Pezzano Mickey Law - August 2021

Pezzano Mickey Law - August 2021

224 Roseberry Street, Suite 4 Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

AUGUST 2021

70 Church Street, First Floor Flemington, NJ 08822

Perspectives PM

(908) 293-7330 | PM-NJLaw.com

REFLECTING ON 30 YEARS OF PRACTICING LAW And 20 Years of Owning My Own Business

This September, I’ll be celebrating my 30th anniversary of practicing law and 20 years of operating my own law firm. It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed. Some days are grueling, but my days fly by since my work never gets boring. Like many personal injury/workers’ compensation attorneys, I never planned a career in this area of the law. Growing up, I considered the possibility of becoming a child psychologist to help disturbed young people. But I also always loved to argue, so law school seemed to be the more appropriate fit! I was exposed to workers’ compensation law during my first job out of law school, and it resonated with me. That might be because I come from a family of mostly blue-collar workers, who work hard to put food on the table for their families. From the experiences my clients have shared with me over the years, I know the devastation faced by families if a source of income is cut off due to an unexpected injury. I take my responsibility as an attorney very seriously. My attention to detail could mean the difference between someone being able to pay their rent, or not. My ability to persuade a Judge to order an insurance carrier to cover a medical procedure could alleviate my clients’ pain. So yes, it can be stressful because others are depending on me. But I would not trade it for the world. In 2001, I decided to branch out on my own and leave the Central Jersey law firm where I worked at the time. My first child was born in 2000, and while I was out on maternity leave, the firm passed me up for partner while elevating one of my male peers. Since it was clear that I was placed on the “mommy track,” I decided it would be preferable to leave and take my clients with me. I hold no ill will toward this firm, though. This slight was really the best thing that could have happened to me, as it gave me the courage to leave and chart my own course. The clients I met over the next 20 years constantly remind me of why I became a lawyer in the first place. Wonderful, salt of the earth people who only want to be paid fairly for their efforts, are often treated poorly by the insurance industry. I wake up every morning motivated to fight for my clients, knowing that it could make a meaningful difference in their lives. One client in particular comes to mind. He was able to use the compensation my legal team obtained

Pezzano Mickey Law celebrates the 20-year anniversary with the sun, sand, and sea!

for him to start his own business. I will never forget that he cried when he told me that his case changed his family’s life because it provided him with the ability to purchase his own equipment, which gave him the freedom to become his own boss. I wish that I could help all my clients reach that goal. In July, my staff and I took a Friday afternoon off together to celebrate our 20th year in business. I am especially grateful to work with five dedicated women who help handle the details of each case, in order of seniority: Maria Mitchko, my right hand, who has been with me for the past 15 years as a paralegal and bookkeeper; Christa Foli, our client intake specialist and smiling face of the firm; Lori Morales, my sister, who handles marketing and >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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