Before Lawyer Advertising people selected a Florida Personal Injury Attorney based on recommendations of lawyers, family and friends

Prior to 1978, lawyers did not advertise. Believe it or not, Legal Bar associations banned just about all forms of advertising. It was considered unethical. In fact, a lawyer that advertised often risked disbarment. All lawyers, including personal injury lawyers obtained their work through referrals. The successful ones worked hard for their clients, obtained good results, and established a reputation. Cases flowed in to a good personal injury attorney based on recommendations from other lawyers, former clients, and friends.

The system worked because people lived in the same community much longer. In fact, it was not uncommon for some people to live in the same house from the time they were married until their children moved out of the house. If they did move, it was often to a larger house in the same community. Everyone in town knew just about everyone else. As a result, most people knew a good lawyer. If the person suffered a personal injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, they would simply contact their lawyer and the lawyer would either handle it themselves or recommend a personal injury lawyer. If the person did not know a good lawyer, they would ask a family member or a friend for a recommendation. Either way, the most common way a personal injury attorney obtained business was by word of mouth.