When the stakes get high, do you want a lawyer who will cut-and-run when a significant but undervalued offer to settle is on the table? No. You want a lawyer who will stand tall against a multi-billion dollar insurance company, stare their lawyers in the eyes and reject an undervalued offer with the intention to either settle for the appropriate value or proceed to trial. A lawyer's willingness to recommend that a client walk away from a significant but undervalued offer to settle is the sign of a lawyer who is willing to push a case to reach its true value. Robert Ferrara, Esquire has walked clients away from several multi-million dollar offers to settle because the factual and legal circumstances in those cases required that the clients get more compensation. In each of those cases the rights of the clients were further protected by a steadfast resolve that the client get full value. While each case has different circumstances which affect valuation, asking a lawyer that question may reveal the level of cases in which they participate and their ability to not only assess value, but stand behind their assessment.
Are you willing to take my case to trial based upon the facts you see here at the initial consultation?
People would be shocked to know that many lawyers engage clients with the intention that they are not willing to take the case to trial. Many of these same lawyers take the last offer to settle prior to trial. When interviewing a lawyer, the answer to this question may expose not only how the lawyer assesses your case, but the lawyer's level of commitment to your case.
Who will be working-up my case, a lawyer, a paralegal or a secretary?