How to choose the right law firm for your personal injury case
When it comes to choosing a law firm for an injury claim, bigger is not always better. In fact, many people who have been represented by high-volume law firms would never consider hiring a large law firm again.
Why? Because many big law firms rely on litigating a huge volume of cases to stay in business, pay their staff, and make a profit, all while disregarding the personal touch each client deserves. Some large firms boast of the thousands of clients they represent or tout big settlement amounts but ignore the negative experiences expressed by many of their clients. Former clients of large firms have listed several complaints: their case was randomly assigned to an attorney they had never met, an inexperienced attorney handled their case, they were seldom permitted to talk to their attorney, they never received updates about the status of their case, or their case was settled for far less than they expected. Not surprisingly, many dissatisfied clients of large firms reported feeling more like a number than a person with unique legal problems that required special attention.
In contrast to a high-volume firm, an attorney at a smaller, established law firm is likely to have an ownership interest in the firm, have more experience than a randomly assigned attorney at a large firm, and have a greater personal interest in client satisfaction. Instead of assigning an investigator to conduct the initial meeting — common practice at big law firms — attorneys at smaller, established firms take pride in listening to a new client’s challenges and concerns, counseling clients to deal with immediate problems, and creating a sound legal strategy for settlement or trial purposes. In fact, the initial client meeting is a great opportunity for the client and the attorney to get to know each other, determine whether they are compatible, and develop a healthy working relationship.
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Since a smaller firm often does not have to rely on a huge volume of cases to keep the practice operating, many clients report a greater personal touch and more rewarding experience. Clients tend to enjoy the accessibility, accountability, and reliability of an attorney with an ownership interest in a smaller, established firm, as opposed to the impersonal feeling they experience as one of thousands of clients represented by overwhelmed attorneys at high-volume firms.
Know Who You’re Hiring
An injury suffered in an accident is an unexpected, disruptive, and potentially life-altering occurrence. Although the legal issues may be similar in some cases, each person is uniquely equipped to handle the problems that arise after an injury, and each person should find the attorney best-suited for them.
At big law firms, incoming calls are often directed to a call center, and non-attorney investigators are sent to the potential client’s home to get contracts signed. The client may not initially be given an opportunity to even speak to an attorney. After the investigator completes his or her role, the high-volume firm often assigns the case to an attorney the client has never met, interviewed, or selected. The assigned attorney may be a new law school graduate, a former criminal law attorney, or someone with minimal experience in handling similar cases. Wouldn’t you want to know the attorney you are hiring before you select a law firm? Can you imagine not having an opportunity to choose the attorney for your important case?
Attorneys at smaller, established firms generally are not overwhelmed with a huge volume of cases like many attorneys at large law firms. Consider this: Do overwhelmed attorneys have the time to communicate frequently with their clients? Do they have sufficient time to listen to their clients’ problems and concerns? Do they have time to return client phone calls? Do attorneys at big firms treat each person’s case individually to maximize recovery, or do they simply settle a case and move on to the next one because there are hundreds more on the list?
An injured client should consider hiring a zealous advocate with the resources, experience, time, and commitment to handle their unique case. A small firm typically offers a client a more personal experience with greater accessibility at a time when the client is in need. Attorneys with an ownership interest in their firm stake their reputation, standing in the community, and longevity on client satisfaction — the same may not always be the case for attorneys who handle a large volume of cases at a big personal injury law firm.
Ultimately, many clients who suffer an accident-related injury report feeling more comfortable and valued when working with a smaller, established law firm than with a large firm.
Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., is a medical doctor and civil trial attorney who has represented injured clients throughout Florida for the past 25 years. In 2004, after working at a high-volume law firm for a number of years, Mr. Barszcz created a smaller law firm with the goal of providing his clients a more personal experience than most large firms can offer. “It’s difficult for large firms to provide the kind of personal attention most accident victims need and deserve. We pride ourselves on the quality of representation over the quantity, and we always try to treat our clients the way we would like to be treated,” said Barszcz. With many successful outcomes, including multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, his firm has the financial resources of a large firm with all the benefits of a smaller, established law firm.
The Law Offices of Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., is a professional, experienced, and established law firm located in Winter Park, Florida.