association.

The business runs in the family. The Lewarks' daughter, Betsy Briggs, 44, is the general manager, and Briggs's daughter, Christie Black, 22, works the front desk. With women at the helm and a thorough but relaxed ethic, Auto Buying Service all but demolishes the stereotype of the used-car salesman.

The term "used-car salesman" has a negative connotation. Why?

Wanda: When we first opened the business, I happened to see a dealer that we knew that was in business in Fairfax. And he said, "Oh, you're going to love this business. You can steal all kinds of money from Uncle Sam, and you can overprice the cars and take advantage of people and get away with it." And I'm sitting there thinking, "We don't want to do that." We just want to go to work each day, make a decent living and provide a service.

How do you put people at ease?

Frank: We have a nice, friendly, casual, inviting environment. Even if we weren't honest, we have a real edge there.

Betsy: Plus, we don't put pressure on people. If they want to think about it, we say, "Okay." Whereas another dealer would figure out --

Frank: How to close the deal.