Concentration in Personal InjuryIn selecting a lawyer to handle your personal injury case, we feel that it is important for the lawyer to devote the majority of his or her practice to this niche area. Practicing exclusively in the personal injury arena gives us an important advantage over lawyers who aren’t fully devoted to this complex practice area.
Who will Handle your Case? It is important to understand and meet your legal team. Be certain that you meet the lawyer who will be handling your case. Avoid the firms that will refer your case out entirely.
Open Line of CommunicationPayneMitchell Law Group’s policy with its clients is to have an open and immediate line of communication. Your phone calls will be returned by a lawyer within 24 hours. With a significant personal injury case, it is important that you be able to access and communicate directly with the lawyer handling your file.
Trial ExperienceAsk the lawyer who is handling your case about his or her trial experience. Select a lawyer who has experience as the lead lawyer in a significant number of personal injury trials. This experience will be invaluable in advising you, and ultimately in presenting your case to a jury if a settlement cannot be reached. Andy Payne and Jim Mitchell have both tried numerous cases as lead lawyer in both state and federal courts.
Board Certification Certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is important. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization provides certification in the area of personal injury trial law. Currently, less than 3% of the attorneys in Texas have gained this certification. By hiring a lawyer who is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, you can be assured that they have tried a significant number of personal injury cases as lead lawyer, and have met rigorous requirements concerning knowledge, experience and character as set forth by the State Bar of Texas. For more information regarding board certification, see www.tbls.org. Andy Payne and Jim Mitchell are each board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Additionally, Andy is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Peer RecognitionLawyers are judged through many peer review processes. Martindale-Hubbell is an attorney listing agency which rates attorneys based on their legal expertise and ethics. The highest rating is an AV rating. PayneMitchell Law Group has achieved this rating with Martindale-Hubbell. Local publications also provide a peer review and listing process. In Texas, Texas Monthly magazine has a list of top lawyers in the state, and Andy Payne and Jim Mitchell have both been consistently listed as "Texas Super Lawyers." Likewise, D Magazine in Dallas rates the top lawyers in Dallas. Andy Payne has consistently been selected for D Magazine’s Best Lawyers List.
Ethical ConductIt is inappropriate for a lawyer or a representative of a lawyer to contact you as the result of an injury. In fact, personal contact is prohibited by the State Bar. Likewise, an attorney with a reputation for ethical conduct will not only deal better with you, but also with the opposing counsel and the courts. Talk to your lawyer about his thoughts on ethics.
Contact us for a Free ConsultationPerhaps most important in your decision to hire a lawyer is a personal meeting. Take the time to meet the lawyer who will be handling your case and ensure that you are comfortable with his representing you in front of a jury. Contact us at 214.252.1888 or andy@paynemitchell.com.
