CCBA Members Active as Summer Ends - Clark County Bar ...

GETTING TO KNOW:BARRY BRANDENBURG“Getting to Know” is a monthly feature designed to better acquaint themembership with our local attorneys, judges and other people of interest tothe Clark County bench and bar. This month’s subject is Barry W. Brandenburg,whose practice emphasizes criminal defense and personal injury.What got you interested in the practice of law?I was one of those kids that was always argumentative; somethingabout being a little guy, I am sure. I was the type of kid who oftenheard from people, “you ought to be a lawyer”. I am sure this wasnot always a positive response. Growing up, I liked the certaintyof rules. And I loved Perry Mason.Who influenced your practice style and the way youcarry yourself as an attorney?Craig Schaurmann on the personal injury side; Bill Thayer, SteveThayer and Tom Phelan on the criminal side; and Judge Jim Ladley.Proudest moment in a legal forum?State v. Cashdollar. Two counts of vehicular homicide - no dealsfrom the State. Gary Rice’s investigation established that a phantomvehicle set the accident in motion and resulted in the deathof two children. It was a very sad case. The jury acquitted Ms.Cashdollar. It was not a victory. There was no happiness in thatregard. The victory was in that an innocent woman did not go tojail and that Ms. Cashdollar’s six-year-old didn’t lose his Mombecause of our jury process.What is the toll a case like that takes on your practice?That is why I don’t do murders. I’m not on a murder list. Theclient’s risks of long prison sentences, all Class A felonies, regardlessof the work you do there are dead people and traumaseverywhere. It affects you. You cannot leave any stone unturned.It’s hard. The financial impact to your practice is also significant.Favorite part of being an attorney?Making people accountable who think they have power, or peoplewho think the rules don’t apply to them. I think doing goodlegal work reminds those people that they will be accountable in alegal forum.What would you be doing if you were not an attorney?Probably financial planning. I was an insurance agent for 10 yearsbefore law school. I probably would have continued on the financialplanning track.What is your passion outside of the law?The outdoors, golf, soccer. Things that are active require somefocus to redirect your mind away from what we think abouteveryday. This business is difficult. As all attorneys know, whenwe have some quiet time we often start doing a mental checkliston our caseload. We all need a distraction that requires enough ofour attention to focus on the distraction and not the business.Any regrets when it comes to your legal practice?That I didn’t start sooner.What is the biggest change you have seen since youbegan practicing?Probably less professionalism; less civility than when I came intothe business. On the criminal side of my practice, I learned thatthe caseload for the prosecution is so significant that they aredeprived of the opportunity to fairly evaluate their cases.What would be your advice for young attorneys orattorneys starting out?Get involved with Inns of Court. Identify a mentor attorney or asenior attorney who can help you understand this business. Especiallyas a younger attorney all fired up and running on adrenaline,they need to understand this job is more like a marathon than asprint. Your reputation means everything in this business. That isall you really have in a small town like this.How would you define your practice style?My goal is to make clients happy. Attorneys with clients who haveunreasonable expectations or improper or malicious goals must becontrolled. Clients want their problems solved. It is our job toproperly educate our clients about the cost of achieving their goaland to help them understand what this process is really about.Did you want to be an attorney growing up?Yes, I was a feisty little rat bastard. I really didn’t know thoughwhat it meant to be an attorney. Lots of people think being alawyer is a ticket to some gold mine which we know is not the case.What is your favorite food?Three-inch fat, rib steak – medium rare.Favorite place to vacation or get away?Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.HEARSAY - OCTOBER 2009 17