Amber Hall
Sponsored by RebuttalPR
What inspired you to specialize in plaintiff personal injury law? I fell into the practice of plaintiff personal injury law. While in law school, I thought I would pursue a non-traditional law career. As a former athlete who played basketball in college, I considered becoming an agent or an athletic director. I interned at the Athletic Association at the University of Florida during law school. While my peers clerked and worked with law firms and judges, I aimed to enter the sports field. Nevertheless, my first job after passing the bar was at a personal injury firm in Atlanta, handling Florida cases. As I began working with clients, I realized this role perfectly aligned with my desire to make a difference, be impactful, and inspire others positively. It was an excellent fit, and I'm glad I was led in that direction.
Can you share a case or maybe a couple of cases that had a significant impact on you? There was a wrongful death case involving negligent security, which I handled. I had just started my firm in my apartment living room in Atlanta and needed such cases. My former boss had this case and suggested I work on it, noting it was in Tallahassee, which is my hometown. The case was complex; many experienced attorneys advised against pursuing it, suggesting I leave it alone. Starting out, I put myself in a precarious situation by financially investing in the case. However, I believed in it and wanted to help the children whose mother was unfortunately killed at an apartment complex. After taking depositions and being relentless and persistent, we managed to get justice for the family. It was a life-changing experience as a young attorney who had just started my firm. Experienced peers suggested I give up, but something told me not to, and I'm glad I didn't. That case significantly impacted me as one of the first I took on my own.
Another wrongful death trucking case involved working with more experienced attorneys. It offered many lessons, especially as the insurance company denied the claim. In my second year of practicing law, I convinced other attorneys on the case not to accept the initial offer. Despite their initial doubts about my advice, we continued to litigate, persisted, and made the insurance company do the right thing. This confirmed I was in the right field, positively affecting my confidence and career trajectory, even as a solo practitioner handling just a few cases and figuring things out.
You mentioned a couple of different cases that folks advised you not to pursue. What do you think sets you apart in how you pursued those cases and were ultimately successful? I think my upbringing plays a significant role; my parents are very persistent and work extremely hard. They're very diligent. Additionally, my background as an athlete taught me never to take no for an answer and to show up every day. I believe this has impacted the way I practice law—when many would say, "This is too much work," I think, "Okay, bring it on. Let's work, let's do it, let's make it happen." So, I think that sets me apart. Also, I love people and enjoy talking with them. I feel I am more personable, which helps in my practice, especially in building trust with clients and establishing rapport. Being hands-on, persistent, and personable are qualities that set me apart.
How do you build trust with clients, especially during the first meeting or the initial stages of a case? I think being myself – not trying to be anyone else – is crucial. Sometimes in the legal profession, people's expectations are shaped by what they see on TV, and they think that's how lawyers should act, dress, or conduct themselves. Owning who I am is important. Also, talking to the client and actively listening to them is vital. I focus on their concerns, try to alleviate any issues, and reassure them that we're taking a team approach. As a former athlete, I use sports terminology to explain our strategies; I often give them the game plan and emphasize that it's all about teamwork. That's why they hired me.
What challenges have you faced as a young female attorney in this field, and how did you overcome them? I would say that being underestimated, which I love, by the way, is a challenge. There were challenges with respect to funding, opening a business, and going to a bank and saying, "Hey, I opened a business," and they look at you like, "You did?" There were also challenges with respect to certain resources. But there are so many ways to be resourceful, especially with marketing and trying to get things off the ground when starting the firm. There are certainly daily challenges, being a female attorney and particularly in personal injury, dealing with insurance companies. There are myths I am constantly trying to overcome or trying to teach people that what they may hear is not true. Sometimes you feel like you are trying to shift mindsets and attitudes. But I look at it as just that: a challenge. And I'm going to continue to show up, again and again.
Are there any role models or mentors who have been especially pivotal in shaping your career? Honestly, I will say my parents, for whom I'm thankful. They're my best friends. Watching them grow their small businesses and work tirelessly, dedicated to their community work, has been pivotal in my career. My grandparents, my mother's parents, were also very influential. They were killed in a car crash when I was in high school, but before that, they had started a convenience store in my grandmother's hometown. Even in her 60s or maybe her 70s, she decided to start the convenience store she always wanted. I was inspired by that. As an entrepreneur, I've always wanted to start my own business, influenced by my grandmother's venture. I was in elementary school when she started that store, and I remember helping her pick out the inventory. It excited me to see someone realize their dream, especially when they had already retired but chose to start a business. Seeing their dedication profoundly changed my outlook on what it means to be an entrepreneur and what I need to do to be successful.
