The Game Changing Attorney Podcast with Michael Mogill

52. Brian Chase — Aligning Passion and Purpose

Apr 6, 2021

41:29

"You're driving to court. You've got your music on. You're ready to go kick butt. But you're also scared. You've just got this mix of emotions, and then when the trial starts, you're just in there to crush it. To go through all of that is so much fun because you're facing your fears." - Brian Chase

Why does attorney Brian Chase say he’s never going to retire?
How did he gain notoriety in the world of auto defects as the crazy guy willing to try tough cases?
Why does doing the right thing sometimes mean taking on the small cases?
How does Brian set and smash goals time and time again?

Brian Chase: From the Beaches of California to the Highest Courts in the Country

Brian Chase is the senior partner and a trial lawyer at Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys in Newport Beach, California. For over 40 years, Brian has been the senior litigator and lead trial attorney on countless catastrophic injury and auto defect cases.

But Brian wasn't always the suited, briefcase-wielding top-1% trial lawyer he is today. In fact, while at school, Brian was more into catching waves and the California sunshine until a college project unearthed his passion for research and case building. In this episode, Brian tells about his journey from the beach to the courtroom and how he found his calling as a PI attorney.

Marketing Trendsetter

Sometimes it can take years for new types of media to be recognized as effective and worthwhile marketing tools. Those that are quick to embrace them are often seen as fools before they're recognized as geniuses — and Brian was no exception. He was skeptical when his partner came to him with the idea of making a website for their firm over 20 years ago.

Brian tells us how he came to embrace his website (bestattorney.com) and how he became a trailblazer in new marketing techniques. He also tells us how he coped with the naysayers criticizing his marketing methods, and he explains why you shouldn't be afraid of being ahead of the curve.

Hiring Fast and Firing Faster

It can take a long time to develop a good employee into a great one, and most of the time, the investment is more than worth it. But turning a mediocre employee into a great one is nearly impossible, which is why it's almost always in everyone's best interests to let people go if they aren't making the grade.

Brian tells us the valuable staffing lessons he's learned over the years and explains why substandard hiring could be hindering your firm's success. We also discuss what you need to look out for in a great team player and why you need to "hire fast and fire faster."

Key takeaways:

Set goals, but never settle for them. The only way to elevate yourself and your business is to always be striving for bigger and better things.
Success isn't measured in revenue. It's a combination of happiness and fulfillment in both your personal and professional life.
Right some wrongs because as attorneys, you have the power to make enormous positive impacts. From time to time, take on the cases that might not be financially rewarding, but that align with your values.

Links and Resources