Whether you’re the victim of a recent personal injury or are dealing with some other sort of legal troubles, understanding more about the legal professionals who may have a hand in working your case can be incredibly helpful. Most cases involve a number of different legal professionals, and while most people are already familiar with the idea of partners and associates, many are still left wondering what an ‘of counsel’ lawyer is at a law firm.
Just like partners and associates, ‘of counsel’ lawyers also play a significant role in helping their law firm’s clients win their cases. The main difference is in the type of role these lawyers fill at their law firms, so just what is an ‘of counsel’ lawyer at a law firm, how do they differ from partners and associates, and how might their involvement affect your case?
What Does Counsel Mean in a Law Firm?
Counsel, or ‘of counsel’, is a title given to a lawyer who is associated with or works for a law firm but is not considered a partner or associate. These lawyers often have close working relationships with the partners and associates at their law firms but have different responsibilities and often act as advisors with specific expertise that allows them to fill in the knowledge gaps left open by other lawyers at the law firm.
Typical ‘of counsel’ Relationships at a Law Firm
The definition of the term “of counsel” can be different depending on the location of the law firm. While the American Bar Association (ABA) does offer a strict definition, this definition is not enforceable by any laws.
For example, while some states may have laws on the books that use definitions that are similar or exactly the same as the one that the ABA proposes, other states leave this title purposely ambiguous and up to interpretation. This allows law firms in these states more flexibility with who they hire and why.
Regardless of what state you live in, ‘of counsel’ lawyers tend to fall into one of four categories. The first is simply a lawyer who works part-time for a law firm, often performing different tasks than the other lawyers at the firm.
Another category for ‘of counsel’ lawyer is someone who is in line to be a partner but does not yet have the title. Along the same lines, retired partners who no longer practice law at the firm can also be considered “’of counsel’” and can occasionally be called upon to offer their opinions or advice.
The last category of ‘of counsel’ lawyer is a lawyer who is somewhere in between partner and associate. These lawyers currently work at the firm but are not in line to be partners even though they are still full-time members of the firm’s legal team.
What’s the Difference Between ‘of counsel’, Partner, and Associate?
As you now know, ‘of counsel’ lawyers often lie somewhere in between being a partner and an associate, but this is only helpful if you have a good understanding of what partners and associates are.
Law firms typically operate within a hierarchical structure, with partners at the top and associates at the bottom. Associates are generally just lawyers that the law firm employs to help prepare cases and complete a variety of other legal tasks. They operate under the guidance of a law firm’s partners and could eventually become partners down the line.
Partners, on the other hand, either own or partially own their law firms. They have significant financial stakes in the firm, and while they do often work the cases that their firm takes on, they are much more concerned with the bigger picture and are in charge of making strategic decisions that will affect the firm’s success long into the future.
This leaves the ‘of counsel’ lawyer… ‘of counsel’ lawyers tend to have much more seniority and experience than associates but lack the decision-making authority or financial stakes that partners have.
How ‘of counsel’ Lawyers May Affect Your Personal Injury Case
Now you know more about what ‘of counsel’ lawyers are and the main differences between them and partners and associates, you may be wondering just how an ‘of counsel’ lawyer may affect your personal injury case.
The good news is that having an ‘of counsel’ lawyer as part of the legal team working your case is almost always a good thing. Their specialized expertise and negotiation skills can be incredibly helpful, giving you a better chance of achieving your settlement goals.
The only real downside here is that having an extra member of the legal team working on your case can add to the cost of legal representation. ‘of counsel’ lawyers are, of course, paid employees, and their presence will increase the number of man-hours spent on your case.
Contact HoeyLegal Today
Are you the recent victim of a personal injury? Are you looking for a law firm that you can trust to get you the fair and just compensation that you deserve? Give HoeyLegal a call.
Here at HoeyLegal, we’re proud to be Chester County’s leading personal injury law firm. From car accidents and slips and falls to medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and more, our team has the proven experience and legal expertise needed to win your case.
Dealing with a personal injury can be incredibly stressful, and we believe that no one should have to go through such hard times alone. All you have to do is call, and we’ll offer you a free legal consultation so that we can get to know you and your case and you can get all the information you need to move forward with your case.
Our team is always available to answer your questions and will happily tell you more about how we can help you get compensation for your losses, so don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. Call HoeyLegal and take the first step toward winning your personal injury case today!