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Building Relationships, Offering Solutions, Seeking Justice

Building Relationships that allow us to better serve our clients.

We treat each client as an individual. Our job is to build relationships with our clients, so that we can best meet their needs. We seek first to understand our clients and what is important to them: Their needs, objectives and resources. We then apply our experience, skill, and creativity, to provide the most effective and cost efficient solutions. But it is this first step of getting to know the client that allows us to truly meet the needs of the client.

Representation focused on providing solutions and seeking justice for our clients.

In representing clients, a lawyer performs various functions.

As an evaluator and an advisor, we examine a client’s legal affairs and provide the client with an informed understanding of the client’s legal rights and obligations, and explain their practical implications. At Whitaker & Shade we seek to explain in plain English the implications of different courses of action, so the client can make a truly informed decision. Some clients are most concerned with getting a certain result, even if the risks are high. Other clients are most concerned with getting their matter resolved as quickly as possible, if a fair result can be achieved. Most clients simply want to ensure that justice is done, but many need help in evaluating what justice is in a particular case. We learn the client’s priorities, advise the client of his options, and implement solutions.

As advocate, a lawyer asserts the client’s position in the most favorable light under the rules of the adversary system.  Advocacy is most pronounced in the courtroom where we seek to exploit every legal advantage over the opposition. At Whitaker & Shade, we also build on our understanding of the client’s needs and take a holistic approach to advocating for our clients. Unfortunately many people believe that they need a “bulldog” attorney who will be on the constant attack. In turn, many lawyers act like bulldogs merely to impress their client. These lawyers may win their client’s approval, but they rarely win the case. We are aggressive and zealous advocates of our client’s interests, but we also know that constantly being on the attack, rude, and demeaning to others is rarely in the client’s best interests. Justice is never achieved by treating others unjustly.

As negotiator, a lawyer seeks a result advantageous to the client and consistent with requirements of honest dealings with others. At Whitaker and Shade, communication with the client and understanding of the client, the facts, the law, and the opponent are the ingredients for successful negotiation. Oftentimes, cordial communication, helping a client take the emotion out of a decision and working to reach a settlement through strong advocacy is the best course of action.

With this combination of relationship, evaluation, advocacy, and negotiation, we are seeking the best possible solutions, with the least amount of risk. Our legal system is not perfect, and it is not always fair, but we believe this process allows us to maximize your chances of getting the outcome you desire.

Serving our Communities
Recognizing the special responsibility that attorneys bear in a democratic society and our obligations as citizens of our communities, we participate actively in community service, pro bono representation, and professional organizations.

To name a few examples, Ryan Whitaker is currently serving our country in the U.S. Army. Jim Whitaker serves on the Warren County Ethics and Law Library committees.  Jerry Shade serves on several area Boards, and volunteers for several pro-life organizations. The firm also donates to over a dozen local charity events.

Informing Responsible Citizens

At Whitaker & Shade, we appreciate the blessing and honor we have been given to be Officers of the Court for one of the finest justice systems in the world. “A Nation of Laws, Not Men” is a bedrock principle of our nation. This principle is eroded when people are not aware of the laws, or when they are not aware of their responsibility to protect their own rights through participation in the democratic process. In serving our community, one of our goals is to help inform responsible citizens of their rights and responsibilities, under the law, and in the areas that matter to them.

 In that regard, we volunteer at reduced or pro-bono rates to speak for local groups on such issues as Estate Planning, Personal Injury Do’s and Don’ts, Resolving Disputes through Mediation, The Right to Life, Alcoholism – Diagnosis and Treatment, and the Responsibilities of the Citizen to Participate in Democracy. To schedule Mr. Shade to speak at your event, please email all details to him directly at jshade@wsattorneys.com.

Technology / Efficiency

We are a small law firm, but we leverage our productivity through the use of our excellent support staff and a utilization of technology. We have a fully networked office with business class broadband internet, and Wi-Fi technology. Our partners have laptops, blackberries and high quality digital cameras. These tools enable us to keep in touch, keep updated, and deliver top notch presentations to juries. We also have a full color copier/scanner that is linked to our network for reduced cost and increased efficiency when preparing exhibits and important documents and moving from paper to electronic data with ease. We utilize Time Matters legal case management software to manage and track our cases. This software has many rich features, and time saving devices. We use both Lexis Nexis and Westlaw to expedite up to date legal research.

Our goal is to continually enhance our technological abilities in ways that increase our knowledge and efficiency, and reduce costs to you.