James Sokolove
Encyclopedia
James Sokolove is an American attorney
who pioneered legal television advertising allowing increased access to legal services. He was the largest legal advertiser in the United States in 2007, spending $20 million.
. He attended Lawrence Academy at Groton
and then went on to Case Western Reserve University
. After receiving his B.A.
in 1966 he attended Suffolk University Law School
and earned a juris doctor
in 1969. He also received a certificate in 1990 from Harvard Business School
.
community organizer after graduation from law school. After his father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
, he took his father's place leading the family law firm. He initially handled divorce
s and personal injury
lawsuits. After several years, the law firm began to face mounting debts and split up. The troubles at the first law firm convinced Sokolove that he had to find a new way to gain clients. This led him to begin advertising his law firm on television, which was extremely rare at that time. Sokolove's first ad, which featured a car crash filmed in slow motion, aired in 1982. He tries to make the commercials as simple as possible, to avoid confusing viewers. He advertising tactics were initially criticized by prominent Boston Lawyers. The advertising succeeded, however, and gained him a large number of new clients. The amount of new cases quickly became more than he or the lawyers he hired could handle. He began referring clients to affiliate law firms for a portion of the legal fees they earned. His law office now has 80 employees and over 300 affiliate firms in the United State which currently have over 10,000 open cases. Boston Business Journal ranked Sokolove one of “Greater Boston’s 100 Most Influential Business People of the 20th Century” and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly ranked him one of the “Most Influential Attorneys of the Past 25 Years.”
. Sokolove is also active in various non-profits in the Boston area, including Greater Boston Legal Services Corporation, Suffolk University Law School
, North Shore Community College
, Law Project for Multi-handicapped Children, Cycleline, and Special Young Visions Art Competition.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who pioneered legal television advertising allowing increased access to legal services. He was the largest legal advertiser in the United States in 2007, spending $20 million.
Early life and education
The son of a personal injury lawyer, Sokolove was raised in Revere, MassachusettsRevere, Massachusetts
Revere is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and located approximately from downtown Boston. It is named after the American patriot Paul Revere. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 51,755.- History :...
. He attended Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton, , is a co-educational preparatory school located in Groton, Massachusetts, in the United States...
and then went on to Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. After receiving his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1966 he attended Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School, also known as Suffolk Law School or SULS, is one of the professional graduate schools of Suffolk University. Suffolk University Law School is a private, non-sectarian, law school located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Suffolk University Law School was founded in...
and earned a juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1969. He also received a certificate in 1990 from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
.
Legal career
Sokolove volunteered as a VISTAVolunteers in Service to America
VISTA or Volunteers in Service to America is an anti-poverty program created by Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as the domestic version of the Peace Corps. Initially, the program increased employment opportunities for conscientious people who felt they could contribute tangibly to...
community organizer after graduation from law school. After his father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, he took his father's place leading the family law firm. He initially handled divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
s and personal injury
Personal injury
Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property. The term is most commonly used to refer to a type of tort lawsuit alleging that the plaintiff's injury has been caused by the negligence of another, but also arises in defamation...
lawsuits. After several years, the law firm began to face mounting debts and split up. The troubles at the first law firm convinced Sokolove that he had to find a new way to gain clients. This led him to begin advertising his law firm on television, which was extremely rare at that time. Sokolove's first ad, which featured a car crash filmed in slow motion, aired in 1982. He tries to make the commercials as simple as possible, to avoid confusing viewers. He advertising tactics were initially criticized by prominent Boston Lawyers. The advertising succeeded, however, and gained him a large number of new clients. The amount of new cases quickly became more than he or the lawyers he hired could handle. He began referring clients to affiliate law firms for a portion of the legal fees they earned. His law office now has 80 employees and over 300 affiliate firms in the United State which currently have over 10,000 open cases. Boston Business Journal ranked Sokolove one of “Greater Boston’s 100 Most Influential Business People of the 20th Century” and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly ranked him one of the “Most Influential Attorneys of the Past 25 Years.”
Personal life
Sokolove is a major supporter of the Democratic party, having donated over $250,000 in the past 10 years. During the 2008 presidential election he participated in door to door canvassing on behalf of Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Sokolove is also active in various non-profits in the Boston area, including Greater Boston Legal Services Corporation, Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School, also known as Suffolk Law School or SULS, is one of the professional graduate schools of Suffolk University. Suffolk University Law School is a private, non-sectarian, law school located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Suffolk University Law School was founded in...
, North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College is a two-year community college in Danvers and Lynn Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
, Law Project for Multi-handicapped Children, Cycleline, and Special Young Visions Art Competition.