Could you tell us about your firm, your practice, and what keeps you busy these days? Yes, I'm thankful we are extremely busy now, which wasn't the case 10 years ago. Our firm handles personal injury and wrongful death cases across the state of Florida. We’re based in Tallahassee, and I am the only attorney in the firm, but I’m constantly hiring more support staff and trying to get creative with our business model. I want this to be a dynamic and different law firm because I know how stressful the legal profession can be, especially the work we do. I wanted a work environment that isn’t stale or stuffy—typical of law firms—where people can genuinely say good morning, be themselves, and feel safe. It’s also a place that empowers people to voice their opinions, work hard, and be their best selves. We're growing every day, and I have ambitious expansion plans, especially in marketing, which is one of my strengths. We do everything in-house. That's our direction—we're pushing hard to make a difference. Our goal is to continue growing. I also want to give more opportunities to people who might not normally have them. I started my firm partly to offer experiences to those who might find it difficult to work in traditional law firms. I aim to create a place where people can say, “She gave me a start, a real shot,” and we help them or maybe even inspire them to pursue their dreams, whether in the legal profession or not. There's a big world out there, and everyone deserves to pursue their dreams and go after them.
What aspect of your work are you most passionate about? You’ve touched on this, but what excites you the most and keeps you engaged with these cases? I love winning. There’s something satisfying about getting justice for clients, especially when an insurance company denies a claim. Whether it’s a clear liability or a contested case, being able to strategize appropriately, make the right moves, and eventually get them to concede or go to trial keeps me motivated. Knowing that clients are counting on me, trusting me to handle their issues, fuels my drive. I don’t want to let them down. I strive to give it my all, just as I would leave everything on the court—in both basketball and the courtroom. I'm also driven by continuous growth. The '1% Rule'—getting better by at least 1% every day—has shown me how much I’ve learned since starting. It’s fascinating to see my own development from knowing nothing about personal injury law to having over a decade of experience. This growth excites me. I often think about what we’ve achieved in a certain period and how we can accelerate our progress. Instead of planning to accomplish something in two years, I wonder if we can do it in six or nine months. I am motivated to see more growth and continue fighting the good fight. Challenges are inevitable, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed and consider giving up. However, my philosophy is to bring it on, do more, make a difference, and continue to fight the good fight. Let's be as impactful as possible and create positive change.
How do you balance work with your personal life, especially in a field as demanding as personal injury law and owning your own firm? I have accepted that for me, there will always be some sort of imbalance. But I try. When I travel, which is usually for work, I try to squeeze in a dinner at a great restaurant, maybe a visit to the mall, or a trip to the beach—something to explore the area. But I've accepted that I don't have balance, and that's fine because I'm grateful for my work. I'm honored, and I wouldn't have it any other way. So, for me, it's just making sure that I do put my health first, which is so important. Ensuring that I have a clear mind and am in good shape is a priority. Other than that, I've accepted it and just rolled with it at this point.
What advice would you give to women attorneys just starting out in this area of law? I would say to have a lot of confidence in yourself. Right now, even though you don't have many years of experience, you may be second-guessing your actions, the position you're in, or whether this is the right field—questions that many people have. If I could go back, I would have even more confidence in myself, knowing that I'm on the right path and that I don't need to have everything figured out at this moment. Life is a journey, but it's important to make the most of that time. Being resourceful is crucial. This means making connections, meeting people, and learning about what others do. I would also say to invest in yourself. Invest in your health and wellness, for sure, but also in your career. If you want to be really good at trial, try to attend as many conferences as possible, listen to podcasts, join Zoom meetings—anything that will help you improve. As a CEO, I am now investing more in the firm, myself, and my leadership skills, and it truly makes a difference. The sooner you can invest in yourself and the things you want to do, the better.
Why do you think organizations like the Society of Women Trial Lawyers are important? I believe they are very important. It's crucial to bring like-minded women and people together, to show that we are not alone, not isolated on an island. The Society of Women Trial Lawyers does a great job of uniting people from all walks of life. We share a commonality as trial lawyers who are all fighting the good fight, and such organizations provide valuable resources. For instance, I was looking at the agenda for the upcoming conference, and it looks amazing. These are the people I want to be around, and these are the conversations I want to have. That's why organizations like this are so important; they keep us going, recharged, and refreshed. --
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