Don't assume that large ads mean good attorneys. Some attorneys go overboard with advertising, and post huge ads on billboards or the back of the Yellow Pages. Be wary of these attorneys.
Some of these attorneys, especially the personal injury attorneys, rely on bulk. That means that they care about getting a lot of cases, but they don't actually spend a lot of time on any individual case. They'll settle your case quickly and move on to the next client--but they may not be settling for what your case is really worth.
Also, while you may think the guy shown in the ad will actually be your attorney, the real attorney who works your case may be some poor lawyer earning just $40,000/year. Let me tell you--there is no lawyer out there doing mass personal injury cases for someone else who's happy making $40,000/year. That's only about $20/hour--less than I made before law school and less than I made during law school. An attorney in that position is not a happy attorney. You don't want them working your case.
Now I'm not saying every big advertiser is like this, although I know for a fact that at least one Idaho Falls area attorney is. But I can assure you that the biggest advertisers--particularly those who specialize in personal injury--won't spend the time necessary on your case to get you the best results. The only way I'd ever recommend going to one of the big advertisers is if no other attorney will take your case. And even then, I'd seriously recommend that you consider going without a lawyer and file in small claims court instead.
Disclaimer: this blog and the
posts thereon are not to be taken as legal advice; consult an attorney
directly for legal advice. In addition, any posts, comments, or replies
to comments on this blog do not create an attorney/client relationship,
and are not protected by attorney/client privilege. If you wish to
obtain my help as an attorney, you can contact me directly at
208-206-1475, or you can email me at tim@shelleyattorney.com. My
website is www.shelleyattorney.com.
