No offense to any lawyers! I was just remembering an episode of "The Practice", when Jimmy did a commercial, and the others kind of looked down on him for that. Are lawyers that advertise their services on commercials, really looked down on versus those that gain clients by reputation alone?
2006-10-23 05:12:24 · 23 answers · asked by LibraT 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
They are looking for quantity, not quality. They will look for any case that will get them a quick buck. Most of the good lawyers (some would say thats an oxymoron) get their reputation by "word-of-mouth". Only the bad ones need to advertise.
2006-10-23 05:17:47 · answer #1 · answered by john_stolworthy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some consider advertising attorney services as "sleazy." In fact, in some states attorney advertising used to be banned by the bar association. However, the root of this perception stems from the good old boys looking down on new unestablished attorneys who came from lower income backgrounds or were women and minorities who needed to advertise to get clients.
In addition, a personal injury lawyer needs to let a large group of people know about the services he provides because it is difficult to generate clients by word of mouth when a person usually doesn't need a p.i. attorney more than once, as opposed to attorneys who provide services to businesses who routinely use attorneys thus enabling them to develop a reputation.
Plus, law firms that provide business-oriented legal services do advertise; usually in business journals and trade journals so the mass public doesn't come across them. So really, it's an odd double standard.
2006-10-23 06:01:15 · answer #2 · answered by Tara P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that TV and reality are two separate entities that are very far apart. The lawyers who advertise on TV prolly in reality have a wife and kids and are just trying to do their job like you and me. Although, the things they advertise for to me are questionable. They all want hit and run cases, or malpractice cases, accidents, etc. To me these are easy outs for an attorney. They are "preying" in a sense on whatever type of "clear" victims to gain easy money because judges award hefty somes to victims of accidents. Most of this money goes to the attorney it would seem. Therefore the lawyers you see on tv are kindof sleazy, depending on how you look at it. They dont ask to take a childhood endangerment case, a criminal case, or any other type of case besides accidents...i.e. slip and fall, motorcycle accidents etc. These types of cases for the most part are always awarded to the plaintiff. So it's easy pickins for the attorney. I would like to see just once an attorney on TV advertise a family practice...one that is willing to take all cases and fight for the one thing we hold dear "supposedly"...family values. The guys you see on TV are what we used to call "ambulance chasers". Theyre an unscrupulous bunch if thats the case. The types of lawyers yes...other lawyers would frown upon (or should)...maybe that was the point the TV show you were watching was trying to get across. There are real honest to god lawyers out there trying to do the right thing. Those are the good guys (or girls :)) But I wonder about those tv attorneys too. Theres a certain predatorial instinct I see in them. I can smell a shark a mile away...and those guys got it written all over them. gl...
2006-10-23 05:27:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the lawyers that advertise on TV are sleazy yes, because they are fishing for people with little to no morals to get together and attack businesses and corporations for stupid things. If you have a decent reason to sue someone then you will seek a lawyer for it, you dont need the lawyer to tell you what you need.
2006-10-23 05:15:28 · answer #4 · answered by Rae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the "TV" lawyers really care what others think, they've found a great way to bring in clients who have been injured, take their case, win their case, and get paid lots of $$$. Money is ultimately all they care about, if you want a lawyer with that mindset, go for it! They might get you some in the process.
2006-10-23 05:15:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, all torts lawyers (those that litigate slip and fall cases, car accidents, etc) are looked down upon in the legal profession. The tv lawyers are just the most successful ones of the torts class (because they can pay to advertise).
2006-10-23 05:16:00 · answer #6 · answered by Princess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I'm a paralegal and I would never work for a firm that advertised. Ten years ago, no one advertised, it was all word of mouth or referrals. Now all you see is ambulance chasers (please, they are advertising that you have a claim based on the fact that you took a pill or might have been exposed to something toxic). It's not about the merits of your case anymore--they just want to get paid.
2006-10-23 05:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Jamie T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why were all the big Watergate crooks lawyers? Richard Nixon, John Mitchell, Gordon Liddy, John Dean?
Are there any honest lawyers?
2006-10-23 05:15:02 · answer #8 · answered by Jim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being 'looked down on' and actually being sleazy are two different things.
Lawyers might as well ALL advertise on TV, as they are all looked at as sleazy.
2006-10-23 05:14:40 · answer #9 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are lawyers who BREATH sleazy? Yes.
Are lawyers who HAVE A PULSE sleazy? Yes.
2006-10-23 05:15:43 · answer #10 · answered by -RKO- 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