John Power, of Cogan & Power, P.C., works tirelessly to get to know his clients on an individual basis. That includes getting to know the family and learning their story. Helping families is the aspect of his profession that brings him the most satisfaction.
1. In a moment of reflection, attorney John
M. Power asked his wife, Lori, what it was
about his work as a personal injury attorney
that she respected the most.
“She said that was easy. ‘You help keep
families together.’” That, he realizes, is the
aspect of his profession that brings him the
most satisfaction.
Power, of Cogan & Power, P.C.,
works tirelessly to get to know his clients
on an individual basis. Commuting
from his home in rural St. Charles to his
downtown Chicago law office, he has
ample opportunity to reach out to clients
on a personal level.
“I try to call one or two a day during the
commute back and forth,” he says. “I ask
them how they are doing and tell them what
is going on in their cases. I also tell them to
call me after hours if they need me.”
“What separates John from other
attorneys is that when John takes on a
client,” says his partner Michael Cogan,
“he gives them his office number, his
desk (telephone) number, his cell phone
number, and (in special circumstances) his
home telephone number. In 34 years as
an attorney I have never met anyone who
makes himself more accessible than John.”
That personal touch is emblematic of the
genuine concern for his clients and typical
of his case preparation in wrongful death,
personal injury or medical malpractice
cases. “I want to know them so I can tell
the jury their story,” Power says.
His ability to connect with clients on a
personal level is a tribute to his father, Jack,
who took him along on sales calls to meet
clients, he says. “I was only 5 or 6 years
old, and he taught me to make eye contact,
shake hands with people and respond in
some way to what they were saying.
“I owe what I am today to him. He taught
me to do the right thing and to help people,
not just send them a bill. Clients send me
Christmas cards and cookies and remember
my birthday. They are part of my life. These
were families on the brink of disaster both
emotionally and financially. Their whole
lives were centered on what might happen
over the next 24 hours because things
looked so bad at the time. We gave them the
emotional support to get them through the
stressful time and were able to provide the
financial help to save those families.”
All attorneys have clients whose
catastrophes and resolutions resonate with
John Power
Injury Lawyer Goes
Extra Mile to Help
Keep Families Together
by Mike Bailey