What do you want a personal injury victim to come away with after the initial meeting with you?
The most important thing I do in that first meeting is to really listen to them. You’ve got to listen to your client. Your client has an unbelievably important amount of information that you need to get from them. You want them to feel comfortable and open and honest with you. It’s not enough just to know the statutory law or how to put together demand packages. You’ve got to know your client through and through. You cannot do it without listening.
At the initial meeting, clients want to get a lot of things off their chest and air out their concerns before they ever get into the legal aspects of their claim. I allow them to get things off their shoulders and then we can start talking about the logistical steps – how we are going to move forward, what the case is going to look like, and the time frame. I try to give them some kind of direction and level of comfort.
What is the most satisfying aspect of being a personal injury lawyer?
It’s a great joy to help people navigate the court system, which can be intimidating and confusing to a lot of people. The idea of being able to use our court system and legal training for the greater good is incredibly satisfying.
William’s Background and Professional Activities and Honors
William received an undergraduate degree in history from Trinity College and his law degree from the Charleston School of Law. Among William’s honors is the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Pleadings and Practice. The CALI Excellence for the Future Award® is given to the highest-scoring student in specific law school classes.
William has memberships in various legal groups, including the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association and the South Carolina Association for Justice. William is also a Board of Directors member for the Charleston Animal Society, the first and one of the most prominent animal protection organizations in the state.
In his spare time, William enjoys golfing, fly fishing, cooking, and spending quality time with his wife Louise and their dogs Bogey and Poppi.