It's amazing what $1,200 will buy What's that, you ask? Well, it's basically a brilliant scheme that California attorney Donald Costello came up with back in 1993. You send him $1,200, and he puts your name on a website (which, by the looks of it, has remained unchanged since 1993). But wait, that's not all! According the site, membership entitles you to the following "perks" as well:
- CERTIFICATION
- PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING & REFERRAL
- MEMBER LIST
- MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE
- PRESS RELEASE
- USE OF LOGOS AND OTHER TRADEMARKS
- MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM (available to qualified members)
Who the HELL would pay for such a thing, you ask? The answer, unfortunately, is approximately 95 members of our great Nevada Bar (including former District Court Judge Stuart Bell). Also, 17 members of the Nevada bar paid the additional $700 to be included on the list of "Multi-Million Dollar Advocates" (which, strangely, is less expensive to join than the normal Million Dollar list, go figure). The names are too numerous to list, but we recognized almost every one of them, and were quite surprised by a few. You can check it out for yourselves on the site.
We imagine that getting a million dollar verdict is a lot like hitting the jackpot at a local casino: you unexpectedly come into a ton of money, so you spring for the steak dinner and tip the valet $500 on your way out ... only to wake up the next morning wishing you hadn't. Thus, we (sort of) understand wanting to advertise such a triumph and, in the process, falling victim to this nonsense.
The WSJ Law Blog has a good piece about the club, correctly noting that just because you settled a million dollar case does not (necessarily) mean you are a good attorney.
Doing some quick math, the MDAF has managed to pull approximately $125,000 out of the pockets of Nevada plaintiff's attorneys. Thus, in an effort to save our attorney friends some money, we are officially starting the "WWL Advocates Club."
Please send us your money orders, payable to "WWL," in the amount of $500 - a relative steal! In return, we promise to mock you mercilessly for being such a gullible chump. Oh, and for an additional $200, LE will draw you a picture of something that you can tack to your wall (for another $100, said something will be some sort of seal or phallic symbol, her choice). Hurry, supplies are limited!
(MDAF; WSJ Law Blog; Thanks CC!)
Lawrence Davidson? Really?
ReplyDeleteSometimes you guys are really stretching. I'm with you on the qualifications thing and the "why would you pay so much money" thing. But, it is just marketing. From a business standpoint, it is a great idea. It stays exclusive because of the fees and the requirement of being primary attorney. However, clients eat that thing up. In many circles, usually rich ones, it really doesn't matter how good of an attorney you are, it matters how good you are at marketing. I know, I know, trading reputation, ethics, blah, blah, blah.
ReplyDeleteBut like Mr. Quotable notes in another comment on this site, when approving of BK trustee's double-dipping because "it is allowable under the bankruptcy code", he exclaims "Good for them." Just because something is allowable does not mean it is ethical. Isn't that what we are all saying when we mock the advertising. "I know you CAN do it, but SHOULD you do it." However, since it is allowable, under the "Mr. Quotable Standard" shouldn't we all be promoting clever marketing ideas and be proud of them?
You know what I think about this kind of thing, this is certainly more ethical that ruling on campaign contributor's cases, biased sanctioning, false fact finding, surgery to build a damages case and changing docket minutes after the fact.
I understand why PI Attorney's are the "whipping boy" of our profession. It's a mixture of our jealousy and their visibility. But why oh why don't we just as vigorously question the law professors, the judges, our notable firms that you all want to work with and the staff at the courthouse?
Notwithstanding, I do love the banter of this topic. It makes me laugh, too. Yes, I know, I'm no better; but it's like the dead dog in the road, I just gotta look.
My check is in the mail!
ReplyDeleteThere is just nothing comparable for us poor defense attorneys. The "I Saved the Insurance Company $1 million" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see Leah Martin at Powell. Guess she was tired of making rich people richer after being at LSC and Bailey and wanted some for herself.
ReplyDeleteJust a cross reference to a comment I made on the "Best Billboard/TV Firm" post, Paul Powell, formerly of Glen Lerner, indicates on his new websitethat he, indeed, is a member of the "highly prestigious" Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
ReplyDeleteDoes membership in the MMDAF (isn't that a designer drug?) really make someone more likely to hire them for their PI case? I always thought the SuperLawyer designation was goofy, but this takes the cake.
3 of 7 attorneys at Powell are Boyd Law grads. Is that good news for new/soon-to-be graduates?
ReplyDeleteDid Boyd ever have a problem placing at plantiff's firms?
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