Passion Should Be Driving Force When Entering Law In Philadelphia
Clancy Boylan is an associate plaintiff's attorney at Fellerman & Ciarimboli. The law firm was founded in January 2000. They have locations in Northeastern PA, West Chester, and Levittown, PA, as well as Philadelphia, where Clancy Boylan is located. Fellerman & Ciarimboli is a private law firm that offers legal services for personal injury victims. Their legal representation includes medical malpractice, wrongful death, insurance disputes, vehicle and trucking accidents, social security claims and more.
What sort of education is needed to secure a good job in your field?
"At a basic level you need a bachelor's degree and a law degree. If you are going to open up your own shop, it helps if your undergraduate degree is/was in business."
What is the most challenging aspect of being in your field?
"The most challenging aspect is actually a tie. First, is the competition, and second, are the amount of time (lack thereof) in a day. Everyone knows that the Philadelphia market is the best market to be in as a Plaintiff's lawyer. As a result, competition is fierce. When someone gets hurt in an accident or on the job, they have thousands of lawyers to choose from. Making sure your firm stands out is key to the game. As for the time issue, here at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, we believe in delivering the highest personal service, which means when you retain us, you get an attorney (me) 24 – 7 at your beck and call. All clients have my cell phone, so between working the cases and taking care of the clients, that leaves very little time to spend with my family."
After graduation, how hard was it to transition to the actual working world?
"For me, it was not that hard. Duquesne University, where I got my law degree, provided me with the skills that I needed to hit the ground running on day one. Duquesne has an excellent trial program and writing program, the two most important aspects of my job. Also, my business degree from Saint Joseph's University has helped me navigate the business side of our practice."
What advice would you give someone who is pursuing a career in this field?
"To anyone interested in pursuing the field of law I would say make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. A law degree is expensive. Pursue it if you know you want to be a lawyer and are passionate about it. If you are doing it for any other reason, I would think twice as it is a tough market."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She reports on various topics such as: Social Media, Local Events, Entertainment, Food and Drink and more. Her work can be found at http://firstsendmedia.com/