Kenneth Phillips Solo Practitioner and have most specialized legal practice in the nation. He works on dog-bite cases.

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Kenneth Phillips, Solo Practitioner
[by Regan Morris]
Kenneth Phillips may have the most specialized legal practice in the nation; he only works on dog-bite cases and is
often called the king of dog-bite law.
While studying at the University of Southern woman, who was attacked as the dog owner’s “I became very well known. It led to more
California School of Law, Phillips said he watched, Phillips said. clients, more people coming to the dog-bite
never dreamed of moving into personal law website,” he said. “They went online and
injury law. He started his career as an “At that point, I was very interested because saw this legal website about one topic. And
entertainment lawyer, a logical choice I realized as I was doing my research that when they read through the website, it was
for someone living in Los Angeles, his there had never been an attorney who came the opposite of every other legal website,
hometown. into the field of dog-bite law and studied it because instead of it saying, ‘Caution, this
as a field separate from other types of tort is not for legal advice. Go find a lawyer,’ it
But then his cousin was injured in a printing- cases,” he said. said, ‘Write to me. I’ll give you legal advice
press accident at his high school in 1980. As for free.’”
the lawyer in the family, Phillips was asked The Los Angeles Times recently called
to handle his young cousin’s case. Phillips Phillips “perhaps the nation’s best-known The site is also unusual because it does
won a six-figure settlement for the boy, practitioner of terrier torts.” His career went not list Phillips’ phone number or address.
whose hand was crushed. to the dogs full time in 1998, when he started Because he wants the site to be educational
the website www.DogBiteLaw.com first and foremost, he asks potential clients
That started a new career for Phillips. He to email for more information.
According to Phillips, the term “dog-bite law”
said the case gave him a great sense of
didn’t exist before he coined it. His website
personal satisfaction, so he shifted his The site is full of advice for victims and
has attracted thousands of dog-bite victims,
practice from entertainment law to personal statistics from what Phillips calls an
lawyers, and others interested in dog-bite
injury. “epidemic” of dog bites. There are almost 5
law.
million dog-bite victims annually, he says,
Phillips, who still resides in Los Angeles, with about 800,000 of those needing medical
Phillips, who owns a Yorkshire terrier and
handled his first dog-bite case in the early attention. One thousand people per day seek
says he loves dogs, only represents people
1990s, after a woman’s nose was ripped hospital treatment for dog bites, and between
seriously injured in dog-bite attacks. But he
off and eaten by a mixed-breed dog at a 15 and 20 people die from dog attacks each
provides free legal advice on other dog-bite
Christmas party. year. Dog-bite losses exceed $1 billion per
issues through his website. The website, he
year, with insurance companies shelling out
says, has been instrumental in promoting
“I realized I hadn’t thought before about just $345 million of that, he says.
his practice. Dogs generally bite people as
how serious a dog bite could be,” he said. “I
a result of bad owners or bad breeding. Too
mean, they are always presented in movies Phillips encouraged attorneys to be open-
many owners don’t take responsibility for
as being just the funniest things in the minded in their careers and says he is
their dogs; and that is why people get bitten,
world; and in at least one Norman Rockwell stunned how his career turned out, but
he says.
painting, it’s just what happens to the trouser couldn’t be happier. Phillips says he had a
cuff of a mailman.” His website has attracted great media biased impression of personal injury law as a
interest. Shortly after he started the site, young man because he believes in personal
Soon after winning the case involving the Recorder profiled Phillips in 1999. responsibility. But now he thinks personal
the woman who lost her nose to the dog, Soon after, he appeared on the Today show injury law is a perfect way to encourage
Phillips took on a case involving a pit bull and was featured in People Magazine. He personal responsibility—for example, by
who mauled a woman’s leg, causing serious frequently comments on network news as a forcing dog owners to be responsible for
damage. The dogs lived next door to the legal analyst on dog-bite cases. their pets.
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THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
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Phillips started his legal career as a clerk view of dogs, when this is more the Ralph liability, says many in the profession were
on the California Supreme Court for Justice Nader view of dogs.” surprised by his choice to give away legal
William P. Clark, Jr., who later served as advice. But he says the strategy worked
Secretary of the Interior under President People needed to be warned and educated, because he is helping people and creating a
Ronald Reagan. Phillips also worked as a he said. Phillips says he spends several reputation as the leading expert on dog-bite
research assistant for legal author Melville hours a day answering questions from people law.
Nimmer and in the legal department of 20th across the country about dog-bite litigation
Century Fox. and their rights. Although he only represents “I liked entertainment law; it wasn’t that. I
people bitten by dogs, Phillips wrote an just felt that I could really make a difference
Phillips compares himself to Ralph Nader e-book for people whose dogs have been in personal injury and really help people,”
and says the consumer rights activist is attacked by another dog. It is called What to he said. “You have to find what makes you
a personal inspiration in his life’s work. Do if Your Dog is Injured or Killed. happy.”
Phillips says he felt obligated to give away
free legal advice for dog-bite victims because Phillips, who also gives seminars to canine
too many people only saw “the Walt Disney professionals to teach them how to avoid
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