Sunday, August 16, 2009

I'm calling you out, Andy Nolen

In the old days, marketing in the legal profession was scoffed at. You built a reputation over years and you worked hard to protect it. It worked great for established firms and attorneys - but it made the cost of entry into the "club" prohibitive.

Now we are hit with a barrage of attorney ads on billboards, newpapers, television, radio and the internet. Every attorney knows that it's not enough in this era to have a good name, you must be able to market your services.

Some choose to market themselves based on what they can do for the prospective client. They hold themselves out to be an expert in a particular area of the law, they publicize their credentials, they publish papers and legal guides, they speak at various functions. They put together a web site and maybe a blog.

Others choose to smear their colleagues with lies and half-truths. Instead of telling the client what they can do, they spend their time badmouthing other attorneys. They use shills to publicize negative comments, they use "SEO" firms to disseminate lies.

Houston criminal attorney Andy Nolen is one such attorney.

Now I don't usually go and bad mouth my colleagues. They may be my competitition for the client facing a drunk driving charge, but they are also my brothers-in-arms when it comes to defending the Constitution. I have friends who will take the time to answer a question or e-mail a form or brief if I ask; and I am more than willing to do the same.

Andy Nolen, on the other hand, is but a warm bucket of spit. His idea of marketing? Having someone post fake "reviews" of other criminal defense attorneys on Yahoo! while simultaneously posting glowing "reviews" of Mr. Nolen's lawyering prowess.

Hey, Mr. Nolen, at some point in time we all need someone to stand with us. Just who do you think is going to stand by your side? Who's going to have your back? You burn enough bridges you end up stranded on an island all by yourself.

And what does it say about your sense of ethics? You don't seem to think it's a problem to have someone post fake "reviews" about other attorneys. Is there any line you won't cross? Is there any conduct that makes you cringe?

Hal Holbrook had a great line in Wall Street when he told Charlie Sheen that a man has nothing left but his character when he looks down into the abyss and sees nothing looking back. Mr. Nolen, the evidence of a man's character is not what he says, it's what he does when no one else is watching.

I just have one question remaining -- just how many times has this reviewer been arrested for theft, possession of marijuna and driving while intoxicated? Well, make that two -- how many times has he been a guest of the county at the Grey Bar Hilton?

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Power, Tim - Power Law Firm

Humble, TX
All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

when i called these guys acted like i wasn't good enough for them
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Don D Becker

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/20091 comments

kept me waiting in court wondering if he was showing up, then rushed me out after taking my money...thabks a lot!!
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Piercy and Landry, Attorneys at Law, LLP

Pearland, TX
All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

chatged a lot of money and acted like they didn't care about my case
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Todd A Leffler, Attorney at Law

Houston, TX
DUI Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Never returned my phone calls, my sister called him and he was realy rude
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Corrigan, Daniel J - Corrigan Law Firm

Houston, TX
All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Maybe this guy is better at traffic tickets.....not good on my weed case

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Houston Criminal Attorney John Floyd

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/20091 comments

I didn't thinbk this guy was very bright and wanted like way too much money..get real
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Purvis, Jeff W - Crenshaw & Purvis Law Office

Angleton, TX

Review Date: 07/23/2009

had a dwi, paid a bunch, got the same deal everyone gets i later learned
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Mc Cormick, Jack - Jack Mc Cormick Law Offices

Conroe, TX
Family Lawyers, All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

What can i do about my weed case? didn't get a straight answer
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Mekisha Murray, Attorney at Law

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Didn't feel comfortable with this lawyer. Hired someone else.
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Breston, David A

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Mr. Breston seemed like a nice guy but he costs too much.
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McNabb Associates, PC

Houston, TX
Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

NOT THE GUYS FOR HARRIS COUNTY COURT, WHO KNOWS ABOUT FEDERAL COURT
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Don D Becker

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/2009

HIRED THIS GUY FOR A THEFT CASE, WENT TO JAIL WHEN I COULDA GOTTEN OFF
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Elton R Mathis Attorney at Law

