It was funny the other day in court one of the new attorneys in town was calling me "Sir" and "Mr. Bollinger" It felt really strange and made me feel really old! After 20 years of representing people charged with DUI, battery, assault, drug offenses and violation of probation cases I guess I am "seasoned." In any event, this young attorney later pulled me to the side and asked me what really makes a difference between the attorneys practicing criminal law? Over the years I have had younger attorneys ask me for advice and I have always told them what I do on a day to day basis (ie: wake up early, return phone calls, stay late, be nice to everyone) However, when this young attorney asked me what the difference is between the attorneys practicing criminal law I told him this: Think of every person you come into contact with as a "relationship." I explained that if you do this and not treat someone as a number, a problem or just a run of the mill client then he can really connect with the issue at hand. Who knows one day you may need help from this client or they may have a friend that needs an attorney. A client is going to remember you better if he/she felt they had a good relationship with you and was not treated like a case number or just someone with a problem. I think this way of thinking is applicable to a lot of different professions and I hope that this young attorney passes on this advice when he becomes "seasoned" or just old like me!
Ben