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.
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?
Reviews
Humble, TX
All Law Firms
Review Date: 07/23/2009
when i called these guys acted like i wasn't good enough for them
kept me waiting in court wondering if he was showing up, then rushed me out after taking my money...thabks a lot!!
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
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
Houston, TX
All Law Firms
Review Date: 07/23/2009
Maybe this guy is better at traffic tickets.....not good on my weed case
Reviews
I didn't thinbk this guy was very bright and wanted like way too much money..get real
Angleton, TX
Review Date: 07/23/2009
had a dwi, paid a bunch, got the same deal everyone gets i later learned
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
Houston, TX
Review Date: 07/23/2009
Didn't feel comfortable with this lawyer. Hired someone else.
Houston, TX
Review Date: 07/23/2009
Mr. Breston seemed like a nice guy but he costs too much.
Reviews
Houston, TX
Criminal Lawyers
Review Date: 07/23/2009
NOT THE GUYS FOR HARRIS COUNTY COURT, WHO KNOWS ABOUT FEDERAL COURT
Houston, TX
Review Date: 07/23/2009
HIRED THIS GUY FOR A THEFT CASE, WENT TO JAIL WHEN I COULDA GOTTEN OFF
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
Houston, TX
Accident Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers
Review Date: 07/23/2009
NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS AND JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MONEY
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
Reviews
Deer Park, TX
Review Date: 07/23/2009
This is a nice man, but i didn't feel that criminal law was his primary interest.
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
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
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.
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
Reviews
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
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.
Houston, TX
Criminal Lawyers, DUI Lawyers
Review Date: 07/23/2009
cost a fortune, barely even saw me, rushed through my case
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
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.
Reviews
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.
Humble, TX
All Law Firms
Review Date: 07/23/2009
when i called these guys acted like i wasn't good enough for them
kept me waiting in court wondering if he was showing up, then rushed me out after taking my money...thabks a lot!!
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
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
Reviews
Houston, TX
All Law Firms
Review Date: 07/23/2009
Maybe this guy is better at traffic tickets.....not good on my weed case
