Malloy Law Offices, LLC - April 2021

Malloy Law Offices, LLC - April 2021

Malloy Monthly

MALLOY LAW OFFICES, LLC

Alexandria 5680 King Centre Dr. #600 Alexandria, VA 22315 (703) 337-3328 Bethesda 7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 933-7277

Clinton 9135 Piscataway Rd. #215 Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 889-9950 Baltimore 400 E. Pratt St., 8th Flr. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 498-6085

April 2021

You’ve Got a Friend in Me Good Law Firms Are Also Community Resources

When I look at the relationships our firm has cultivated over the years, I’m struck by the number of people who still stay in touch with us — sometimes years after their case is resolved. And as I continue to practice law, and notice how our firm does things differently than some of the others, I’ve begun to think that is a measure of a legal practice’s worth, just as much as our win/loss record or the total compensation awarded every year to our clients. When a young woman is hurt in a car crash, and we manage to “convince” the insurance company to pay her what she is owed — well, that’s the job, right? But when her grandmother sends us a greeting card three years later with her engagement pictures inside, I am reminded that for her and her family, it was never just a job. It was a stressful, life-altering situation that hopefully will never come again — and in their eyes, our team was one of the few things standing between them and the worst possible outcome. If clients stay in touch, it’s because we were more than a law firm for them: We were a friend to them in a time of need. And it’s such a compliment — after all, we know they hope they’ll never need to see us again! Last month, I wrote that there are two schools of thought when it comes to giving clients information and keeping them educated. Some attorneys don’t want clients to know any more than they have to. They think the attorney is the expert, and they’re the ones who should be deciding things, right? For these lawyers, the client only needs to know the bare minimum, like the day they have to show up in court (or appear on Zoom these days) and to remember to wear a tie. They don’t want

clients to pester them, and they don’t want to “waste time” communicating when the client won’t understand it anyway. The client should step back and let the attorney win the case for them. That’s not how you treat a friend — or, for that matter, any adult.

Because, ultimately, they do need to know. Our job as attorneys is to help people understand the choices in front of them, advocate on their behalf, and carry out their wishes using the legal system. But the decisions are theirs to make; a lawyer can advise, but that’s it. Really, I’m just doing the same thing I’d do if a friend came up to me and asked for my advice on a tough situation at home. We’re going to sit down, and I’m going to listen to him and ask questions. I’m not going to assume I know what’s going on, boss him around, or even give advice until I think I understand things fully. Because ultimately, it’s his life. He has to live with the consequences, and I don’t. I do, however, have to live with the relationship my friend and I have. It’s one that I want to continue. And the same is true of my clients. But after the case ends, we want their lives to go on normally, without need for attorneys like us. We love when we see them in other settings, whether that’s running into them at the store or getting engagement photos in the mail. Over the years, my team and I have gotten wedding invitations, Facebook requests, gift baskets — every way imaginable for people to show us they’re still thinking of us and that we were friends to them when it mattered most. And as attorneys who treat clients like friends — a relationship founded on good communication — there is no higher compliment than to have clients communicate to us that they feel the same way.

The other school of thought is the one I subscribe to, and I believe it’s why our team is successful — and why we get cards from people years after working with them. Like all relationships, it’s founded on good communication, whether we’re explaining a client’s options or listening carefully to their account of what happened. We know that — thankfully — these situations only come once or twice in a lifetime for most people. Add to that the stress they’re under, and can you really blame them for not always retaining information well or not understanding everything perfectly the first time around? This is just my opinion, but I’d say the fault lies with the communicator, not the client who “doesn’t need to know” the information.

—Seann P. Malloy

(202) 933-7277 • 1

Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Wrongful Death

There’s no way around it: We are a busy law firm. Most attorneys are used to the bustle, to be honest, and it’s often seen as a mark of success. In many ways, that’s accurate. But sometimes when we get busy, we focus too much on the tasks at hand and lose sight of the reasons we do this work in the first place. That’s why we encourage everyone on our team to slow down once in a while and take time to think deeply about the reasons we do this work and the people our work affects. This month, we wanted to turn that deep focus on the idea of a “client” and what that concept means to our attorneys. In their responses, we noticed a common theme: service. Clients are people who come in for help, and lawyers are the ones who help them. Not only do our clients have to MALLOY LAW ATTORNEYS TALK ABOUT THE POWERFUL ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP What Is a ‘Client’ Anyway?

