A few clients have asked me recently about a practice that I want to address directly. In my field of wildfire law, it is not uncommon that firms aggressively work to sign up clients, only to package the claim with others, and hand it off to another firm for a fee. While I have strong feelings about this practice, I did not write about this topic to judge those who operate this way. My priority is to make clear why this approach is not one I will ever use in my practice.
I understand why they asked. Before choosing an attorney, you should know who is accepting responsibility for your case and what their involvement will be after you sign.
I do not take cases for the purpose of packaging and selling them. When I accept a case, I take it on to represent the client personally and see the matter through. That is the practice I have chosen to build.
Why I take fewer cases
I would rather represent fewer clients and have the time to do the work than accept more cases than I can personally give my attention to. That means being selective about what I take on. I need to be able to commit to the work ahead, not just the first meeting.
For me, that means diving deep into the records, asking the right questions, and taking the time to really understand the nuances of a client's situation. On the surface, an insurance payout might seem like a fix, but it often leaves critical questions unanswered. An estimate may need more explanation. When I give legal advice, I take this responsibility with the seriousness it deserves and personally do the research required.
I also want to know what the client is trying to accomplish. Consider two families whose homes were damaged in the same fire. One family may be focused on rebuilding their home, while the other is looking to move to a new area because returning no longer feels possible. Getting to know my clients directly, I ensure that my support is tailored to what is most important to them.
Individual and family preferences do not determine what the law allows someone to recover, but it does help me ensure that the outcome is aligned with what is important. Getting to know the details for each and every client is the part of the job I want to have time to do.
Personal involvement does not mean working alone
My commitment to a client does not mean I would refuse help that the case needs. If another lawyer, an investigator, or an expert should be involved, I want to discuss why and what that person would contribute. I see that as part of preparing a case responsibly.
Bringing in help is different from accepting a case with the intention of handing off the relationship. I do not want a client to feel that the person they chose has disappeared once the paperwork is signed. My role is to remain personally involved, understand the work being done, and help the client make sense of it.
I am not claiming that every other practice structure is wrong. Clients should ask questions about any arrangement, including mine. The answers should be clear enough that they know who is handling the case and who to contact when something important comes up.
The conversations are part of the work
I want clients to understand my advice, including the reasons they might not want to hear. If the evidence presents a problem, I need to explain it. If something requires more investigation, I say so rather than offer reassurance I cannot support.
When a settlement offer comes in, I want to talk it through with my clients before they make a decision. We need to look at what the proposal covers, where there are disagreements, and what rights my clients would give up. If anything is unclear, we should spend more time on it. It is my job to make sure my clients understand the details, and I help them to ask the questions they did not know to ask.
While I take my role as a client’s advisor very seriously, the decision is always theirs. My clients are the decision makers for their cases and it is my job to provide advice and counsel regarding their options, but ultimately their decision is what I follow (within the bounds of the law) even when I present a strong recommendation my client may not agree with.
I view it as my responsibility to make that recommendation carefully and explain it to my clients in plain language. While it would be unethical for me to promise a particular case outcome or tell someone at the outset exactly how their case will end, I use my expertise and years of experience to help guide my clients on the possible outcomes of a particular action. I am direct about what I know, what I do not know, and can share my perspective and experience.
No client should ever feel forced to sign off on a settlement just because they’re overwhelmed or confused by the process. If a client has questions, we’ll talk through them for as long as it takes. That’s precisely why I keep my caseload manageable—so I always have time for these crucial conversations.
What to ask before hiring a lawyer
The clients who raised concerns about their cases being handed off were asking a fair question. I encourage anyone considering representation to ask it before signing, along with a few others.
Ask who will be your primary attorney and what that person will do personally. If other lawyers or firms will be involved, ask what their roles will be and how you will be told about changes. Ask how fees and expenses work under the proposed agreement, and who will explain an offer when it arrives.
You should also feel comfortable asking what the lawyer cannot tell you yet. I would be cautious about choosing counsel based on a promise about the value or timing of a case. I would put more weight on a clear explanation of the work that needs to be done.
Those questions are welcome in a conversation with me. You are deciding whether to trust someone with a matter that is important to you, and you should have room to make that decision without pressure.
I take fewer cases because I want to stay personally engaged in the ones I accept. When a client hires me, I want them to know that I have committed my own time, judgment, and attention to their case. If you would like to talk about what that would mean for your situation, I am available to have that conversation.