Paul Bishop | Quincy Family Lawyer

• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, Boston Bar Association
• Member, Norfolk County Bar Association
• Board of Advisors, Bentley College Paralegal Program

• Dean's Award, New England School of Law
• Dean's List, Colby College

I recently concluded a divorce case involving a mid- term length marriage of a couple in a high income bracket who also owned substantial assets. My client was the care provider of three young children and the other party was the income producer. I was able to obtain a just and fair settlement for my client while at the same time respecting the dignity of both sides throughout the process. My client later posted the following recommendation:""From the moment I met Paul Bishop, I knew I was in the right place. I knew I had found the right attorney for me. Overnight, I had become the single mom of three young children and he never lost sight of the enormity of my responsibilities. He listened to my needs as a single mom and always negotiated with those needs in mind. Paul Bishop was successful in obtaining a divorce agreement that was exactly what I needed (and what I was owed) for my family and me. I am forever grateful for his guidance throughout thisprocess and his unwavering professionalism."" For obvious reasons, I was very proud ofmy work in that case. In another case, I was able to gain a substantial settlement for a client as a result of a slip and fall accident. The case presented significant challenges with regard to establishing liability; however, my client was a young woman who had sustained devastating injuries and she needed help. I was eventually able to obtain a significant financial recovery on her behalf. She later wrote: ""Paul was very thorough and responsive to my calls and e-mails, and took the time to explain every aspect of the case to me as I went through this difficult time. He was genuinely concerned about my condition and the care I received in the many surgeries and therapies I required after my accident, even after the case was settled. Paul did absolutely everything he could to help me receive a fair and just settlement. I am very satisfied with the outcome of my case and would highly recommend Paul Bishop and his firm."" In that case, I was very pleased that my client was received a large award for the injuries she sustained.

Certainly, hard work is an essential ingredient to the building a successful law practice. I try to live by this formula every day. There are no shortcuts to hard work, but the results are always worth the effort.

Fit, integrity and experience.

Local knowledge helps, but does not determine who wins. The lawyer/client team that is the best prepared almost always wins. Of course, winning has to be defined as follows: The lawyer knowing the law and understanding what to expect, the client accepting the range of possibilities as explained to him/her by the lawyer and then settling or obtaining an award from the court that is favorable based upon the range of possibilities.

In the initial phone conversation I can obtain two critical pieces of information. First, I am able to solicit the basic factual information concerning the case to determine whether I might be able to help the potential client. Second, I can assess whether the potential client and I are a "fit". If the answer is yes to both of the questions and if the client is interested, we then schedule a free in office consultation.

The client should be prepared to talk about the case and should have most of the relevant information readily available before the consult begins. If a client is unprepared or does not have the critical information needed before the call starts, I quickly lose interest.

Helping others in need and getting paid as part of the process.