The Worst Lawyer TV Ad Ever

I do not know any statistics on lawyers advertizing on television – what percentage do, how many ads per month are the average or how much money is spent on the endeavour. Our firm has never advetized on tv. We do not fault those who do, however, provided that a respectful message is conveyed. We have just felt that doing so was not right for our firm. I have seen some awfully good ads which inform the public and are tastefully done. I have seen others which degrade the profession with screaming rants for cash settlements or "bulldog on a chain" representation. However, I have never seen anything as bad as this one.

When a lawyer seeks you as a client through an ad like that, the implication is that this is the way that the system works, so they are your logical choice. In fact, lawyers that promise wads of cash for an injury generally turn to be wads themselves. They never enter the courtroom and settle cases for far less than they are worth. A lawyer that promises to rip your soon to be ex-spouse’s throat out (for an additional $399 – today only – hurry, operators are standing by) is a lawyer who is held in low regard by both his or her peers and the judges in that jurisdiction.

So how does a client find a lawyer in this day and time? The Yellow Pages are not much better than a television ad. The ad lists your problem as that lawyer’s specialty, but what does that mean? Perhaps that lawyer justs refers the case on. The best way to find the right lawyer for you is to talk to your friends. Who have they used? Do you know a lawyer? Get their advice on who the right lawyer is for your issue. When you get a short list, go to their web sites. If those lawyers still pass muster, submit a question or call them up. There is no problem with getting a second opinion. Just don’t pick your lawyer solely on something you see during a station break.