Managing Partner, L. Gene DeAgostino, Reflects on Almost 40 Years In the Law

In his 39 years in the practice of law, the managing partner of Powers, Chapman, DeAgostino, Meyers & Milia, P.C., L. Gene DeAgostino, has seen a lot of changes. And sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your 39 years of practice?

That honesty and integrity are the most important attributes for a lawyer. Lawyers deal with client confidences. If a client doesn’t trust and respect his lawyer, that relationship is doomed to failure.

Many commentators complain that the practice of law has become much less civil than it used to be. Was there a “Golden Age” in the law and how has the practice of law changed since you first began your practice?

For me, there was a “Golden Age.” In the late 1960’s and prior to lawyers “being able to advertise,” lawyers were much more civil to each other and respected each other on an equal basis to their clients. It was a “profession.” Now it has become a business. The practice is not as much fun as it used to be.

Do you have any regrets?

The lawyer bashing and lawyer jokes are sometimes discouraging. It’s unfortunate that most people don’t get to meet good honest lawyers who are not in the public eye. Too many lawyers in the public eye give us a bad name.

What is the best thing about being part of Powers, Chapman, DeAgostino, Meyers & Milia, P.C.?

The people I have met and the many wonderful relationships I have developed over the years with my partners and co-workers. Powers Chapman is really a special place.

People say having law partners is a little like being married. What is it like having seven law partners?

It is sometimes difficult, but we always seem to work out solutions. On the positive side, you are constantly learning, and have an opportunity to hear and consider new and creative ideas.

The practice of law is changing. Where do you see the practice of law going in the next 10, 20, 30 years?

I hope I am wrong, but I do see the practice declining. I believe there are too many law schools and too many lawyers. There are not enough jobs for all the lawyers. More and more people seem to be assuming the role of lawyer on their own.

Michigan appellate courts have issued some sweeping decisions in the past few years that have significantly changed the legal landscape. How have you seen these decisions change the practice of law at Powers, Chapman, DeAgostino, Meyers & Milia, P.C.?

This has to do with personal injury and medical malpractice law. There does seem to be a movement to significantly reduce these practice areas. We have seen it within our firm and with many firms in our state and around the country. I believe that part of the public outcry in this arena is the result of the bad name that many lawyers have obtained as the result of the abuse of a few lawyers. Luckily, our Litigation Department is very adept at analyzing new decisions and doing everything it can to give all of our clients the best representation possible even in this changing and uncertain legal climate.

There are a lot of law firms out there. Why should a person or company with a legal problem choose Powers, Chapman, DeAgostino, Meyers & Milia, P.C., as its law firm?

Because we exemplify honesty and integrity. We also render excellent service for a fair price, and we get our job done in a timely and efficient manner.

You’ve had a long and successful career in the law. What advice would you give to young attorneys and young people in general who may be just starting out in their careers?

Be patient. It takes five years after law school to understand what the practice is all about. It seems many young lawyers today want to conquer the legal world in their first five years when they are still in a learning curve. Find a good mentor. Be patient, bide your time, be a good lawyer, establish a good reputation, and in time you will be successful.

Technology and the Changing Practice of Law

There is hardly an area of life that has not been significantly impacted by computers and the internet, and the practice of law is no exception. But people who don’t work in the legal field may not realize just how much the practice of law has changed since the dawn of the computer age. At Powers Chapman we are proud of the many advances in software and computer technology that we have been able to incorporate into our diverse practice to better serve our valued clients. This article provides a brief overview of just a few of the technological advances as they have impacted the practice of law and how Powers Chapman has incorporated them into its unique practice.

Computers & Software

Beginning in the early 1980’s the use of personal computers and sophisticated software programs began to become an integral part of the practice of law. Where once typewriters, carbon paper and mimeograph machines were the cutting edge of technology, now speedy copiers, scanners, computer networks and word processing software handle the lion’s share of legal paperwork.

