Every day on your drive into work, you are likely inundated with advertisements for local personal injury attorneys on billboards and the radio. While reading the paper at your desk, you probably catch a few more print ads from personal injury attorneys. Later, when you turn on your television after work, you might well see a commercial featuring a personal injury attorney in your area. Though you see personal injury attorneys frequently due to active marketing, you probably know very little about this unique group of attorneys. The following is a profile of Mississippi personal injury attorneys, designed to provide you with an in-depth look into the lives of these lawyers who dedicate themselves to seeing injured individuals recover:
What is a personal injury lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who provides legal services to those who have been injured due to the negligence or purposeful wrongdoing of another person or entity. Personal injury attorneys strive to see their injured clients obtain compensation for the losses they have suffered.
How did personal injury law develop?
One of the earliest forms of personal injury law dates back to the concept of physical retribution. In early times, when someone harmed another they were expected to repay the injured party by offering what was taken. The now famous phrase “an eye for an eye” sums up the philosophy. As time went on, society moved towards a more civilized punishment system with monetary compensation at its core.
How does one become a personal injury attorney?
To practice law in the state of Mississippi, you must complete several years of study and pass numerous rigorous tests. Anyone wishing to practice law in the state must be admitted to the Mississippi Bar. Applicants to the bar must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and have completed law school at a school approved by the Section on Legal Education and the American Bar Association. In addition, would be lawyers must pass a thorough character and fitness assessment. Those with certain criminal convictions, heavy debts, or even significant traffic tickets, may be prevented from sitting for the bar in the state of Mississippi.
Applicants who meet these inflexible requirements must then pass the Mississippi Bar Examination. This dreaded examination takes place over two days and requires the test taker show proficiency in a variety of legal areas, including real property, bankruptcy, criminal law, torts, and constitutional law. Those who pass the bar examination may then be admitted to the Mississippi Bar and allowed to practice law in the state.
All lawyers must continue to hone their legal knowledge by attending yearly Continuing Legal Education Classes. To keep their license active, lawyers must also pay yearly dues. Further, to be certified as a specialist in the field of personal injury law, a lawyer must complete a specialty certification program accredited by the American Bar Association.
What is the average salary of a personal injury lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers are unique in that they do not charge an hourly rate. Instead, they accept a percentage of their client’s compensation as payment. A personal injury attorney will only get paid if your case is successful. That being said, the average salary of a personal injury attorney is $73,000. Those employed in large firms tend to earn above this average, topping the pay scales at between $81,000 and $164,000 a year. Salaries do tend to vary by region, as well, with firms in the South traditionally under-earning those in the North, though disparities in cost of living may mitigate these differences.
Giddens Law Firm: A Personal Injury Firm of Distinction
For over 20 years, the dedicated personal injury attorneys at the Giddens Law Firm have represented the victims of accidents all over the state of Mississippi. The attorneys at The John D. Giddens Law Firm will provide the skilled, compassionate, and zealous representation you need to obtain full compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (601) 355-2022 to schedule a free consultation.