ERWIN - Key Persons
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Domestic Relations, Malpractice, Workers' Compensation, Criminal Law
Although the law is based on logic, the practice of some areas of the law can be emotional and very personal. As an attorney at Erwin, Martinkus, & Cole, Ltd. of Champaign, IL who concentrates on personal injury, medical malpractice, divorce, and real estate, Jim Martinkus has seen just how personal the law can be.
A 1972 Magna Cum Laude graduate of UCLA and a 1977 graduate of the University of Illinois Law School, Jim has chosen to practice the kind of law that requires a great deal of compassion. His first duty, he says, is to protect his clients' interests. But his role as an attorney often becomes that of friend as well as counselor. He offers advice that can help a client through what can be a difficult period of his or her life. His role as advocate can be especially important during a trial. While many people have never been in a courtroom before. Jim uses his keenly developed skills to help a client through the process and obtain for the client the maximum benefit allowed under the law.
Jim believes that the law's first obligation is to benefit the people it serves. To better achieve that goal, he keeps informed of the newest developments in the law and is always well prepared to do whatever is necessary to best represent the client.
Practice Areas: Business Organizations, Real Estate
Paul Cole brings a varied background to his practice of law. His experience helps him approach each case with a broader perspective of how best to work on a client's behalf at Erwin, Martinkus, & Cole, Ltd. of Champaign, IL. After graduating from Kenyon College in 1967 with a degree in English Literature, he served as a U.S. Army sergeant in Vietnam. Paul also earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1971 and worked in banks in Chicago and Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Illinois Law School in 1977. Paul concentrates his practice in real estate and business organizations. His determination to set realistic goals for his clients is particularly valuable in these areas.