Personal injury lawyers don’t have the best of reputations, so Chad Dudley and his team at Dudley DeBosier work every day to maintain their client relationships to help fight off any negative public perception.
The strategy seems to be working for the law firm, which has grown to 22 attorneys since its formation about seven years ago, as Business Report details in its latest Executive Spotlight feature highlighting Dudley, the firm’s managing partner.
The key to success is simple, Dudley says: Hire great people, and look after your customers. “We truly have an amazing group of people that genuinely love what they do and care about the clients,” he says.
An avid tennis player, the Honolulu native migrated to Baton Rouge after earning a scholarship to play at LSU. He stuck around and decided to give law school a try, which worked out pretty well for him.
Dudley’s first legal experience came as a law clerk for a large firm. He got stuck in the back library doing research, which led him to realize he’d rather be interacting with people.
“When I got my first job helping people who had been injured, I knew that was what I wanted to do,” he says.
Though Dudley DeBosier ads are prolific around Baton Rouge, the majority of the firm’s cases come from word of mouth referrals, according to Dudley. And the firm’s clients are loyal enough to stay in touch long after their cases are over.
“We have had people invite us to birthday parties, graduations, weddings, and stop by and bring food,” he says. “We love it because it means that we formed a relationship with them.”
A two-time Business Report Best Places to Work honoree, Dudley DeBosier’s key to creating a strong work environment is treating all employees with respect, Dudley says. “We are very aware of the fact that we cannot expect our team to treat our clients better than we treat our team,” he says.
Read the full Executive Spotlight Q&A. Here’s an example of what you’ll find.
What gets your workday off to a good start?
“I am a big believer that how you start your day is crucial. My routine is a mix of stuff I borrowed from people who I admire and stuff I picked up from reading. I like to get up early, start the day off by reading, looking at my personal and professional goals, write down three things that I am grateful for, write down three things that I am looking forward to that day, then planning that day. The routine helps me feel like I am taking hold of the day rather than it taking hold of me.”
