With over four decades of dedicated service, The Carlson Law Firm has become synonymous with aiding injured clients throughout Texas. Since 1976, their unwavering commitment to justice has made them a reputable and trusted presence in the legal community.
In a Q&A with Community Impact, Managing Partner Craig Carlson and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Griffin of The Carlson Law Firm, provide their perspectives on the firm's practice. They also highlight Carlson Cares, a significant philanthropic effort dedicated to improving the lives of the entire community.
What areas of law is The Carlson Law Firm best known for?
Carlson: Nationally, we are known as a personal injury law firm. We handle all types of claims from 18-wheeler crashes and car accidents to defective drugs and products like the 3M earplug lawsuit. Our Round Rock, Killeen and Temple offices have a family law department with some of the most skilled family law attorneys in the Central Texas area.
Can you provide information about the growth and expansion of The Carlson Law Firm over the years?
Carlson: Since 2018, we’ve added six new locations—four of which have been in Texas. We want to have an office that is within drivable distance for all Texans. An attorney that drives the same roads you drive, walks the same aisles at your local grocery store and lives in the same neighborhood you do will know the best way to represent you. They will know the habits of drivers or known negligence in local stores.
The internet and shared workspaces have made it easy for big city attorneys to move into smaller areas and pretend they're local, but clients soon find that they’re difficult to get on the phone and inconvenient to meet with in person. We have 16 offices staffed with attorneys that are local. With a dedicated attorney and team in your area, you know you’ll get the signature customer service that The Carlson Law Firm is known for.
What is the purpose of Carlson Cares?
Griffin: We started Carlson Cares in June 2018. Since then, our Austin-area staff has volunteered with local food banks and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, supplied backpacks and snacks to hundreds of students, hosted trunk-or-treats, donated toys and costumes to local charities, and helped ensure dozens of children in the Austin area can wake up on Christmas morning with a tree and gifts.
In fact, one of the most significant ways we give back to our Austin neighbors is through our Carlson Cares Christmas Miracles. It’s more than providing decoration and presents. We’ve helped improve the quality of life of those we’ve helped by furnishing their homes and providing rental assistance to help them make it through challenging times.
Can you provide more details about the Carlson Christmas Miracle program?
Griffin: Carlson Christmas Miracle is our annual program where we select a handful of families to bless with a miracle. We receive hundreds of nominations through social media promotions and other means. Our team reads through the submissions and after several rounds of discussions, they make the difficult selection. We bless families with decorations, gifts, furniture, clothes and so much more. Sometimes we’ll do mini-miracles where families ask for something as simple as clothes and shoes.
How does Carlson Cares aim to improve lives in the Austin community?
Griffin: The Carlson Law Firm is a resource for people who need legal help, and Carlson Cares is a resource for people in need in our communities. Times are tough for the average American. Soaring rents and inflation have squeezed the budgets of many people across the country—especially here in the Austin area. Our primary aim is to help people have access to the essentials to free up some of their budgets and hopefully alleviate some of their stress.
What is Party With a Purpose and how does it benefit the community?
Griffin: A Party With a Purpose is a way for us to give back to our community through a fun, family-focused community event. We’ve done this through toy drives, backpack and school supply giveaways and even providing Thanksgiving meals in a basket to families. We think of unique ways to impact our community.
Carlson: Giving back is more than writing a check. You can’t honestly know how to help someone if you don’t know what they need. You don’t know what they need unless you’re out in the community, talking with them and getting to know them.
Are there any specific projects or initiatives that have been successful through Carlson Cares?
Griffin: Spreading Christmas cheer across Texas has been a big one for us. Our toy drive in Lubbock, which we are hoping to expand to Wichita Falls and Midland this year, and our Christmas Miracles across the state have impacted hundreds. We have been able to provide everything from a simple toy for children to providing heat to homes that were dealing with frigid temperatures. Kindness is contagious and we hope to see others follow our lead.
What sets The Carlson Law Firm apart from other law firms?
Carlson: Lawyers have such a bad reputation because of how money hungry many in our profession come off. You drive down I-35 here in the Austin area, and all you see is lawyers throwing around dollar signs and cheesy one-liners that make it seem like you’ll get fast cash. It’s uncaring and makes us all look bad.
We want people to know that’s not who we are. In most cases, injury clients aren’t out for a quick buck; our clients are trying to heal from another person’s carelessness that has changed their and their family's lives. We don’t have a magic wand to undo the event that led to their pain. What we have is the law that allows people to seek recompense from the person or company responsible for their injuries.
Can you explain the fee structure or billing process at The Carlson Law Firm?
Carlson: When it comes to injury cases, we work on contingency. What this means is we don’t require our injury clients to put any money down and we receive our fee when we successfully resolve your case.
Learn more about The Carlson Law Firm's practice areas and discover how Carlson Cares is dedicated to improving the lives of the community.
The above story was produced by Holly Galvan with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team. Our integrity promise to our readers is to clearly identify all CI Storytelling posts so they are separate from the content decided upon, researched and written by our journalism department.
