Personal injury lawyers should always think from the client’s perspective. When making decisions about how to handle a case, whether to settle or whether to litigate, whether to enter settlement negotiations early or late, whether to order an independent medical examination or recommend that my client seek a second medical opinion, my duty as a personal injury lawyer is to put the interests of my client first. I love this about being a personal injury lawyer, because it takes my ego out of the equation and allows me to seek justice for the client, whatever that means from the client’s perspective. By focusing on my client’s interests, I can tailor my negotiations and my litigation strategy to suit my client’s needs. Whenever I am at a sticking point and having a difficult time making a decision, I can revert back to the most important question, “How can I serve my client’s best interest.” Every day I remind myself that this business is not about me. It is about the client. Knowing and remembering this guides my practice and reduces a ton of internal conflict that could arise if my client and I had dueling interests. Let’s say, for example, my client wants to settle her case, but I think we could get more out of a jury trial. I explain to my client my belief that we could do better at trial, but the client wants to settle anyway. This situation produces no conflict for me or for any good personal injury attorney, because we know that the motivating force behind all of our decisions is the will of our clients. If we feel strongly that our client is making a mistake by settling, we have a duty to express that opinion and to try to persuade our client to make a wiser decision. However, if the client still wants to settle after being fully informed, we settle the case. Our job is done, and we did it well, because we put the client’s interests before our own. I love that about being a personal injury lawyer.