Backpacking in the mountains puts a fun twist on the standard campout. By packing all your gear miles from the nearest roads, you can leave the whole world behind and just exist in nature. That said, backpacking can also put a lot of strain on your body — unless you properly prepare for it. Peak backpacking season isn’t too far away, but it could take a couple of months to physically prepare for your next big trip. So, now is the perfect time to start working toward some of the following fitness goals: INCREASE MUSCLE STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE Your leg and core muscles, as well as your shoulders and lower back (to a lesser extent), will do most of the heavy lifting when you’re hauling a 30–50-pound pack up a trail. With that in mind, you should devote two nonconsecutive days each week to strengthening these muscle groups. A few good exercises to increase leg strength are jump squats, single-leg deadlifts, step-ups, and hip rolls. A simple way people can increase core strength is by doing planks. IMPROVE YOUR CARDIO HEALTH Backpacking includes a lot of walking while carrying heavy weight at a high altitude, which means it’s just as important to get your cardiovascular system into shape as it is to strengthen your muscles. Dedicate three days each week — alternating with your strength training days — to building your cardio health with activities like trail running, biking, swimming, or other aerobic exercises. IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE Backpacking trails are rough, and you'll need good balance to navigate obstacles and step over boulders, creeks, and large roots. The good news is that increased strength and balance go hand in hand. Building up the muscles in your legs and core will help improve your balance, as will taking walks or runs on uneven trails or terrain. These are just a few quick tips to help you get in shape this backpacking season. For more in-depth instructions, check out CleverHiker.com, Backpacker.com, or search “How to Train for Hiking” on REI.com. Happy hiking! Get in Shape for Your Next Backpacking Trip 3 Essential Areas to Focus On

navigate the difficult legal system, but they also often have to do so while in pain, with financial and medical difficulties hanging overhead. To put it another way, a personal injury client is someone in need — and helping them is an act of service. If you don’t believe in helping others in need,

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Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability •

THE TRUTH ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS

you might be able to practice some other kind of law, because you’ll never make it as a personal injury lawyer.

As we said, it can be easy to forget the big picture in the hustle and bustle of a busy office. But our attorneys are a contemplative group, and when asked for a deeper explanation of how they view the client relationship, they came up with some interesting — and affirming — answers. “Nothing is more satisfying than helping a family devastated by injury or death receive justice. Every day I am thankful that I get to help accident victims receive fair compensation.” – Seann Malloy (Managing Partner and founder of Malloy Law Offices, LLC)

AreThey Really Safe?

“Practicing personal injury law is the opportunity to defend and protect the rights of others.” –Daniel Szieber (Associate)

“Practicing personal injury law means being able to help people to restore their lives after being hurt.” –Aleksandr Shubin (Associate)

“Personal injury law gives us the opportunity to right injustices for our clients and help them secure compensation for their pain and suffering.” –Danielle Garcia (Associate)

If you’ve ever visited a spa or tried a “natural” perfume, then you’ve probably been exposed to essential oils. These fragrant oils are derived from plants and have become a fad among health nuts, yoga practitioners, and even chefs. Many devotees believe that a few drops of oil added to a diffuser, mixed with food, or rolled onto the wrist can do just about anything, like reduce anxiety and ward off the common cold. In 2019, the global essential oil market was valued at more than $7 billion, and sales are expected to soar above $14 billion by 2026. But there’s a catch: Some doctors now warn that essential oils are not a panacea — and they’re not as safe as they seem. WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY? According to Rose Ann Gould Soloway, a clinical toxicologist at the National Capital Poison Center, essential oils can be safe and beneficial. However, they have harmful side effects when misused. Many oils can cause rashes and even poison users if they’re swallowed or rubbed directly onto the skin. In addition to this, incorrectly breathing in an essential oil can cause pneumonia. HOW ARE ESSENTIAL OILS MISUSED? When it comes to essential oils, there are two big mistakes people might make: They either overuse essential oils with their children or they apply them the wrong way. When essential oils are concerned, proper application and amount can make a life-or-death difference. Nutmeg oil, for example, tastes delicious in food but can cause hallucinations and even comas when mishandled, and eucalyptus oil, which can soothe a cough, can also cause seizures if ingested. Another example is sage oil; it has beneficial applications, but even small amounts can make a child very ill. HOW CAN YOU USE OILS SAFELY? If you use essential oils or oil-based products, it’s vital that you follow the instructions that come with them and keep bottles of pure oil locked away from your kids and pets. When you’re using oils topically, dilute them with a barrier substance like a non-essential oil, lotion, or aloe jelly; and when you’re inhaling them, use a waterless or water-based diffuser. Finally, when in doubt, do your research! The American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram journal, AromaWeb.com, and >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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