Consulting and Crisis Management

The majority of time spent practicing law is (or ought to be) spent outside the courtroom. In the role as legal counselor, the attorney must help the client understand and respond to chaos.

Even when courts and government agencies are not involved, the way a person conducts affairs in a time of crisis is tremendously important.

Because crisis can strike any time, the attorney must be available on weekends, holidays, and even in the middle of the night. Even for individuals who already have legal counsel, the consulting opinion of another professional may calm the tides and free the trial attorney to focus on developing the courtroom case while the consultant guides the client through day-to-day affairs.

My Two Cents: The Benefit of a Second Opinion

Gregg Woodnick and Isabel Ranney

Although the thought of consulting with another attorney may feel like you are “cheating” on your current attorney, it is something attorneys do all the time. Good attorneys understand the value of having a fresh legal perspective on the case, especially when they have been working on a matter for a long time or when something happens that is out of their wheelhouse. It is also highly possible that the second attorney might see the situation differently and suggest a creative option and/or have access to an expert that may change the perspective of the case.

Lawyers are professionals and understand that, just like someone would seek a second medical opinion before having surgery, clients may want to have their case reviewed by separate counsel before making the decision to move forward. An effective lawyer is one that would encourage their client to seek a second opinion and would not be offended if the client decides to take a different approach to their case. After all, at the end of the day, the outcome of the litigation is one that only the client has to live with.

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Woodnick Law, PLLC is a boutique law firm that serves individuals and families in Maricopa County, Coconino County, Pima County, and all throughout Arizona. Attorney’s Brad TenBrook and Deandra Arena are former Attorney Generals for DCS and have experience litigating termination proceedings, both on behalf of parents and the State.

Gregg Woodnick has been an attorney in Arizona for over 20 years. He is a former adjunct law professor and has lectured for Yale University, Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. He is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Client Protection Fund for the Arizona State Bar.

Isabel Ranney is a third-year law student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, Associate Editor for the Law Journal for Social Justice, and law clerk at Woodnick Law.