Podcast Summary: Personal Injury Mastermind – Ep. 357

Inside a $1B Legacy PI Firm: How Innovation Keeps You on Top w/ Michele Mirman

Host: Chris Dreyer, Rankings.io
Guest: Michele Mirman, Founding Partner, Mirman, Markovitz & Landau
Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Michele Mirman, the trailblazing founding partner of Mirman, Markovitz & Landau, a New York-based personal injury firm with a track record of over $1 billion in recoveries. With nearly five decades of leadership, Mirman shares the firm’s journey from a neighborhood Brooklyn office to a Manhattan market leader, emphasizing how embracing innovation and cultivating a strong team have kept her practice thriving in a highly competitive field. The discussion provides actionable marketing insights, operational wisdom, and a candid look into the enduring strategies that underpin a legacy PI practice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lasting Impact Through Innovation and Care (01:08–01:58)

• Client-Centric Wins: Mirman describes her most meaningful victories, focusing on restoring clients’ lives beyond financial compensation, reflecting a “doing good by doing right” ethic.
• Quote:

  “For me is the win. When it’s not just a question of money, but it’s a question of whether the money can help the family, the person who’s hurt live their life again.” – Michele Mirman, 01:56

2. Strategic Firm Growth: Expansion and Early Tech Adoption (02:25–04:51)

• Moving to Manhattan: Driven by ambition to move beyond a “Brooklyn firm,” Mirman moved the office to Manhattan in 1991 to access a broader client base and higher-value cases.
• Advertising Pioneering: Early adopter of train, bus, newspaper, and cable ads. She built her first law firm website and app in 2000—an early, bold move, although tech adoption among clients lagged.
• Technological Innovation: Persistent investment in databases and case management, including collaborating with her son to create AI systems for reading and organizing case documents.
• Quote:

  “I had a website and I also had an app in 2000. The issue was...nobody had computers, so it was useless.” – Michele Mirman, 02:31 “It’s made our lives phenomenally easy.” (on custom AI program) – Michele Mirman, 04:45

3. Building Reputation in a Digital Age (04:51–06:41)

• Online Presence as an Asset: Mirman’s Wikipedia and online footprint now play a significant role in credibility and discoverability, especially as prospective clients use tools like ChatGPT to find lawyers.
• Gravitas and Social Proof: Leadership roles in legal associations and charitable work enhance visibility and trust—essential in today’s referral and search-driven environment.
• Quote:

  “It’s a product of how much you have out there online...and whether you have any kind of gravitas. So it’s not just that I’m any lawyer floating around in the universe.” – Michele Mirman, 05:29

4. Niche Practices and Difficult Cases (06:05–08:00)

• Breaking Ground in Sensitive Cases: Mirman built a reputation taking on sexual assault cases when peers wouldn’t, facing both legal and social headwinds.
• Legislative Progress: Mirman highlights the value of changes in statutes of limitations for abuse cases, allowing more victims to seek justice.
• Quote:

  “At the beginning with the first case I took, no other lawyer wanted this case. ...people started to call me. Other lawyers with this type of case...” – Michele Mirman, 06:42

5. Disciplined Case Selection and Long-Term Approach (08:16–10:33)

• Selective Intake: Intake decisions are made by a small, core team (the three partners), with an unwavering focus on client interests and avoiding cases with poor odds or coverage.
• Trial-First Mindset: Mirman’s team gears every step toward trial readiness from day one, with a typical NY case spanning four to five years.
• Quote:

  “I don’t want to take in a case where I’m going to lead a client down the garden path and at the end say, sorry, Charlie, there’s no money here.” – Michele Mirman, 08:29 “When we take a case in, that’s what we’re thinking about. Is this a case that we can try and win over?” – Michele Mirman, 10:24

6. Valuing Cases: Art and Science (10:33–12:06)

• Data & Experience Combined: The firm uses verdict research, economic experts, and prior case data, but acknowledges the intangible factors that may increase case value.
• Quote:

  “Our experience teaches us that that’s not written in stone.” – Michele Mirman, 11:41

7. Building a High-Performing, Loyal Team (12:42–15:33)

• Staff Longevity: Many employees have been with the firm for decades, starting as interns or clerks. Emphasis on collaboration, flexibility, and fostering friendships.
• Tailored Roles: Staff are encouraged to play to their strengths, with attorneys specializing in motions, briefs, or trial work as best suits their skills.
• Continuous Review: Periodic rotation of attorney workloads provides fresh perspective on cases and guards against oversight.
• Quote:

  “I have people here for 10, 15, 20 years in my office. ...I want them to get along because we’re very collaborative.” – Michele Mirman, 13:20 “If somebody’s great at depositions and great at doing motions, why wouldn’t I encourage them to do that?” – Michele Mirman, 15:21

8. Advice for New Firm Owners (16:32–17:11)

• Community Roots: For new or prospective firm owners, she stresses the importance of a credible reputation built on community engagement and worthwhile cases.
• Stand Out by Being Different: Taking on challenging or novel cases grows your reputation organically.
• Quote:

  “I think you have to have a really good base in your community because I believe that’s where you’re going to get your cases from. ...By taking in cases that are credible...[your] name will continue to urgent.” – Michele Mirman, 16:55

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I had a website and I also had an app in 2000. The issue was, was that nobody had computers, so it was useless.” – Michele Mirman, 02:31
• “It’s made our lives phenomenally easy.” (on AI document analysis) – Michele Mirman, 04:45
• “At the beginning with the first case I took, no other lawyer wanted this case. ...people started to call me.” – Michele Mirman, 06:42
• “I don’t want to take in a case where I’m going to lead a client down the garden path and at the end say, sorry, Charlie, there’s no money here. I just think that’s the wrong thing to do.” – Michele Mirman, 08:29
• “The most paramount thing is that I have people who are friendly. And the second paramount thing is I want everyone in my office to get along.” – Michele Mirman, 13:13
• “I try to give people, my lawyers, what they’re best at. ...why wouldn’t I encourage them to do that and let them do that?” – Michele Mirman, 15:21

Useful Timestamps

• Michele’s early wins and mission: 01:08–01:58
• Strategic move to Manhattan and advertising innovation: 02:25–04:51
• Tech adoption, Wikipedia and online rep: 04:51–06:05
• Handling sensitive cases—niche marketing: 06:41–08:00
• Case vetting and team selection process: 08:16–10:33
• Valuing cases—data + experience: 10:33–12:06
• Building and retaining a loyal team: 12:42–15:33
• Advice to new PI firm owners: 16:32–17:11

Conclusion: Lasting Lessons

Michele Mirman’s enduring success stems from a commitment to genuine client advocacy, early adoption of technology, disciplined case selection, and above all, building a collaborative firm culture. Her guidance: Stand out by taking tough cases, nurture your reputation, leverage innovation strategically, and never underestimate the power of a cohesive, loyal team.

Contact Michele Mirman:

• Phone: 212-227-4000
• Website: mirmanlawyers.com