As a local law firm, our office uses the internet to communicate our message to potential clients through our website, blog, and other online postings on sites like Google, Avvo.com, Yelp, and Facebook. Essentially, we want the people who need us to be able to find us, if they haven’t already heard of us through word of mouth.
But there are a lot of law firms out there competing for clients in an ever-evolving, fast-moving society. Everyone has seen television ads from large corporate personal injury firms asking you to call them if you have a certain injury. The most famous example would be the mesothelioma commercials that run during prime-time hours. The reality is, personal injury cases can mean large verdicts and settlements, and the attorney gets a cut of that money. Now, with the benefit of the world wide web, a law firm doesn’t have to spend prime-time dollars to reach potential clients. Instead, law firms have found ways to reach potential plaintiffs in a variety of ways, including pumping significant funds into online advertising. We have even seen firms copy and paste news articles of specific accidents that might bring a big award or settlement, presumably in the hopes that the injured person searches the internet for information about their own accident and then finds that law firm’s website in the process.
On another note, we urge people to be extremely wary of any attorney who solicits you directly as a client. For one thing, solicitation is a violation of California’s code of ethics (See California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1-400). Any lawyer who is willing to break the rules and solicits you cannot be trusted.
While the internet can be a great place to start when looking for an attorney, the danger is that such a search may bring a person to a large firm that knows nothing about the person’s case, the parties and locations involved, or the courthouse where the case will inevitably be litigated. Often times, paid advertising firms are from other parts of the state or even other parts of the country. It is important to note that in most cases, the location of the injury dictates where the case will ultimately will be litigated.
We have learned from the experience of clients who had originally fallen prey to attorney advertising. For instance, non-local attorneys are not likely to make the effort to meet with the client or perhaps they might emphasize a quick settlement instead of properly investigating and/or litigating the case. Overall, choosing an out-of-town lawyer will likely impair the development a strong attorney-client relationship – something the attorneys at the Zwerdling Law Firm aim to develop in every case.
Simply put, in most situations, it is in a client’s best interest to hire a local lawyer. On a practical note, costs incurred (and ultimately passed down to the client) will be less with a local lawyer, as he or she will not need to waste time and money traveling to depositions, investigations, and court dates. But more importantly, each jurisdiction has unique parties, procedures, and customs that are crucial to understand in order to effectively litigate a case. Also, if you live in Humboldt County or other counties of the North Coast and have been injured, hiring a local firm will ensure easier access to counsel, and a strong attorney-client bond that we find is essential to a successful outcome.
The attorneys at the Zwerdling Law Firm make it a priority to routinely check in with our clients and do whatever it takes to make the whole experience as non-burdensome as possible. Being able to easily visit someone at home, or scheduling an in-person appointment without a long wait time, is something we consider very important.
We love living in the Humboldt community and take great pride in representing people who call the North Coast home. We consider the best advertising to be word of mouth and highly value the positive relationships we have built throughout the community. If you or someone you know has been injured (or arrested- we can handle that too), feel free to give us a call. Any information you provide is confidential, and we will do our best to respond as promptly as possible.