Cleveland, OH criminal defense attorney Jay Milano shares what makes his firm different from others as well as what someone should look for in hiring a lawyer. He believes his firm stands out in several key ways. First, it’s small—just a handful of lawyers and staff—yet they take on large, high-stakes “crusade” cases, often against some of the biggest institutions in the world. While tackling these major cases requires commitment, he emphasizes that what truly matters is not the size of the case, but what it means to the client. Even smaller matters—a domestic violence case or a family dispute over a business—can be life-changing for those involved. Because the firm is small, they can dedicate the attention and care each client deserves, regardless of the case’s scale.

He stresses the importance of clients meeting their lawyer in person. No matter how impressive a lawyer may seem online or in a presentation, the relationship between client and lawyer must be personal and collaborative. Often, more than one attorney or staff member may work on a case, so building trust and communication is essential. His advice to both lawyers and clients is simple: make it personal. True advocacy comes from understanding the client, their needs, and the nuances of their case—not from transactional or impersonal interactions.