9 Injury Attorneys Share What an Average Day in Their Life Looks Like
Personal injury lawyers have a lot on their plate.
While a busy caseload can be considered a “good problem,” it could lead to bad and bigger challenges when mismanaged.
We asked 9 injury lawyers to describe their typical workday and how they handle a busy caseload.
Here’s what they said.
Morning Routine
Let’s start with how busy PI lawyers spend their mornings.
1. Sorting and Prioritizing Case Documents
Everything that happens inside a law firm is important, but some tasks and processes are more urgent than others.
That’s why Mark Hirsch of Templer & Hirsch Injury Lawyers spends each morning sifting through case documents to identify the day’s top tasks.
As a lawyer specializing in personal injury with more than three decades of experience, my mornings usually start with going through case documents and sorting out the most pressing issues. I deal with various cases, such as motor-vehicle accidents, claims under workers’ compensation, and Defense Base Act lawsuits. Every case presents challenges, so I evaluate aspects like medical requirements and time constraints to determine what needs to be addressed first.
2. Case Reviews and Team Strategy Sessions
Ramzy Ladah, founder of Ladah Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, sets the stage for a productive day with a review of active cases and a strategy session with his team.
“My mornings are often filled with client meetings or depositions, where I leverage my background in insurance defense to anticipate and counter the tactics used by opposing counsel,” says Ramzy. His firm frequently handles complex cases like catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
When it comes to handling busy caseloads, Ramzy follows a balanced approach between prioritizing urgent tasks and keeping every client informed.
I focus on cases where immediate action can significantly alter the outcome, like pressing settlement negotiations or critical court appearances. I also stay in close communication with my clients, ensuring they feel supported and informed every step of the way. This balance of strategy, client care, and swift action defines my approach to every case I take on.
3. Diving Into Ongoing Cases and Catching Up With The Team
Justin Lovely, attorney and owner of The Lovely Law Firm Injury Lawyers, dives straight into managing ongoing cases, defining the team’s priorities, and strategy planning.
“My days are jam-packed,” says Justin. “From managing cases to strategic planning, there’s never a dull moment.”
On busy days, Justin focuses on both the urgency and difficulty of tasks—leaving no stone unturned and avoid case-breaking oversights.
Every detail matters—a small oversight can have a massive impact on our clients’ lives. Because of this, I prioritize my cases based on urgency and difficulty, making sure to address the most pressing matters first.
Average Daily Activities
Personal injury attorneys deal with a wide range of tasks and responsibilities each day.
4. Client Consultations and Case Preparation
While getting laser-focused on high-priority cases is important, trial attorney Andrew Pickett of Andrew Pickett Law makes sure that each client gets a progress update in a timely manner.
This ensures every client gets a satisfactory experience regardless of the urgency of their case or how much is at stake.
I prioritize my caseload by evaluating each case’s urgency and potential impact, ensuring that high-stakes matters receive immediate attention while keeping all clients informed of their case progress. This structured approach enables me to manage my responsibilities effectively while delivering top-notch client service.
5. Handling Everyday Mishaps
At the end of the day, smaller incidents are the bread and butter of most personal injury law firms.
Riley Beam, managing attorney at Douglas R. Beam, embraces this reality and expresses his commitment to go the extra mile for each client.
On a typical day, we deal with a variety of cases, but many of them are smaller incidents like slip-and-fall accidents, minor vehicle collisions, and other everyday mishaps. These cases may not grab headlines or make for exciting stories, but they are the backbone of many law firms like ours.
When asked about difficult cases, Riley sees to it that their clients get the fair and just compensation they deserve.
“For the most part, our days are spent gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries,” says Riley. “Even if a client is satisfied but we know they deserve more, we’ll push on.”
Court Appearances and Other Urgent Tasks
Planning for the unexpected is critical to your sanity as a personal injury lawyer.
It all boils down to maintaining a certain degree of flexibility and knowing how to delegate tasks effectively.
6. The Right Way to Drop Everything for Last-Minute Tasks
M. Denzell Moton, Esq., founding partner at Moton Law Group, states that effective time management and delegation skills help the firm stay on track despite the unpredictability in the industry.
His day-to-day involves client meetings, paperwork, and a ton of calls in-between—all while keeping himself open for crucial, unexpected responsibilities.
No two days are the same in this line of work. I have to be ready to drop everything for an emergency or last-minute request from a client or court. Time management and delegation of work to my support staff are key. While the job is demanding, helping injured people get the compensation they deserve makes it rewarding.
7. Staying Organized and Keeping Communication Open
As a personal injury lawyer, you have to learn how to juggle multiple tasks one way or another.
Seasoned attorney and founder of DJC Law, Dan Christensen, highlights the importance of maintaining a level head to stay on top of the chaos.
I typically start by reviewing and prioritizing new client inquiries and active cases that require immediate attention, whether a court filing, settlement negotiation, or client meeting.
On a busy day, I have to juggle many tasks and determine what needs to get done right away versus what can wait until later. The key is staying organized, delegating when possible, and keeping the lines of communication open with all parties involved in our cases. No two days are the same in this line of work, so being able to prioritize effectively and pivot quickly is essential.
If you’re overwhelmed and undermanned, you may want to consider modern productivity strategies like law firm automation. By automating repetitive tasks, you can free up your time for the work that actually matters.
You can also take advantage of AI tools like Harvey AI to streamline time-consuming tasks, like reviewing legal documents and writing contracts.
For other essential but laborious tasks like content marketing and search engine optimization, consider hiring freelancers or agencies. This will give you more control over your time while professionals do the heavy lifting.
Administrative and Collaborative Work
Every successful lawyer is backed by a team of paralegals and staff members. You just need a clear and organized system that’s conducive to collaboration.
8. Prioritizing Firm Management Tasks from Operations to Accounting
Attorney Steven Jensen depends on regular and structured internal communication to manage diverse caseloads effectively.
Steven works as a litigation attorney at Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers. After responding to emails and firm management reports, he sits down with a team of paralegals and lawyers to keep everyone on the same page.
I manage a team of seven paralegals and five lawyers. I help oversee hundreds of personal injury claims, including wrongful death, dog bites, product defects, premises liability, workplace accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and many others.
Each day, I have two hours blocked out in the morning for case file reviews with each paralegal. This is a time to answer any of the paralegals’ questions, address case issues, or contact clients. My afternoons are usually spent meeting with marketers, clients, or personnel.
9. Working with Skilled and Knowledgeable Paralegals
Dioselvi Lora, a certified paralegal at Freedland Harwin Valori Gander, assists with every core task in the litigation process–from preparing legal documents to attending court hearings. She also shares the same belief that regular team meetings lead to more efficient task management for the whole firm.
Regular team meetings ensure efficient task management while maintaining open lines of communication with clients, which remains a top priority. This approach allows me to effectively manage my workload, keeping clients informed and responding promptly to their inquiries, all while supporting our firm’s mission to champion consumer justice, medical malpractice victims, and those affected by personal injury.
Final Thoughts
If success in the PI law practice requires three things, it’s prioritization, flexibility, and effective communication.
Nearly every attorney who participated in our survey stated that identifying high-priority tasks, staying agile, and having a dependable support team are critical in this business.
In the words of attorney Justin Lovely, “running a law firm is no easy feat, especially when you’re as committed to advocating for your clients—but, even through the challenges, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Another non-billable aspect of the personal injury practice is marketing. If you’re facing a time crunch, contact us and let us handle your marketing needs.
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