Q: Why did you write the book?

A: My reasons for writing this book are pretty plain and simple.  First, in my role as client relations manager for a Seattle law firm I encounter people on a daily basis who need the help of a good lawyer but don’t have any idea how or where to look for one.  Most people are not the least bit litigious and have no real desire to file a lawsuit or hire an attorney.  So it isn’t until they REALLY need a lawyer that they give the idea much thought.  By the time they figure out that they do need an attorney they are often desperate and in a hurry.  Many don’t take the time to think things through and make a careful decision.  After a while it became clear to me that people need some sort of framework in which to think about evaluating attorneys.

The second reason for writing the book is to call out some of the unethical marketing and advertising practices that I see being used by attorneys and law firms all across the country.  Prior to getting involved with my husband’s law firm I spent almost 15 years working in marketing and advertising.  I spent some of that time working for a large advertising agency in Atlanta and the majority of the time working in high-technology and software marketing for companies such as Microsoft.  Debunking misconceptions or myths created by advertising is a little hobby of mine.  And there is no industry, other than perhaps the pharmaceutical industry, that has more deceptive headlines and catchphrases than the legal industry.

So for those two reasons I felt compelled to create and offer this little booklet as a public service to those who are in need of legal services.  Although the booklet is geared to those looking for a personal injury or accident lawyer, I think that the majority of the concepts apply to all areas of the law and all types of attorneys.