Law Offices of Ledger & Associates, P.C. www.LedgerLaw.com 800-300-0001 March 2010 Thank you for responding to my advertisement to hire an Associate attorney for my firm. I am very busy and you probably are too; so, I thought that rather than waste each other's time, I would clearly set out in this document what this position is all about so that, even before you decide to send me a resume, you make the decision that this position is a good fit for you. This job will not be the right fit for everyone. Background Information You should know a little bit about me. I have been practicing law for 12 years. For many of my first 10 years I handled complex criminal defense litigation but due to overwhelming demand for our firm’s services in the area of Personal Injury & Wrongful Death that is now our exclusive focus. We started with just my assistant and myself. I am very involved the former Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) renamed American Association for Justice (AAJ). For better or for worse, I am often asked to travel to various places around the country to do lecturing. I say that only because I believe it is very important to be actively involved in the profession and in the community. I do not just work for work's sake and I do not expect that you would want that type of a life either. I try to lead a very balanced lifestyle. Except for when I am in trial, I try to leave the office every day by 6:00 p.m. I have two (going on three) children and have been very happily married for 12 years. I do not plan on interfering with any of those good relationships by working too many hours, and anyone who suggests to you that a law career means sacrificing these ideals just doesn't get it. This is a pure plaintiffs' practice. We represent individuals and families who have suffered the loss of health or life in a variety of cases. We also represent individuals against insurance companies in a variety of insurance contract claim situations. (More on this later.) By the summer of 2010, I fully expect that we will have three full-time lawyers, one contract lawyer, one paralegal, one law clerk, and two administrative assistants. We started in 3000 square feet and in July of last year will expand to 5000 square feet in the upcoming year. Why am I expanding my practice? Over the years, I have had a very steady stream of medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Most of these cases come on referral from other lawyers or other clients. To date, we have not done much overt "advertising" other than to have a very solid Internet presence. We market every day. Marketing is all of the little things you do to make your business known. It is not necessarily the same as advertising. Currently, our referral business is so substantial that we need to employ more people to service our clients with the quality representation that is feeding that same referral business. Who will be the right candidate for this position? You must be licensed to practice in California or taking the Bar exam in July for the first time. An Arizona, Nevada, and/or Washington license is a plus. I am looking for someone who is intelligent and a good writer. I have a 2nd year law student who clerks for me who I would hire in a heartbeat, but he has another year of school. I can teach you everything you need to know about Personal Injury Law, but you need to be the kind of person who can "get it" fairly quickly. We have samples of every different type of brief and pleading in the country on this topic, so I can give you a great head start. You must have a great command of the English language, as the ability to clearly communicate in writing and speaking is of paramount importance. If you only write or speak legalese, then this job is not for you. You must be very technologically literate. I have written and lectured on the "Paperless Office" and, frankly, other small firms look to us as leaders in law office automation. We use a number of very interesting programs, none of which you need to actually know how to use before applying for this position. What I need to know, however, is that you are very comfortable with the computer. If you do not know the difference between a right and a left mouse click, then I really do not have the time to teach you and this job is not for you. On the other hand, if you are someone who just "gets it" with computers, you will fit right in. We try to store and keep track of everything electronically. That means you will record all of your time on the computer and I will do significant drafting of documents at the keyboard. It's not a perfect system, but we are far advanced over most other small (and large) firms. The great thing about being in a small firm (and being the owner of a small firm) is that I do not have to do anything by committee. If I see new software or new hardware that I like and believe I can use to effectively leverage my time, then I will purchase it. I do "get it" and I want to work with others who also do. Your primarily responsibility will be to assist in managing personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are about to embark upon an aggressive and unique marketing campaign that I believe will drive more and more good quality cases to us. There is an amazing opportunity to for growth in this area of the law. What's the pay? Your initial starting base salary will be $50,000. I worked out a system of bonuses and additional compensation that should easily net you somewhere in the range of $55,000-$65,000 your first 12 months. Moreover, since I am looking for someone who also is willing to get involved in community and the profession, I significantly compensate you for cases that you originate and bring into the office. The numbers will not be spelled out in this letter but, if after reading this letter, you are still interested, then we can talk. What are the benefits? Small firm atmosphere A terrific teacher Direct client responsibility Immediate courtroom exposure $2,500 reimbursement of your annual cost for health insurance 15 days paid leave Casual work environment Flexible hours Free parking In addition, because I highly value your education and participation in Bar activities, I pay the first $1,000 a year in Bar dues and seminar fees. I highly encourage you to attend as many seminars as you can that are put on by Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles and the American Association of Justice. Contact Us You can read more information about my firm at www.LedgerLaw.com. If you are interested in this position, please forward a resume and a writing sample, via e-mail, to staff@LedgerLaw.com. Please do not fax or send it by mail. Thank you, Emery Ledger