The Powers Chapman law firm is no exception. We utilize cutting edge computer systems, including a system of networked computers outfitted with the latest software. Our firm is fully integrated into the internet, utilizing e-mail and high-speed internet service to speed up and at the same time simplify communication. Every attorney has a computer (called a workstation) with instant access to forms, word processing software, scanning and printing hardware. Our important documents are stored on a state of the art computer network and backed up nightly by redundant data systems. We also have in place state-of-the-art anti-virus software and hardware used to filter our internet and e-mail traffic for spam, spyware and viruses.

Legal Research & Case Management

Legal research was once conducted exclusively in libraries, where lawyers (or, more likely, their research clerks) spent countless hours pouring over dusty volumes containing statutes and cases. No longer. Now virtually every case, statute, ordinance, constitution and treatise is available on line. Services like Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, and Loislaw provide access to legal materials at the click of a button. New cases and statutes are available within a few days (or even hours) of their release by courts and legislatures.

Other companies have developed highly sophisticated case management software that allows attorneys like never before to download all their voluminous case material (depositions, interrogatories, pleadings, photos, videos, and research) into a computer where it is automatically digested, cross-referenced, and classified. Using programs like Summation and Concordance, an attorney or paralegal can instantly identify every reference to a particular word and then easily cut and paste the information into a brief, correspondence or exhibit for trial.

At Powers Chapman we subscribe to the Lexis/Nexis legal research system, which allows fast and certain legal research into just about any legal matter that arises.

Technology in Trials and Hearings

Technology is no longer confined to just the law firm setting. State and federal courts are becoming increasingly technically sophisticated. The extraordinary power of the personal computer is now available in equally powerful portable notebook computers. Ten thousand pages of exhibits and photos can be stored on a small hard drive not much bigger than a television remote.

Where once trials were conducted with paper exhibits and live witnesses, all that is changing. Now, more often than not, judges and juries are treated to electronic presentation of evidence. Digitally scanned photos and exhibits are projected onto a large screen. Where once witnesses testified live, now they often testify by way of video, all of which is stored on small hard drives or even flash drives for instant playback at trial.

Sophisticated trial presentation software programs, like Power Point, Trial Director and Sanction, allow the trial attorney to instantly present exhibits, video clips and detailed animations to the jury. In the appropriate case, it can be helpful for a witness to indicate what happened on diagram or photo. Instead of pointing to a diagram pinned to an easel, a witness can now draw the information on a special computer screen Dave Madden-style to create dynamic jury testimony.

At Powers Chapman we have invested heavily in courtroom technology from powerful laptop computers to trial software that allows us to present our client’s case in the most effective and interesting way possible. We also use the latest video editing software and color printers to present stunning depictions of our clients’ cases to juries, arbitrators and case evaluation panels. We encourage you to look at some of our recent verdicts and settlements, as well as some of our multimedia presentations. [Link to verdicts & settlements].

Internet, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Blogging

Locating, marshalling and sharing information has always been a large part of what attorneys do. An entirely new way of sharing information has emerged with the proliferation of the internet. New words have suddenly appeared. The terms “Webcast” and “podcast” and “blog” have suddenly become part of every day conversations. Millions of people broadcast their own podcasts and webcasts or post their own blogs, expressing their thoughts and opinions on everything from gardening to politics.

In the legal community, webcasts, blogs (sometimes called “blawgs”) and podcasts are coming into their own as much more than just a way of expressing an opinion. These elements of the new internet medium can also serve the important function of educating. Complex legal topics like divorce or criminal procedure or arbitration can be clearly explained in a blog or podcast. The information is accessible 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. If your lawyer is not in his office at 10:00 p.m., that’s okay because there is a possibility that a podcast or blog entry may have the information you are interested in. At Powers Chapman we are embracing the new medium of the internet.

Conclusion

These are just a few examples in the dazzling array of hardware and software tools that are changing the way lawyers do business. At Powers Chapman it is our mission to explore and embrace these amazing new technologies to give our clients the best representation possible. But for all its impressive speed and the bedazzling array of new ways to present information, it still comes down to the clients. At Powers Chapman, we never forget that underneath it all are real clients with real needs that we work to meet. Our goal is to provide the very best representation possible. Contact us about your case or legal matter today.