Interview with Sean M. Cleary, Miami Personal Injury Lawyer

Sean M. Cleary completed his law studies at the University Of Miami School Of Law with the distinction of Cum Laude. He owns and leads The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary based in Miami, Florida. As a personal injury lawyer, he has helped several victims of negligence receive a substantial compensation. He believes in open and flexible communication with all of his clients. He has been listed as one of the Florida Super Lawyers and also been named a Florida Rising Star each year since 2009 until present. Mr. Cleary’s legal insight combined with professionalism has made him successful at winning a majority of cases at court. He generously took time out of his busy schedule to share his insights with Paralegal411.

What events and experiences led you to pursue personal injury law as your specialty?

Well, I believe the thought of the amount of havoc a devastating accident creates in a person’s life, both financially and emotionally, has driven me to choose personal injury law as my field of practice. I have always had an entrepreneurial initiative and this dream culminated at the beginning of my law firm in 2005. The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary, Miami, Florida was founded with the intent of establishing an open communication with personal injury victims and a commitment of helping them secure the maximum eligible compensation they deserve.

Would you do anything differently in your education or professional experience if you had the opportunity?

Probably not! As I have always been passionate about the legal field and its complex aspects and challenges. Nothing other than the law would have been my choice.

Are there any subject areas outside of the legal core that you would particularly recommend to paralegal and pre-law majors?

Apart from the legal core subjects, I would recommend paralegal and prelaw majors to immerse themselves in reading and writing as this is the time they have to polish their skills. Read as much information as possible and engage yourself in English courses that will help you write well. Other subjects such as History, Political Science, and other language courses are also valuable. Building your knowledge in a wide variety of subjects is the key to success!

From what you have seen, what degrees, certifications, and/or skill sets are most in demand by attorneys seeking to hire paralegals in your field?

Generally, attorneys would seek paralegals with a minimum of two years study post-secondary that yields an associate degree together with some experience. However, the education and training requirements would vary based on the region, field, and the company. One can earn certifications, a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree in paralegal studies and can also choose to specialize in a certain area of law practice that will actually determine what kind of law firm he/she would be eligible for. Personal injury lawyers, in particular, need basic analytical skills in order to assess the value of the victim’s pain and suffering.

From an attorney’s perspective, what advice would you give to paralegals who are just starting their careers or students who will soon graduate with a paralegal degree?

Being an attorney with some good number of years of experience in the legal field, I would advise fresh paralegals to aim at excelling in negotiation, oral advocacy, and client development. These qualities make a successful legal professional and at the same time, one should develop the skills of handling stressful situations.

As the author of the Official Blog of the Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary and an experienced attorney, what advice would you offer to legal professionals concerning the role of social media in their profession?

Social media platforms give modern business a chance to advertise their services. Likewise, legal professionals can utilize the potential of social media’s popularity to build their client network and share information and experiences regarding their law practice. Your social media profile as a lawyer will not only serve as a business development tool but will enhance your reputation. So, I would advise all legal professionals to open up a channel of connecting with each other as well as clients through social media platforms.

What are your biggest strengths and how do you use them in your job? What advice would you give to others about mining their own strengths?

I personally believe the law is not just trials and courts; instead, it’s about people and their sufferings. So, I have been taking care of the moral and ethical aspects of every case I have dealt with. Being people-oriented, I have been establishing meaningful rapport with my clients and this belief has been my greatest strength ever. Honesty, integrity, and compassion have been three pillars of my success.

Each individual will have his/her own key strength that will help in career advancement. We need to identify the potential capabilities and work towards enhancing those qualities for the benefit of our clients.

We thank Mr. Cleary for sharing his advice with us! You can learn more about his practice and expertise through his blog and the Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary website.