Amy Davis, Owner of the Law Office of Amy M. Davis, stands out as an experienced attorney with a demonstrated history of excellence in the law practice industry. Skilled in trials, hearings, torts, litigation management, and trial practice, Amy has earned a reputation for her legal prowess and dedication to justice.
Amy’s commitment to confronting injustice extends beyond the courtroom. She is a compassionate advocate both inside and outside her workplace, caring deeply for others and always ready to take a stand against unfairness. Her professional success is matched by her personal achievements as a mother to two remarkable daughters who keep her on her toes every day, and a wife to a wonderful and supportive husband.
Amy’s life is defined by her relationships and her commitment to others. She is a friend, confidant, mentor to young women, and a leader in her firm and community. She firmly believes that relationship building is the most important problem-solving skill a person can have, and she applies this belief in her daily interactions and professional practice. Her fierce competitiveness, honed through years of playing sports—primarily basketball from the age of seven through college—fuels her drive for excellence. This competitive spirit, combined with her compassionate nature, makes Amy a formidable advocate and a respected leader.
Journey into Law and Advocacy
Amy’s journey into the legal field began during her tenure as a legislative liaison for a state agency. In this role, she collaborated with department heads to develop a legislative agenda that aligned with agency goals. Her responsibilities included finding legislators to sponsor bills, securing advocates to testify, and conducting numerous meetings with legislators and stakeholders to inform them about the agency’s legislative initiatives. This experience sparked her interest in the legal field as a natural progression to advance her career in policy-making.
During law school, Amy had the opportunity to work for a law firm dedicated to assisting individuals who were injured or had lost loved ones through no fault of their own. This experience revealed her true calling. Working in this area of law allowed her to advocate for victims and build meaningful relationships with both her clients and those she negotiated with. Her primary goal in client relationships is to alleviate as much stress as possible so her clients can focus on their recovery.
Over the past fifteen years, Amy has devoted herself to helping victims of sexual assault, nursing home negligence, medical negligence, and trucking negligence. Although the work can be emotionally taxing, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Witnessing a client learn to walk again after a long recovery or seeing parents establish a foundation in their child’s memory which positively impacts their community is immensely fulfilling for Amy.
Law Office of Amy M. Davis
The Law Office of Amy M. Davis is a law firm dedicated to serving clients who have been hurt or have lost a loved one through no fault of their own. The firm is built around the principle of prioritizing clients’ needs and delivering justice. Amy shares, “My team and I are advocates determined to achieve justice for our clients.”
The Law Office of Amy M. Davis’s core values include dedication, empowerment, honesty, expertise, transparency, and the use of cutting-edge technology to make informed decisions and increase the likelihood of achieving the best outcomes for their clients.
The firm’s practice areas encompass a wide range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including Truck Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Civil Sexual Assault, Premises Liability, and Products Liability.
Facing Fear in Legal Career
The most significant barrier in Amy’s legal career has been learning how to confront and deal with fear. As a young lawyer, she was afraid of everything, even of asking questions when she didn’t know what to do because she thought her question might be too stupid. “I began to become more successful when I got out of my own way and just asked the question,” Amy shares. “Often times, I learned that a lot of other lawyers had the same question too, and ultimately we all benefited from the answer because I had the courage to ask.”
This fear, often felt by women, is described as imposter syndrome. On this topic, Amy recommends listening to Reshma Saujani, a fellow lawyer, and the founder of Girls Who Code. Saujani said in her 2023 Commencement Address at Smith College, “Imposter syndrome is the result of structural inequality, not individual inadequacy,” and told the graduates to “pursue what you want to pursue as if imposter syndrome is just two made-up words on a page, because they are.”
In the meantime, if those feelings of fear and doubt continue to creep in, Saujani recommends focusing “less on being perfect, and more on being brave.” Amy echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that bravery and authenticity have been key to her growth and success in the legal field.
Balancing Priorities and Firm Leadership
Amy understands the importance of prioritizing and managing her workload by acknowledging that she cannot do it all and cannot have it all. There are moments when being a mom and a partner to her husband takes precedence. Other times, a trial demands that work takes the front seat. To navigate these shifting priorities, she surrounds herself with supportive friends and family who understand the ebb and flow of her responsibilities. She hires extra help, like a house cleaner, and delegates tasks whenever possible. Though not always perfect in this balancing act, Amy continually strives to improve. She believes the key skills in this practice are asking for help, clearly communicating needs, and knowing when to say no.
As the Owner of her firm, Amy is deeply involved in all aspects and phases of her cases. During intake, she speaks with prospective clients to determine if their case is a good fit for the firm. She stays updated on the client’s progress and treatment plan while they receive care for their injuries.When treatment concludes, she directs her staff to gather the necessary medical records and bills. Amy reviews these documents, creates an analysis of the client’s case, and discusses her findings with the client to formulate a demand. She then negotiates with the insurance company handling the claim. If a pre- suit settlement is not achieved, Amy prepares a complaint and files a lawsuit, remaining actively involved in all aspects of litigation. Beyond her legal duties, she collaborates closely with her staff to ensure responsibilities are met. Despite her demanding schedule, the most fulfilling part of Amy’s daily routine is connecting with her clients.
