Ethan J. Marcus graduated from California Western School of Law in December of 1990 on a merit scholarship. In 1991, after planting the seeds of a practice in San Diego County, he joined forces with his father, David E. Marcus, in Imperial County. Ethan took over management of his father's firm in 1993, nine months before David E. Marcus passed away. Meanwhile, Ethan continued to oversee his own San Diego cases. Ethan went on to become the first Certified Family Law Specialist in Imperial County in 1996. By then, the Marcus Family Law Center was already one of the busiest Family Law firms in the State of California.

As the son of David E. Marcus, a well-known and extremely successful Imperial County Family Law attorney, Ethan Marcus had been born with a love of the law flowing through his veins. While he continues his father’s tradition, he does so with his own very personal and unique style. He is a great champion for his clients, and beyond that, Ethan is sensitive to their unique needs and tailors his approach to each case in order to accommodate the client's personal circumstances and desired legal objectives.

Ethan is the rebel son of a rebel son. Like his father, Ethan has always believed in function over form, or as Ethan puts it, “Smart thinking over smart dressing.” Ethan's hair is long, and he favors concert t-shirts and bare feet over suits and wingtips. In court, of course, proper attire is mandatory, but there is no hiding that dark curly mane of Ethan's, and he insists that he is still barefoot inside his shoes and socks. “The LAW is barefoot. It doesn't dress up for anybody. It is what it is, and it should be accessible and understandable to everyone.” Where his father could be downright mean, Ethan is described as courteous, compassionate, confident as well as exceptionally intelligent. On the other hand, Ethan is also known for his stubborn streak. He has a hard time taking “no” for an answer.

When the time came to choose a domain name for the firm's website, Ethan decided on “barefootlawyer.com” to communicate his view of himself as an attorney devoted to justice as opposed to its trappings.

According to Ethan, a great case strategy must include more than just a plan to produce the best possible legal result for the client. It must also incorporate a program for emotional healing and financial stability. The welfare of any children involved must always be of paramount concern.

With over 15 years of experience, Ethan Marcus handles as many cases (and as many KINDS of cases) as any Family Law practitioner in California. Yet Ethan never strays from his insistence on delivering his personal attention and commitment. Ethan speaks several languages, including fluency in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

Today, over a decade and half after Ethan's having joined the firm, the Imperial County practice has tripled, and there are now (as of 2010) six practices open throughout Southern California. In response to comments on his success, Ethan can't resist a modest quip, “I'm just covering for my dad until he gets back on his feet.”

Ethan feels that his greatest value to his clients comes from his prior experience as a teacher. “None of us was born knowing this stuff. We learned it like anyone else. What we can learn, we can teach. I want every client to leave my office understanding his or her case BETTER than I do. I might have studied the law, but as the saying goes, ‘The doctor is the expert, but only the patient knows where it hurts.’ This is the client's case, not mine, and the client must be well-informed in order to be able to make sound decisions.”