You've completed law school, taken the bar exam, have built a network of contacts and are ready to start practicing. And then, your entire law school's results are thrown out. You're faced with the choice: walk away completely for a new career, or go back to law school and do it all over again."I graduated the first time, took the bar, and I had to ask myself then before I was even a licensed lawyer, will I do it all again?"Rodd Santomauro joins us to share his compelling story of persistence, perseverance and authenticity in building a thriving career as a plaintiff's personal injury attorney, and most recently, VP of Strategic Partnership and lien resolution strategist with Synergy.Learn just how important it is to be proactive, assertive and taking responsibility for your own career. "I wouldn't let the inaction of others negatively impact my dreams," says Rodd. Protect your sanity, and your clients’ money, by being true to yourself. The results will follow.In this episode, we discuss:◼️ Why over-preparation is crucial to standing out, and can make a real difference in work and life.◼️ Why proactive advocacy is crucial for achieving the best outcomes for clients.◼️ Why understanding liens is essential for personal injury lawyers.◼️ How negotiating with lien holders can significantly impact client settlements.◼️ Strategies used to negotiate lien reductions, ultimately benefiting both lawyers and their clients.◼️ How empathy and active listening help you truly understand your clients, and get the best possible results.Chapters00:00 Finding Fulfillment in Your Career03:53 The Importance of Personal Style06:44 Embracing Authenticity in the Legal Profession08:32 Forced to Repeat Law School: Lessons in Perseverance15:27 The Role of Continuous Learning17:58 Rodd's Work with Synergy24:34 Understanding the MCO Case25:21 Client Impact and Fee Structure30:55 Explaining Liens to Clients36:17 Negotiating with Lien Holders40:30 Pushing Forward in Legal Cases44:38 Advice for Young LawyersCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki