Paul Shibley
Fielstra & Shibley
Muskegon, MI
www.muskegoninjurylawyers.com
Five Fast Facts —
One thing most people may not know about you. I have been to Alaska eight times to fly fish.
Three words to describe yourself. Passionate, Loyal, Committed.
Favorite sports team. Montreal Canadians
Outside of law, what is the one business you would love to start? I would love to start a wildlife photography business. I really enjoy capturing the moments of truly wild places.
Favorite thing to read? I often read many different lawyer publications, however, my true favorite is Alaska magazine.
What is the motivation that drives you to be successful every day for your clients?
PS: I enjoy holding large insurance companies accountable for situations in which they are liable. I was once able to provide relief to a deserving man who became paralyzed because of an incident at a sporting event. Cases such as these affect you deeply to the core of your heart. Helping my clients receive the aid they need motivates me every day.
What advice would you give a young professional looking to excel as a trial lawyer?
PS: Decide what it is you want to do and work as hard as you can to achieve your goal. I also recommend saving as much capital as you can as this will allow you to go on and eventually start your own practice. Remember to always network extensively so attorneys will trust you to take on tougher cases.
Let’s talk about the importance of philanthropy. Why do you think this so important to Injury Board members and the overall success of our group?
PS: Being active in the community is crucial and our firm strives for this. We want to do everything we can to provide opportunities for those in need, especially children. As a new member of IB, I plan to take full advantage of all philanthropy platforms the group provides. I hope that my firm, along with all other IB firms, can make a national impact within our communities.
Why is an IB membership of value to your firm?
PS: We wanted to transition our practice toward having a more proactive approach in the community as well as the courtroom. The Injury Board has provided us with all of the necessary tools to do just this. We are very excited about our membership and look forward to contributing more to IB and its members in the near future.
If you would like to be featured in an IB member spotlight, please contact Braden Kowalski at bkowalski@injuryboard.org.