Blogs

Name: April Colby
Company: Martin Banks
Title: Marketing Manager
Email: AColby@paworkinjury.com

How did you get into legal marketing?
It was December 2006 and I was an unemployed graphic designer. I took a temp job at (former) WolfBlock to get through the holidays.  I immediately clicked with CMO Julie Amos and what was supposed to be a three week temp job ended up being three years and the start of a new career. I started out there as the marketing assistant which gave me a very broad experience. Assisting with everything from PR, events, CRM and of course design. Eventually I became the primary graphic designer. So when the firm dissolved I had every intention of continuing my career as a graphic designer and planned to start my own business. Fate stepped in though and I got a call from Robert Half insisting I interview for the Marketing Manager at Martin Banks. One whirlwind of a day and three interviews later and there I was marketing manager of a law firm. I’ve been here now for more than three years.

Describe one of your best experiences in legal marketing?
When the firm split in 2010 and became Martin Banks, I had the great honor of creating the firm’s new brand. As a graphic designer it was always a dream to be able to create and develop a brand for a company. It was amazing that I put my passion graphic design in the backseat to focus on all the other areas of marketing a law firm and the dream graphics project fell into my lap.

What is one of your greatest challenges when it comes to legal marketing?
For me the greatest challenge is effectively working with multiple ideas of how to solve a problem and creating a solution that works for everyone.

Do you have any words of wisdom to those who are new to the field?
Don’t take it personally. Accept criticism and understand how to work with it to solve the problem. Be objective and find the value in the critique.

What is one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I almost majored in theater in college. In high school, I was in three shows, my star performance was playing Woodstock in the theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I still love going to the theater and listening to musicals on my iPod.