10 legal likes and dislikes

Ok its injury claim oriented but there again I am an injury lawyer - what did you expect!

I hate>>

1) Dithering partners
Shall we take this case on? Shall we sue now or give the other side more time? I dont want to worry you but have you considered the worst case scenario here? Confidence right when you need it most

2) Dithering clients
"I might take the offer but would like to think about it a while". "I need to ask mummy whether this sum is agreeable". "Is that all Im getting?"

3) Dithering medical experts
There are plenty out there - most experts are so keen to stay middle of the road that they fail to execute even the most basic of prognoses. Ive seen a huge rise in the usage of the term "aggravation of pre existing degenerative changes" or similar wording - in other words its possibly a permanent injury but the expert doesnt have the balls to say so.

4) Insurer claim monkeys and costs "draftsmen"
Ive mentioned these muppets before. Basically this relates to your average low paid, overworked insurer claims / costs personnel who are poorly trained, inarticulate and aged about 18. Try talking aggravation of degenerative changes with them and see how far you get! In the old days you would have some tussles with real hard nosed negotiators - its makes me almost nostaligic.

5) Defendant Solicitors.
They are on easy street. They have no one but the supervising partner to worry about and a client / principal with massively deep pockets. Lodge silly money - or if you fancy a scrap - dig in for a while and then lodge silly money. Its like civil lit for pussies.


I love>>

1) Being a claimant lawyer.
Your a tiger. The predator. You dictate the pace (most of the time), you lead rather than follow. You can plan tactics to get say a result on liability and you can prepare you can aim for the stars on quantum in the knowledge that (most) clients are happy with whatever you get them so long as they dont have to pay you any fees.

I also think that the claimant side of the fence attracts the more able people in the profession. Its tough to do well and to do well you have got to be tough.

2) The rewards
There is no way on earth that a defendant lawyer will earn more than a good claimant lawyer. Unless you reach the dizzy heights of partnership in a def firm you are in shit street pay wise most of the time (this assumes you are not a big city guy or gal who knows their onions - im generalising here for effect)

Taking home a % of your winnings is damn near perfect as an incentive. You dont get that on defendant street

3) The Clients
To be honest I like most of the people I come across. This sounds pathetic but having a nice deep authoratitive voice tends to help persuade and coerce where necessary. Dont get me wrong - Im not saying that I sound like Ian Mc Shane but perception is everything and rarely will a client disagree with me or argue against my advice. Its easy to build healthy relations when your client is passive

4) The security
There will always be a never ending supply of claims. As long as your firm can get the business (and here it is up to you to judge their effectiveness OR get off your ass and get your own work in) you will have a job for life. Good lawyers will always find work.

5) Insurer claims monkeys & costs "Draftsmen"
Theyre so bad they make great results easy to acheive more often than not. Though it can be massively frustrating dealing with them, in a perverse way they actually help you reach your targets.