At Dwyer Williams Cherkoss, our sole focus is personal injury law. We're proud of the reputation we’ve built representing injured Oregonians and fighting for real and meaningful results. But what happens when someone calls us with a legal issue that falls outside our practice area?

In truth, that occurs more often than you'd think. So here’s exactly what happens when we receive a call about a case we don’t handle—and how we do our best to still help.

Step 1: We Let You Know Right Away

We don’t try to take on everything. In fact, we believe in doing one thing really well. That means if you call us about something outside of personal injury law, such as criminal defense, divorce, estate planning, or immigration, we’ll let you know immediately.

We’re highly specialized for a reason. Trying to do it all often means doing none of it well. Our goal is to be great at what we do—and that means being honest when something isn’t in our wheelhouse.

Step 2: We Offer Helpful Referrals

Just because we don’t handle your case doesn’t mean you’re on your own. We work hard to point you in the right direction.

If your legal issue falls into another category, we often refer callers to attorneys who we know and trust. These are lawyers we believe do good work and who practice in the specific area you need.

For example:

• If your issue is criminal defense, we may give you the names of two or three attorneys in your area with strong reputations.
• If your matter involves divorce, custody, or family law, we’ll point you toward experienced family law practitioners.
• For probate, estate issues, or other civil matters, we can often suggest attorneys who focus in those areas.

Step 3: When We Don’t Have a Referral

In some cases, we don’t know of a qualified lawyer in your area for your specific need. When that happens, we refer people to the Oregon State Bar Referral Service. This service helps connect the public to licensed Oregon attorneys by matching legal needs to practice areas.

The number is easy to access and is a great starting point if you're unsure of where to turn.

Step 4: Sharing Through Our Oregon Legal Network

Sometimes, we take an extra step. DWC has a large network of Oregon attorneys who practice in different areas of law. With your permission, we can post your information to our private legal network or attorney group.

If a lawyer in that network is interested and available, they may reach out to you directly. This way, we help you get connected to someone who may be equipped to handle your matter.

Step 5: The Limits of What We Can Do

We want to be clear—we’re not making formal referrals in the legal sense unless explicitly stated. In most cases, we’re simply sharing names and contact information. We don’t actively connect you to the other lawyer or act as an intermediary.  And we never do so without your express consent.

Of course, you’re always free to call whoever you choose, and there’s never any obligation to use the attorneys we suggest. Our goal is just to point you in a productive direction.

Why We Do It This Way

It’s not about turning people away. It’s about being upfront and helpful. We know that legal issues are stressful, and the last thing someone needs is to waste time with a firm that isn’t the right fit.

Instead of shoehorning your case into our practice or giving you false hope, we believe it’s better to be honest. That’s what we’d want if the roles were reversed.

Focused Law Practice Means Better Results

The truth is, there’s power in specialization. When a law firm focuses on one area of practice, it can devote all its resources, training, and attention to mastering that subject. That means better strategies, deeper knowledge of the law, and ultimately, better results.

By focusing on injury law, we’ve built a track record of success that’s tough to match. We don’t dilute that focus by trying to be all things to all people. Instead, we stay in our lane—and we take pride in that.

Need Help Finding the Right Attorney?

Here’s a summary of your options if your legal matter doesn’t fall within our scope:

1. Ask us directly: When you call, explain your situation. We’ll tell you right away if we can help.
2. Get names: If we know trusted attorneys in your practice area, we’ll share them.
3. Try the Oregon State Bar Referral Service: They’re a great fallback option for less common or more regional needs.
4. Allow us to post your inquiry to our legal network: With your okay, we’ll share your details so other lawyers can reach out.

We’re here to help, even if we’re not the right firm to take your case.

Have a Personal Injury Case? That’s Our Specialty

Of course, if your matter involves a car crash, slip and fall, serious dog bite, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, or other injury caused by someone else’s negligence, then we’re ready to get to work. That’s what we do best, and we’re proud to serve injury victims across Oregon.

Call us today at (541) 617-0555. Whether it’s pointing you toward the right lawyer or taking your case head-on, we’re committed to helping you find the right path forward.

Because every call deserves the right answer.