Georgia Injury Lawyer Blog

The family at Good Georgia Lawyer, Williams Oinonen LLC, wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.

We are very thankful for all our many blessings this year. God has been good and it is only through Him that we derive our strength and being.

We wish all our clients and fellow neighbors of the Georgia community a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy the turkey, your loved ones-- family, and friends.

At the request of Georgia State Bar President-Elect Robin Frazer Clark, President Ken Shigley appointed Julie Oinonen, partner at Williams Oinonen LLC to serve on the Georgia Fair Market Practices Committee.

The Fair Market Practices Committee will have two tasks:

First, this committee will review over potential amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct 7.2 on legal advertising and a nonbinding Statement on Professionalism in Lawyer Advertising that will address practices that the federal courts do not let us prohibit.

The scope of what can be done about lawyer advertising rules under federal court decisions on commercial speech is pretty much limited to adding a finite list of disclosure and disclaimer requirements. There have been recent federal court decisions arising in New York, Florida and Louisiana. Any proposal approved by this committee will be subject to approval by the Disciplinary Rules Committee, Board of Governors and Supreme Court of Georgia.

Second, this committee will develop a program for more effective enforcement of Rule 7.3, which prohibits direct solicitation of clients, particularly injury victims. For years some lawyers have systematically used "runners" to solicit personal injury cases in direct contravention of Rule 7.3 and OCGA 15-19-55. President Ken Shigley's opinion is that lawyers who conduct themselves in this manner poorly serve the consumers of legal services, unfairly compete against law-abiding attorneys who follow the rules, and degrade both the legal profession and the justice system. Stated President Shigley: "It is time to clean our own house. Thus, I am including both prosecutors and former FBI agents to serve on this committee."

Julie Oinonen is honored to accept appointment to the Fair Market Practices Committee and looks forward to serving.

Williams Oinonen LLC partner Julie Oinonen was recently appointed as a Fellow at the Emory University School of Law Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

Previously, Ms. Oinonen has been a Dean's Teaching Fellow and Post Doctoral Fellow for Emory University School of Law. She is also admitted into the prestigious Order of Emory Advocates, in addition to being awarded the Kathleen Kessler-Eidson Trial Advocacy Award and International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award by Emory University School of Law. Ms. Oinonen has a Masters of Education and Masters of Business Administration graduating Magna Cum Laude. She completed her undergraduate education at Covenant College, a Christian college located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Ms. Oinonen now joins her partner, Mr. Mario Bernard Williams, who is also a Fellow at the Center. Prior to Mr. William's career as an attorney at Williams Oinonen LLC, he worked in the field of International Human Rights throughout South America. Mr. Williams graduated with honors from Morehouse with a degree in Political Science and has extensive experience with opponent research, policy analysis and political consulting. Additionally, Mr. Williams and Ms. Oinonen have had much success working on opponent research campaigns for elected officials throughout Georgia.

Ms. Oinonen's recent appointment as Fellow at the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution makes Williams Oinonen LLC the only law firm in the United States to have both Partners named as Fellows of Emory University Law School.

Currently, Williams Oinonen LLC is accepting new clients. We welcome you to contact us to schedule an appointment today.

Last week, Williams Oinonen LLC helped sponsor and organize a two day event at Emory University School of Law presented by the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

This past weekend, Williams Oinonen LLC presented a volunteer lunch and learn workshop for pre-law students at Covenant College. For more information on the event, you can view the printed flyer here: lunch and learn Poster fall 2011.pdf.

Covenant College is a four year liberal arts, Christian College that is the official college of the Presbyterian Church of America located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The topics covered during the workshop were:

- Deciding if law is the right choice for you
- Choosing your calling & career in law
- Getting into a top school
- Succeeding while you are there.

Next spring semester, Williams Oinonen LLC will be doing a field trip for Covenant College pre-law students to visit the state capitol, courts, and an admissions tour of Emory Law School. Good Georgia Lawyer believes that there is nothing better than working with young people--both college students and law students. Our law firm, Williams Oinonen LLC, plans to continue its work with colleges, universities, and law schools throughout Georgia.

For more information on scheduling a workshop covering a wide range of topics, contact Williams Oinonen LLC today at 404-654-0288.