Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Mironer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ben , appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

My first job, as an attorney, was for a large criminal defense firm. I quickly realized that private practice is not just about being a good lawyer, it’s a business. With every business, the bottom line profits, is how your business is judged.

I didn’t like that theory, or practice of business. I felt you should never have to sacrifice the quality of your work, and effectively handling people’s cases, in order to satisfy a greed for maximum profits. This is a common problem with big criminal defense firms. The case loads that attorneys get, working in a big firm, is much larger than most people could ever imagine. I didn’t know any better, so it took me five years to figure it out.

When I opened my own practice, ten years ago, my motto was that the client always comes first. I never put profits ahead of the well-being of my clients. I know when my caseload gets large, and I can cut-off how many clients I have. That way, I ensure that my clients are getting the optimal representation possible, without being greedy for maximum profits. This has proven to work well for me. It turns out that doing a good job on a case is rewarded. Most of my clients are referrals from past clients. That has allowed me to stay busy, and put my clients first.

Ben , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been working as a criminal defense attorney, for the past 15 years. I’ve handled cases ranging from Driving Under the Influence, to Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Domestic Violence, to Grand Theft, and even Murder. I’m a trial attorney, so I usually handle 2-3 trials per year. Doesn’t sound like much, unless you’ve done a trial before. Trials are the single most difficult thing, that a criminal defense attorney has to do. Most attorneys avoid trials like the plague.

When I tell people I’m a criminal defense attorney, there are only two types of reactions from people. One reaction is warm and accepting, and their eyes light up. The other is an immediate frown, followed by a smirk. I can tell right away between people that have respect for what I do, and people who have a disrespect for what I do.

At the end of the day, I know that I’m helping people that need my help, and I always do it ethically and to the best of my abilities. I defend the Constitution, and everyone’s right to be protected by our laws, when they are accused of a crime. Even people who will never be accused of a crime in their lives, should rest assured knowing that if they were ever arrested, their rights to properly defend themselves, in a fair trial, would be protected.

I always tell myself, that it’s worse to convict an innocent man, than to let a guilty one go. This is important for me to remember because sometimes, I don’t know if my client is guilty or innocent??? I just know that if I have an innocent client, I have to do everything in my power, to prevent them from being wrongfully convicted. So even if a client may be guilty, but I’m not really sure about it, that is a reasonable doubt. Under the law that client is not guilty, and the law was set up this way for a reason. The reason is because it’s worse to convict an innocent person, than it is to let a guilty one get away.

My law office only handles a small caseload. That’s why I’m able to put all of my time, experience , and expertise into every case that I handle. I sometimes go to trial, and even sometimes file appeals. Thus, I don’t need to hand off a case to any other attorneys. I was the lead trial attorney, at a large criminal defense law firm in Los Angeles. I worked there for five years, and gained experience and knowledge into my particular field. I’ve had my own law office now, for the past ten years. I am able to control my caseload, and most of my cases come from referrals. I always put my clients first, and treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Even the clients that are guilty need help in working out deals. So much goes into trying to get a good deal. Sometimes my clients learn from their mistakes, and I try to inspire them to go after their dreams. I’m here to help people that need my help, and to ensure they get the best possible outcome in their case. I try to learn about my clients, in depth. I use the information to paint a better picture of my client to the prosecutor. When a prosecutor reads what someone allegedly did, they start to get their own preconceived notions of who that person is. It’s my job to give the prosecutor a true look into my client’s life. I also try to work with my clients to get them rehabilitated help, instead of jail, when it’s appropriate.

I’ve learned there are good and bad people, in ever type of profession. Criminal defense attorneys usually get a bad rap, but most of us are actually really good people. Most of us are doing it for the right reasons, and we will continue to help others as best we can.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had a major shift in my career when I decided to leave the big criminal defense firm I was working for, to start my own small law office. It was the best decision I ever made.

I was able to provide my clients with more attention, and time spent on each case. I didn’t have to sign very many cases, and I was making double what I had been making, working at the firm.

Now, I’m able to take whatever case is appropriate, to trial. My caseload allows me to really take the time to help people, and not worry about a boss demanding me to close cases quicker. I don’t have to worry about anyone looking over my shoulder, and thinking how many more cases I can handle?

At a certain point, I had two associate attorneys working under me, a paralegal, an assistant, and a receptionist. But, every client and their well-being fell on my shoulders. I found myself doing everyone’s job for them because it was faster that way. I realized, I actually know how to do everyone’s job at the law firm, attorneys and non-attorneys. That is when I decided that I could do it on my own.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I built my reputation by treating clients as more than just a name on a piece of paper. I got to know them, which actually built a future referral source. I realized every client that I do well for, will then always refer me to any friends or family.

But, I also believe I had to get the results to back it up. I used to love to take cases to trial, and prosecutors did not like that. Eventually, my offers started improving and noticed that the prosecutors would rather resolve my cases than risk it at trial. If prosecutors know the attorney is willing and able to go to trial and be successful, they treat them a little differently than an attorney that they know will eventually take any deal they are offered.

Contact Info:

• Website: Mironerlaw.com
• Instagram: Mironer_law
• Yelp: The Law Office of Ben Mironer