54.7 F
Laguna Hills
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
-Advertisement-

Law Firm Employees Testify to Unmatched Culture

It’s not unusual for lawyers and their teams to log long hours. What is unusual, though, is when they do so not only without complaint but willingly, even eagerly. That’s the scenario that Bisnar Chase LLC Managing Partner Scott Ritsema experienced when he found himself in a severe time crunch as he prepared an important case.

“Multiple people, right down to our receptionist, worked after-hours and on the weekends to make sure everything was completed and ready to go,” he says. “Everyone was happy to help. No one grumbled or acted resentful. They genuinely wanted to be here.”

When asked to describe what it’s like to work at Bisnar Chase, Ritsema relates a story. Late one afternoon as he was leaving the office, he noticed a gentleman in the lobby. He strode up to the man, held out his hand, and asked how he could help.

The man burst out laughing. Ritsema, slightly puzzled, found out why.

“In the last 10 minutes, at least 10 people have come by and asked me the same thing,” the man said. Turns out, he was simply early for his meeting with another attorney. But the culture of friendliness and the desire to help is so ingrained in Bisnar Chase team members that every person who’d seen him sitting there reached out.

For Ritsema, the simple moment underscored the two things he says make Bisnar Chase a special place to work: the people and the culture.

“I’ve worked continuously since I was 9 years old,” he says. “I’ve had a paper route, been a dishwasher, a sales guy, an office manager and an attorney in other firms. Nothing comes close to this place. Bisnar Chase is the best place to work in Orange County.”

Founded on Principle

Bisnar Chase is this year’s top Best Places to Work in the small-business category. It’s made the list every year since 2011 and was in the top spot previously in 2015. At that time, founding Partner John Bisnar had just retired.

When Bisnar founded the personal injury law firm more than 35 years ago, his philosophy was simple: “Do right by the clients, and the profits will follow.” He’d endured a horrible experience as a personal injury client following a serious car accident and never wanted another person to go through the same.

He hired lawyers, paralegals and support staff who shared his fervent belief in providing exceptional service to people who had suffered life-altering loss. He also believed in creating an environment where lawyers were confident their team had everything under control so they could focus their energy on winning cases.

Bisnar’s legacy continues. Managing Partner Brian Chase, who worked with him for decades, is involved in every case to some degree, making sure attorneys have the support they need to “fight the good fight,” as Ritsema’s paralegal, Ricardo Hernandez, puts it.

Culture of Family

For Hernandez, who came from an insurance defense firm, where he was, as he puts it, a “billing slave,” Bisnar Chase couldn’t have been more different. For one, rather than defending insurance companies and trying to keep settlements as low as possible, he was now working shoulder-to-shoulder with Ritsema and other members of the team on behalf of plaintiffs.

Ritsema acknowledges that the firm’s cases can be very stressful because many involve extreme injury or even death. He says he deals with the stress by embracing the knowledge that he’s doing his best job—made possible with the support of his team.

“When you’re working so closely, you become like a family,” Hernandez says. “We develop genuine friendships. We inspire each other to do our best.”

The family-like connection overflows into relationships with clients, he says. “You spend time with your clients, you get to know them. You embrace the case. You know every detail. When they cry, you cry. When they smile, you smile. And when they get their money, and you know it’s going to help take care of them for the rest of their lives … That’s a great feeling.”

Enhancing the Foundation

Ritsema and Hernandez credit the atmosphere of respect and camaraderie as the reason people enjoy working at Bisnar Chase. The firm doesn’t rest on that, though.

“The firm is really committed to our personal development,” says Executive Assistant Danielle Olson. “I started out 11 years ago as an office assistant. Now I work directly for Brian (Chase) and Shannon (Legal Administrator Barker).” The firm pays for employees to continue their education, whether college courses, special classes or certification courses. “I got my notary (certification) because of them,” she says.

The management team encourages employees to balance their personal and professional lives. Olson has four children; Hernandez also has four and a baby due in October. They both praise the flexible schedule that allows them to be with their families for special events and sports activities.

Bisnar Chase also supports the community. Once a month, staff are given the afternoon off, paid, to work with the charities of their choice. As a team, the firm has volunteered with Mary’s Kitchen, Backpacks for Life, the Pride Parade, Working Wardrobes and dozens of others.

A Super Star program rewards team members with a gold star when they go above and beyond the course of normal duties, which is often. At year-end, a Super Star drawing bestows the winner with an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Hawaii.

The annual December holiday party is a lavish event that people look forward to. Bisnar Chase distributes gifts randomly to every person in the office. “They’re always amazing gifts,” Ritsema says. “People have won trips to Mexico, a shopping spree, golf clubs—really cool stuff.”

The firm’s bonus incentive is the topper, he says. Each year, teams that hit performance goals are rewarded with a trip to Maui. Everyone is eligible, from lawyers to file clerks. Last year, about 15 people earned the perk.

Staff say Bisnar Chase’s environment of trust, respect and confidence inspires them to be their best, personally and professionally.

“This firm is a breath of fresh air,” Hernandez says. “This is where I was meant to be.”

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-