Collaborative Relationships
Amy emphasizes that in a personal injury practice, the ability to work effectively with clients and colleagues is paramount. For clients, she sends a welcome letter with every new case, outlining her expectations and providing answers to frequently asked questions.
Regular contact is maintained, with efforts to reach out to clients every thirty days. Amy asserts, “In our practice, we have the privilege of telling our client’s story – to an insurance adjuster, to a judge, or to a jury. The only way to do that effectively is to get to know your client as a human being; to take the time to truly understand how the situation for which you are representing them has affected them, physically, mentally, and financially.”
Internally, the office operates as a cohesive team, avoiding redundant work through the use of case management software. This software allows all staff members to input notes, ensuring everyone is up-to-date on the status of any case. It also facilitates task delegation, which is crucial as the practice grows. Initially, Amy found it challenging to delegate tasks, having started her practice by handling everything herself—from answering phones to trying cases. Hiring excellent staff members who she trusts has been a painstaking but necessary process, and she acknowledges that this is a constant work in progress.
Regarding colleagues, whether they are insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, doctors, or experts assisting with causation or damages, Amy strives to build friendly and respectful relationships. Recognizing that she will often work with the same adjusters and lawyers in the future, she avoids making enemies, understanding that cooperation is essential for effective case management. She aims to see each person’s role as an effort to do the best job for their respective clients, which helps her stay objective and not take things personally. Ultimately, her goal is to secure the best result for her clients, and she finds that fostering good relationships with the opposing side overwhelmingly leads to better outcomes.
Overcoming Challenges
Amy holds a nuanced view on challenges, believing they don’t inherently make you stronger. However, she acknowledges that challenges can lead to growth if approached as opportunities. Perspective, she asserts, is key. The way one approaches and perceives challenges can significantly impact their outcomes.
One of the biggest challenges Amy faces as a woman leader in a male-dominated field is gaining recognition as a leader. Recently released data shows that for the first time in history, women constitute the majority of associate attorneys in the United States. Despite this progress, women still occupy only 28% of partnership-level positions. This disparity motivated Amy to establish her own firm, enabling her to carve her own path and move away from structures that, intentionally or not, kept her marginalized.
Balancing home life with a demanding practice is another significant challenge for Amy. A friend and mother of two young children recently expressed a sentiment Amy resonates with: “I feel like I live nine lives before I come into the office.” This sentiment reflects Amy’s constant experience. Despite this, when women speak at events, they are often asked about work-life balance and the possibility of “having it all.” Amy found liberation in a respected lawyer’s candid response to this question: “You can’t, but you do get to choose where you put your time and energy.” This perspective resonates with Amy, who often wonders why male colleagues who are fathers are seldom asked how they manage to be both successful lawyers and good fathers simultaneously.
Effective Communication
Amy believes that effective communication is crucial for both client relations and teamwork within the firm. She has found that the best way to ensure clear and transparent communication with clients and colleagues is by summarizing any verbal conversation in an email immediately afterward. This practice memorializes the conversation and provides the recipient the opportunity to agree with, correct, or add to the summary. This method not only reinforces understanding but also helps to prevent misunderstandings, ensuring everyone is on the same page and fostering a collaborative environment.
Advocacy and Empowerment
Amy remains committed to serving her clients with excellence. Her office relies almost entirely on word-of-mouth, with clients acting as walking billboards. They encourage clients to share their information with anyone who might benefit from their services, making former clients a primary source of new business.
Amy continues to build her firm into a respected powerhouse, where she and her staff are aligned with the firm’s client- focused values. Amy is particularly passionate about supporting and developing women in the legal industry. Noting that women currently make up less than 20% of the Plaintiff’s bar in Indiana, she strives to increase this percentage by actively participating in job fairs and speaking engagements at law schools. Her goal is to better inform and inspire law students about the opportunities within her industry, fostering a more inclusive and diverse legal community.
Insights on Professional Success
For Amy, success in her professional and personal life takes on multiple dimensions. In the office, success is defined by having satisfied clients. Ensuring that clients feel heard, understood, and well-represented is paramount.
In the broader legal community, success means sharing her knowledge and experiences with other lawyers. Amy believes in helping fellow legal professionals and nurturing the next generation of lawyers, ensuring they are both confident and competent. By mentoring and supporting her peers, she contributes to a stronger, more collaborative legal community.
At home, success is being the best partner and mother she can be. This includes having date nights, attending her daughters’ sporting events and various graduations, accompanying them on field trips while they still want her to, and being fully present with her family and friends.
Amy’s advice to the next generation of legal leaders emphasizes the importance of listening. She encourages clients to share their experiences and information with anyone who might benefit from her services, making former clients a primary source of new business. Her practical advice includes tackling the tasks they least want to do first, ensuring they maintain productivity and integrity in their practice.
