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About
the Firm |
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The
firm started in 1996 with a focus on small business representation
and employment law. Over the years the firm has helped dozens of
new entrepreneurs start their businesses and navigate the complexities
of starting a new business. In addition to formation, small business
cases include tax and zoning disputes, contract
disputes, customer complaints and employment law
issues. |
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In
response to requests from area doctors to help their injured patients,
the firm started handling workers compensation claims in 1997. Growing
to one of the biggest workers compensation firms in the State by
2003*. |
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Many
clients who have been injured on the job also have third party claims
arising from how they got hurt (for example they may have been on
a construction site or in a car accident) so in
order to fully protect the rights of these clients, the firm expanded
into personal injury claims in 1999. By 2003 the firm was handling
hundreds of personal injury claims ranging from motor vehicle accidents
to falling objects on construction sites, to slip and falls. |
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The
firm has recovered millions of dollars in benefits for injured persons!
However, the firm is not just about dollars. We work with our clients
to help them find retraining and housing assistance to get their
lives back on track after devastating injuries. The firm prides
itself on being tough on their own clients – not allowing
clients to sit back and wait for a lawsuit to fix their problems
and motivating them to get fully treated and retrained so that they
can reenter the workforce as soon as possible in the highest and
most productive fashion. |
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As
a full service firm, we also handle a variety of real estate
closings for our clients who have bought or sold a home
and wills for clients that do not have estate planning
documents in place. |
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*Based
upon data published by the Texas Workers Compensation Commission
about the billing and number of clients handled by attorneys before
the TWCC in 2003. |
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The
Attorneys |
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Joan
Durkin |
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Joan
Durkin is the President of the firm and is the Senior Attorney.
She has been practicing law for over a decade.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - In addition to holding an
MBA degree, she is a business owner and has served on the Board
of Directors of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce, which
gives her a unique insight into the needs of small business.
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE - Joan has resolved over 500
unfair labor practice cases, over 200 disputed benefit cases, over
50 U.S. Air Force employment cases, dozens of private sector employment
disputes. Additionally Joan has mediated dozens of general civil
and family law cases for Dispute Resolution Services of Tarrant
County.
TRAINING - Joan is a highly sought after speaker
and trainer.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION - Joan has served as a former
hearing officer for the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission,
so she is very familiar with the workers compensation laws and the
operation of the TWCC. She has handled over 500 disputed benefit
cases and has a success rate in excess of 90%. While past performance
is not a predictor of future results, it shows that experience counts!
EDUCATION
BA from the University of Texas at Arlington
MBA from the University of North Texas
JD from Southern Methodist University Law School.
Ms. Durkin is also an experienced mediator with over eight years
experience. She has over 200 hours of specialized alternate dispute
resolution training including courses from the:
Attorney-Mediator Institute
Dispute Resolution Services
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Resolution Group
Dallas Bar Association |
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Support
Staff |
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LITIGATION
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Cases that have been filed in State or Federal
Court are handled by a legal assistant who has at least ten years
experience with drafting pleadings, scheduling hearings, drafting
discovery and responses, preparing witnesses for deposition and
hearing. The legal assistant handles most of the communication with
the client in gathering facts and data needed by the attorneys to
evaluate and litigate the case. |
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PRE-LITIGATION
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Cases that involve employment claims or injuries
(other than work comp), as well as non litigation matters such as
wills and real estate are handled by the prelit assistant. The legal
assistant handles most of the communication with the client in gathering
facts and data needed by the attorneys to evaluate and negotiate
the case.
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WORKERS
COMPENSATION ASSISTANT
Cases before the Division of Workers Compensation involve a high
degree of specialized knowledge of the forms, deadlines and systems.
Legal assistants that handle these cases are well trained and knowledgeable
about medical terminology, work comp terminology and deadlines,
work comp forms and case handling strategy. The legal assistant
handles most of the daily communication with the client, health
care providers and adjusters as well as the Division of Workers
Compensation. |
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INTAKE
COORDINATOR
Potential clients will speak with an intake coordinator whose job
it is, to gather as much relevant data as they can in a short period
of time so that the attorneys will have enough information to evaluate
the case and the caller will not have to repeat the same information
again and again. The intake coordinator must ask for a great deal
of detail in order for us to be able to determine if we can help
the caller. |
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FRONT
OFFICE
Front office staff deal with walk in clients, mail handling and
billing. They are the firms first contact with potential customers
and they are continuously trained in customer service techniques.
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Durkin
Law Offices, P.C.
669 Airport Freeway, Ste. 107
Hurst, Texas 76053
817-545-9700
817-268-8899 (metro)
817-545-5071 (fax) |
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