Lawyer advertising.

What I found quasi-amusing about a recent letter by Mr. Shaugnessy about attorney advertising was the settlement figure of a mere $150,000. In my neck of the woods (Buffalo, New York) the minimum advertised settlement/verdict amount is around $750,000, with most ads stressing the $1 million and up settlements and verdicts. Even better than the amounts advertised, though, are the former client testimonials in which a well-dressed, articulate person is standing in their new home explaining how because of their PI lawyer choice they are now "set for life." The impression I always got from such ads was an implied "and I'm not even really that hurt!" Now that's surely the PI lawyer I want.

Unfortunately these ads do indeed "help" individuals select a lawyer, notwithstanding the quickly spoken and/or flashed disclaimers that past verdicts and settlements are not indicative of what future clients might expect to receive. Indeed, when the girlfriend of an acquaintance became involved in an auto accident, I did not initially receive a phone call; they were off to the billboard lawyers who brag about the most success. I was deemed worthy, though, of being consulted for a free second opinion after...