Recognized Leaders Find “Specializing” for Personal Injury Lawyers not Improper Term

I have been a Vancouver lawyer specializing in personal injury law since 1995 representing car accident ICBC injury claimants and people injured through the fault of others . In British Columbia there is currently no special status or accreditation for lawyers with an expertise in personal injury law or for experts in the field of personal injury law. If you are looking to hire a personal injury lawyer I have discussed how to find a personal injury lawyer and in this post I suggest three ways to help determine if a lawyer is an expert, has expertise or is specializing in personal injury law.
Specialization in law as in every other part of our society has become necessary but our institutional systems often lag behind the realities of the day. There are obvious differences between lawyers that draft Wills, or help you transfer property, and lawyers that have to advocate in court when you are wrongfully injured.  My expertise, gained in part by representing hundreds of personal injury claimants, tells me:
EXPERT IN PERSONAL INJURY LAW
1.  You need to find someone who is very knowledgeable about personal injury law. Experts in personal injury law usually restrict their law practice to only to personal injury cases. Reading, researching, preparing for and attending court on behalf of injury claimants builds a lawyers knowledge in personal injury law. Ask your potential lawyer about their experience in these areas.
EXPERTISE IN PERSONAL INJURY LAW
2.   Find a lawyer with great skill and  knowledge in the field of personal injury –  expertise can help resolve injury cases in an timely, efficient, and affordable manner. Expertise is usually gained through work experience and detailed research into a specific field of law. Ask any potential lawyer if they have a special  interest in personal injury law and whether they have represented injury claimants in negligence claims against the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) or ICBC insured .
SPECIALIZING AS A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
3.  Hire a personal injury lawyer that has devoted themselves exclusively to representing personal injury claimants. Although there is  no special status or accreditation for lawyers with an expertise in personal injury law, some lawyers that work for ICBC are prohibited by ICBC from suing ICBC for bad faith and other important claims. This can limit what your lawyer can claim on your behalf.
 The Ethics Committee of our Law Society in  BC has prohibited the use of the term “specialist” or any similar term for lawyers because there is currently no special status or accreditation for lawyers with an expertise in personal injury law.  Focus on whether the lawyer has expertise and is specializing in personal injury law. Talk to a lawyer on the phone and if you have a viable case ask for a free legal consultation. Posted by Mr. Renn A. Holness