TV LAWYERS

Many people hire a disability representative by calling a toll free number they see on late night TV.  Then, they are surprised that the lawyer who shows up for their hearing is nothing like the guy on TV.


Keep in mind that the people who make TV commercials are most likely actors--hired because of the way they look and speak.  In many cases, they are not lawyers or advocates at all, just actors, paid to read a script and produce TV commercials.

You certainly cannot ask these TV spokesmen any questions.  In most cases, the firm which answers your phone call will be thousands of miles away in a distant city.  You won't even meet your attorney/advocate until a few minutes before your hearing. 

Here is what's more surprising.  The lawyer who shows up for your hearing will probably be from right here in Huntsville or a nearby town.  The big firm you called will not fly a lawyer down to Alabama, it's too expensive.  They will contract with a local lawyer who is already here and pay him/her to attend your hearing for them.  The only problem is, you don't get any say so about who represents you, they just show up.  So you get a representative assigned to you-- sight unseen.

Wouldn't you rather hire your own attorney/advocate and get to choose the person who is going to represent you?  Some questions for the out-of-state firm you call before you commit:

1)  Where is your office located?
2)  Do you have an office in Alabama?
3)  Who will actually show up for my hearing?
4)  When will I get to meet this person?