One Brave Move That Revolutionized My Career as an Accident Lawyer
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
By Keith L. Magness
Attorney and CEO at Magness Law
There’s that one moment that marks a defining point in your life, a moment that divides your existence before and after that particular experience. My defining moment came when I decided to become a part of that group of people known as entrepreneurs by opening my own law firm. Now, after all those years of helping, learning, and improving as an accident attorney, I was merely complacent. My inner self was telling me that perhaps it was too soon, that maybe I needed a bit more experience in order to branch out and start my own firm. That was when opportunity came knocking. Sort of knocking loudly, actually.
The Leap That Redefined My Career
Establishing my own law firm was a daunting and thrilling experience all at once. I clearly remember when I signed that lease and understood that I was no longer simply a practicing attorney but also a creator of something that represented my name, values, and vision. There were days of self-doubt and sleep-deprived nights when I wondered if I was foolish enough to have taken such a huge leap of faith.
I started taking accident claims with a new sense of ownership. Each new client that came through my door was a reminder of why I opened my practice in the first place – to protect, serve, and fight for those who feel so helpless after an accident. Now, of course, I couldn’t compete with large firms or their fancy systems in those early days, but I was scrappy, compassionate, and dedicated to my clients in a unique way. It wasn’t easy, but it was real, and it was mine.
Second Leap – Tackling Fear of Visibility
Opening my law office was an ambitious act, but creating a channel on YouTube was an even bolder one. Honestly speaking, I was a bit hesitant at first. It just felt awkward—sitting in front of a cam talking about law and sharing all that with everyone. Attorneys such as Me are courtroom people, not stage stars. Nevertheless, an important thing clicked in my mind—and that is people do not just employ attorneys, they purchase trust.
So I began small. I produced short, educational videos that showed people how to proceed in an accident situation, explained claims processing, and informed victims of rights they may not have known they possessed. My early videos were definitely not Oscar material - pauses and awkward smiles, oh yeah, and several takes for one shot. But they were real.
Before I knew it, my channel started getting popular. And soon, clients came calling, stating that they discovered me from “YouTube” and that my videos gave them a clear insight into their situation. It was not just a matter of acquiring more clients, it was a matter of connecting with people before they actually knew that they required assistance. That same camera that scared me was now my strength in terms of spreading knowledge and empowerment. This is when I discovered that it also gave me self-confidence.
Why It Worked?
Both of these decisions—building my own office or creating a channel on YouTube—saw success because they came from a place of courage, not comfort. I didn’t have all the answers or all the resources in the world at hand. But I had conviction. Each time that I pushed passed uncertainty, I grew as a person. My business grew. My confidence grew. Most importantly, my relationship with others grew as well.
“Sometimes, law appears as an abstraction, an entity that’s almost frightening. That’s why bringing it closer through my channel was so important. They trusted me not just as an attorney, but also as a human being who cared—and that was a key element of my success.”
My Advice to Anyone Ready to Level Up
Standing at a road crossing thinking about taking a leap toward that leap of faith? Do it. Do not wait for everything to fall in line because it will never happen. You learn through taking risks that make you a bit scared but make you super excited at the same time. Start your business. Start your project. Start your channel.
You will never feel ready enough, but readiness is not the aim—resilience is. Once you take that leap, you will surprise yourself with your capabilities. Keep in mind that when you put your voice out there, you will draw a crowd that understands your vision and needs your product or your message. In reflection, of all of the decisions I have ever made, I was most unsure of two of them: to start my own practice and go public with a YouTube channel. Ironically, those represented two of the best decisions that I have ever made—decisions that have affected not only my career but also myself as a whole. Sometimes, it’s when you aren’t waiting for just the right moment that you make your biggest discoveries—to make it yourself.
Connect With Keith
Comments