Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Clein.
Hi Catherine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a trial attorney for 22 years and recently started my own personal injury law firm – The Clein Law Firm, PLLC. After nearly 20 years of working for automobile and general liability insurance companies, I now focus on representing people who have been injured in automobile accidents caused by negligent drivers. My representation is not limited to car accidents, but also includes insurance company liability denials, injuries caused by the negligence of intoxicated drivers, rideshare drivers, company vehicle and 18-wheeler drivers, as well as injuries caused by autonomous vehicles.
From a very young age, I knew that I was going to be an attorney and follow in my father’s foot steps. My father graduated from law school during the civil rights era and his legal practice was primarily fighting for those whom had been wrongfully detained. I enjoyed listening to his stories and was proud of the work that he had done and continued to do throughout his career. I have passed many of these stories onto my sons, so that they, too, may be proud.
I am from Las Vegas and earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. When I was applying for law school, my favorite professor encouraged me to apply The University of Texas School of Law at Austin. He believed that Austin would be the perfect fit for me. He was right.
After graduating from UT Law, I began my career as a criminal defense attorney, before finding my way into personal injury law. For two decades, I represented top insurance companies and their insureds. Due to the high volume of insurance claim denials and low offers, I was able to try an unusually high number of jury trials. Although it was fulfilling to advocate for my clients, after years of insurance company micromanagement, I chose to start my Cedar Park based small boutique law firm, where I represent injured individuals throughout Central Texas.
Because I am no longer under corporate constraints, I am able to maintain a manageable client list, so that I may provide one-on-one representation that many clients struggle to find at larger firms. My goal is to maintain meaningful communication, including frequent updates, while providing clients direct access to me – the attorney they hired. This approach allows me to build genuine relationships with my clients, while making sure that they have everything that they need. It is my job to step in to deal with the insurance companies, so that my clients can focus on recovering from their traumatic injuries. This personalized representation is what sets me apart from larger law firms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early in my career, I believed I needed to be aggressive to prove myself. I have since realized that that approach isn’t just ineffective, but can also cause a case to drag out longer than necessary. While there are certainly situations that require assertiveness, I’ve found that building personal relationships with opposing counsel and the insurance adjusters often leads to more satisfactory outcomes. This approach makes the practice of law less stressful for all of those involved.
Managing client stress and uncertainty can be difficult at times, but over the years I developed strategies to address various client concerns. Clients often hire me not just because of their injuries, but also because they are angry with the other driver or the insurance company. It is my job to earn my clients’ trust that I will handle these frustrating matters for them. I have found that the best strategy is frequent updates, preparing them for and explaining the process in detail, and simply listening to them as much and as often as they need.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Clein Law Firm, PLLC?
I am a personal injury attorney who focuses on representing people injured in automobile accidents/crashes of all severities, including those involving company vehicles, 18-wheelers, motorcycles, rideshare drivers, intoxicated drivers, autonomous vehicles, and on-the-job injuries. I also handle slip and falls, dog bites, and injuries on commercial or residential properties.
I offer free, thorough, no rush consultations. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis – no fee or costs, until your case settles or is won at trial. When you hire The Clein Law Firm, you will be represented by me, as opposed to a revolving door of inexperienced attorneys.
My clients tell me that I am not what they expected from an attorney, especially those who have previously been represented by mega law firms. I attract clients who seek a personable and approachable attorney. I believe it is my humor, accessibility, and empathy that they appreciate most and why they refer their friends and family. I went to law school to help people and that continued purpose helps me establish a solid connection with my clients. In the practice of law, there is nothing more important than giving clients a voice and making sure that they understand what to expect. Not every client has the same goals or expectations. Ultimately, my role is to listen, explain all of their foreseeable options and outcomes, and to help them choose the path that feels right to them, so that they receive what they consider to be fair and just compensation.
I couldn’t be prouder of the law firm and brand that I have built. Seeing/hearing my law firm’s sponsorships/advertisements (“sponsortisements”) brings me tremendous joy, because having my own law firm has always been the ultimate goal. You can see these sponsorships at the Texas Stars Hockey games at the H-E-B Center, our local middle school, and soon at my son’s high school football games in Cedar Park. I enjoy being able to give back to my community—showing support for athletics, local businesses, organizations, and events that my neighbors, friends and family enjoy.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
What has worked for me, on several occassions, is identifying someone local whose work and accomplishments I admire and then actually reaching out to them directly to let them know that I would be grateful if they would visit with me. This has worked for me 100% of the time. Sometimes it isn’t clear who that person would be and that is when networking comes into play. Networking comes in many forms. When I was a law student, I would attend every single after work “cocktail” hour where the types of mentors I was looking for would be mingling. For me, it was judges and lawyers. Again, being direct about my educational, professional, and mentorship needs always resulted in some sort of relevant communication or referral.
If you are looking for a mentor, feel free to reach out to catherine@cleinlaw.com or via cell to 512-484-3958.
Pricing:
- Contingent Fee
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cleinlaw.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-clein
