Lawyer

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Our most common cases are speeding tickets. The typical client got pulled over on an interstate highway in New York (usually the Thruway) for going 78-89 mph in a 65 mph zone.

We can usually get tickets like these reduced to lesser violations, which can range from a parking ticket to a lower speed, depending on the circumstances.

Every case is different and of course, prior results are no guarantee of future performance.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Our phone (888-733-5299) is answered by a person 24 hours a day, and you will get a call back from an attorney within a few hours (and often within a few minutes).

Compared to many attorneys, we stand out in that we are ready to fight if necessary. Most cases of all kinds involve making deals, but sometimes you need your attorney to fight for you. Warren has had over 40 jury verdicts.

With traffic tickets, we know more about the right deals for clients from other states. One of the most common deals on speeding tickets is actually worse for drivers from certain states. We know the right deals for those states.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. We get to help people, and we can see how what we're doing helps them. In our least serious cases, we get speeding tickets reduced and that protects our clients' drivers licenses and their insurance rates.

In more serious criminal cases we sometimes get cases dismissed, protecting our clients from a criminal record. In other cases we minimize the consequences, including reducing or eliminating jail time.

In personal injury cases, we help our clients deal with serious injuries. We help them get compensation for those injuries, and we also work to get them the best medical care to help them move forward.

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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter, including yours, in which a lawyer or law firm may be retained.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Q: Do you guarantee results?

A: No. A lawyer can't guarantee results. We don't have that power. Any lawyer who offers a guarantee is being dishonest and may be violating ethical rules.

Q: Does your fee include fines and court costs?

A: No. Our fee is for the work we do for our clients. When a criminal or traffic case is resolved, our clients may have to pay fines to the court. In personal injury cases we usually pay expenses up front but those are taken out of the eventual award or settlement at the end.

In traffic cases our clients often ask whether the details of the situation matter, such as their excuse for speeding. The answer is generally no.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Traffic ticket clients sometimes ask if they need a lawyer. Well, you don't "need" a lawyer but sometimes ...

I was in Claverack Town Court, in southern Columbia County. They get a lot of speeding tickets from the Taconic State Parkway.

There was an attractive young woman there representing herself. But apparently her looks did not work and she was not getting the kind of deal she had expected. She was rude to the police and the judge, and then she stormed out of court in a huff.

It turns out that her license was suspended. So one of the deputies (a good guy) followed her out and waited until she started her car. Then he arrested her for aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor (a crime). She came back in wearing handcuffs.

No you don't need a lawyer. But it might be a good idea.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. We're not all rich. There are many lawyers who struggle to make a decent living. Often they are heavily in debt because of student loans.
Many lawyers work long hours and they do it not so much for the money but because they are able to help people in very meaningful ways.
The lawyers who make the most money are the ones who are able to bring in the business. This is common in many types of work. Usually the ability to bring in business goes along with good quality work, but not always. So be careful.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. My father was a law professor. I actually tried to avoid becoming a lawyer at first. Instead of law school I went to graduate school for three years. Then after I did go to law school, I taught English in Japan for a year.

I came back, became a lawyer, and after some early struggles found my stride. I worked as a trial lawyer for three years for an insurance company, then three years for a judge. I felt I would be able to help more people by running my own law firm. It has been a challenging and wonderful experience, and I have been very lucky that it has all worked out well for me and my family.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I attend a two-day seminar every year put on by the New York State Defenders Association. I also attend other CLE programs (continuing legal education) put on by the New York State Bar Association, the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, and others.

I sometimes speak at CLEs as well. I have presented at CLEs for the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and Lorman.