Michael G. Sawaya, Esq. is a Lawyer from Another Era
The veteran lawyer discusses integrity in the law, the connectedness of specializations, and why his ideas make him feel like the last dinosaur of his profession c

DENVER, CO, October 7, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ --The self-described last dinosaur of the legal world, Michael G. Sawaya holds some rather old-fashioned ideas about the law. Foremost among them is that the law exists chiefly to protect the interests of the common people - a view that seems downright quixotic at a time when lawyers are reputed more for making money than defending the voiceless. The head of The Sawaya Law Firm, he gives his name to a law office that strives to turn negative stereotypes around. "I like to think that we practice the old-fashioned, good kind of law, where each client's issues are taken personally [and] every client is made to feel that there's somebody who cares about what they're doing," he told Cambridge Publishing in a recent interview. "Our mission is to be of service to all of the people that come here...Their issues and problems are things that we have to take to heart. If we can't take [these] to heart, we should tell them to go somewhere else."

This do-good, client-centered approach, comparable to that of a small-town lawyer, belies the practice's size and the big successes that it has achieved over the last three decades. Composed of 18 attorneys, the firm is known to specialize in plaintiff's personal injury cases, running the gamut of automobile accidents and product defects to slip-and-fall and medical malpractice. "Anything that deals with injuries is where I like to spend my time," Sawaya said. He also handles workers' compensation, insurance and bad faith, legal malpractice, traffic tickets, and collections. In general practice for the first 20 years of his 35 years in practice, he brings versatility to his work, having also been involved with real estate and securities law. Sawaya asserts that legal specializations are really interdependent and takes pride in the comprehensiveness of his practice. "I think that I'm a valuable resource in the legal world because I'm the last of the people that brought this big view of the law together, [instead of] just [focusing on] one tiny little specialty where you're able to make money and have an 8,9,10-hour-a-day job and go home to the rest of your life," he stated. "It's about being rooted in the law. It's about seeing all the pieces and how they fit together...It's like cooking - you have to bring all those things together in one pot."

Assisting in his father's business since he was 13 years old, Sawaya relished the challenges of problem-solving from an early age. He derives the most fulfillment from using his skills in this area to help others. "My short-term goal is to make sure that tomorrow is a day of service," he said. His altruism extends well beyond his legal practice. Deeply immersed in his community, Sawaya spearheads public education of injury law, drivers' safety, and the legal concerns of veterans. Along with his associates, he started Smart Driver Colorado, a program that provides cab fare to drivers who have had too much to drink, and is working to establish a charitable foundation that will offer a range of community services.

Sawaya's commitment to helping people has even found its way to his personal writings. He recently released his first book, "Turbulence in the River: Restoring Your Spiritual Birthright." Inspired by a spiritual awakening that he experienced, it aims to introduce readers to a process of spirituality that will help them discover who they are, connect with their inner selves and, ultimately, connect with their Creator and the greater sphere of thought that makes up life on the planet. "My long-term goal is to bring out the most of the potential in the people I meet and in people in general," he said.

Despite his involvement in other activities, Sawaya saves his best for the profession, often misunderstood, that he loves the most. He may believe himself to be the last dinosaur, but he is definitely not letting his ideals become extinct. "I plan to keep growing my [law practice] in the same way it always grew: client by client, honest service by honest service, and giving of myself - and expecting everyone here to give of themselves - [with] the same integrity and the same ethics," he said. "The lawyer must live to the highest ethics. There's no room for anything else."

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Michael G. Sawaya holds a JD from Texas University School of Law, from which he graduated summa cum laude. He also earned a bachelor of arts in sociology from Colorado College and a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Colorado Denver, and has studied neurolinguistic programming advanced communication techniques at the master level. Sawaya is admitted to the Bar of the State of Colorado, the United States District Court, and the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. His professional affiliations include the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Phi Kappa Phi, and the American Association for Social Justice. He has also been honored with induction into The Order of the Coif.

To learn more about The Sawaya Law Firm, please visit their website at http://www.sawayalaw.com.

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