A major difference in the way Ms. Scott approaches each case, as compared to many attorneys, is that she digs deep.  She investigates the circumstances and learns the facts.  Where other attorneys might play a case off the cuff, often because of time constraints imposed by their high-volume practices, the simple fact is that an attorney who investigates each case thoroughly will know more facts – and do a better job of representing you.

Ms. Scott follows the second path.

Clients aren’t well served by attorneys who merely scratch the surface.  It’s true in civil cases, and it’s especially true in criminal cases, where the stakes can be much higher.  In most criminal cases, she says, police see only a slice of what happened:

“So it’s important to double-check everything the police did in their investigation. You look at how the evidence is collected and photographed. You look at how they processed the crime scene and interviewed witnesses.Did they follow their own regulations? Did they truly investigate, or did they start with a conclusion in mind and then influence the witnesses to see it their way?”

“The better your understanding of all the facts, the better you’re able to negotiate with the Commonwealth from a position of strength.”

Here’s another reason Ms. Scott emphasizes the importance of doing the legwork, digging deep:

For some attorneys, it’s all about cutting a deal. For Ms. Scott, it’s all about seeing justice served. If it’s in her client’s best interest to negotiate a deal or settlement, that’s what she does. But often, the client is better served by taking the case to trial. By having a solid grasp of the facts each time she sets foot in a courtroom, she is in a much better position to determine what course is better for you.

“I see a lot of lawyers who focus on a volume practice,” she says. “I just don’t think you can handle a high volume of cases and do a quality job on each one.”