Substance vs. Marketing

By Clayton T. Robertson (Criminal Defense/Civil Rights Attorney)

Too often I receive calls from potential clients who have spoken with large, state-wide law firms who make overstated claims (and quote noticeably low prices due to volume) regarding their services. The reality is that a local attorney who knows the court and players is often your preferred option. The other reality is that many state-wide firms hire local attorneys on a per-appearance ("special appearance") basis to handle the case, which lacks the consistency and regularity of having that same local attorney handle the matter from start to finish. Instead, you often get bounced around from one attorney to another.

Times are tough economically for many people, and it might be tempting to take the lowest price for the services of an attorney. However, in addition to experience, reviews, location, and a personal referral or recommendation, it is crucial you ask the person on the phone several questions: (1) Who will I be in contact with on a day-to-day basis if I have questions? An attorney or someone else? (2) Is a single attorney going to handle my court appearances? (3) How many times has that attorney appeared at this courthouse? (4) If you are based in a different part of the state, why are you handling my case in this county? These are a few questions you can ask, among others.

These large, state-wide firms also rely upon slick marketing campaigns and Google ads to attract clients. The person you reach on the phone often is a legal assistant. You won't actually get the handling attorney on the phone. Don't accept that situation. If you can't speak with the attorney handling your case at the outset before you hire the law firm or office, then you likely should consider other options.