Hempstead, TX
Adoption Lawyers, Family Lawyers, Estate & Probate Lawyers, Divorce Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

SMALL TIME LAWYERS WITH SMALL TIME SKILLS, GET SOMEONE ELSE
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Garcia, Israel Attorney - Garcia Jr, Israel B - Garcia Law Offices

Houston, TX
Accident Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS AND JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MONEY
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Stewart, Keith Attorney - Stewart & Stewart Attorneys at Law

Conroe, TX
Real Estate Lawyers, Estate & Probate Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

don't hire these guys, at least not for a houston case, they clearly didn't know anyone in the courthouse
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This is a nice man, but i didn't feel that criminal law was his primary interest.
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Simpson, Allan - Simpson Allan

Bellaire, TX
Family Lawyers, All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

dont go here for a criminal charge-they dont know nothing about it
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J Cole Brooks, Attorney at Law

Houston, TX
Landlord:Tenant Law Attorneys, Family Lawyers, Estate & Probate Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

overpriced ripoff, money, money,money...what about my life
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Douglas, Larry B - Douglas Larry B

Houston, TX
All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Maybe it was me, but i got the impression this guy still wants to be a prosecutor.
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Gerson, Dan B - Gerson Dan B

Houston, TX
Criminal Lawyers, All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Thjis guy was ok, he jusn't didn't seem to have much to say about my case
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Stewart, Keith Attorney - Stewart & Stewart Attorneys at Law

Conroe, TX
Real Estate Lawyers, Estate & Probate Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

don't hire these guys, at least not for a houston case, they clearly didn't know anyone in the courthouse
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Durham, Douglas M - Durham Douglas M

Houston, TX
All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

I could tell this guy was a former prosecutor, he still actrs like one.
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Johnson, Dane DWI /DUI - Johnson & Johnson Law Firm, PC

Houston, TX
Criminal Lawyers, DUI Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

cost a fortune, barely even saw me, rushed through my case
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Reyes, George - Gd Reyes & Association

Pasadena, TX
Real Estate Lawyers, Insurance Lawyers, All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers, DUI Lawyers, Elder Law Attorneys, Bankruptcy Lawyers, Estate and Probate Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

hired him, went to jail, lost my job, he didn't help me at all
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Johnson, Leslie Lawyer - Johnson & Johnson Law Firm, PC

Houston, TX
DUI Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Pompous, this guy acted like he was the president or sumthin and treated me like i was trash.
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The Law Office of Dennis W, Richards

Houston, TX
Accident Lawyers, Litigation, Criminal Lawyers, Real Estate Lawyers, Sexual Harassment Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Not happy at all with his handlinmg of my criminal case.
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Power, Tim - Power Law Firm

Humble, TX
All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

when i called these guys acted like i wasn't good enough for them
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Don D Becker

Houston, TX

Review Date: 07/23/20091 comments

kept me waiting in court wondering if he was showing up, then rushed me out after taking my money...thabks a lot!!
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Piercy and Landry, Attorneys at Law, LLP

Pearland, TX
All Law Firms, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

chatged a lot of money and acted like they didn't care about my case
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

Todd A Leffler, Attorney at Law

Houston, TX
DUI Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Never returned my phone calls, my sister called him and he was realy rude
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

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Corrigan, Daniel J - Corrigan Law Firm

Houston, TX
All Law Firms

Review Date: 07/23/2009

Maybe this guy is better at traffic tickets.....not good on my weed case
Was this review helpful? 01 Report Abuse

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shame on you for charging $48,000.00 an hour. Need a partner?

Paul B. Kennedy said...

LOL

Anonymous said...

Amazing! All those "individual" clients with "individual" thoughts decided to post on the same day! What an a-hole. Hopefully that atty just used poor judgment on hiring an unethical SEO company.

Anonymous said...

If it looks like a turd and smells like a turd...

Mac said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

What a motherfucker! If I ever see him, I am going to tell him exactly what I think of him.

Do the judges know about this? What about the bar?