At First Legal, we love learning more about the individuals that make the First Legal Family such a special group to be a part of. Recently, we caught up with Sam Shield in our Las Vegas office. He was kind enough to share some information about his position. Check it out!
Hi Sam, thanks for sitting down with us! You’re currently the Investigation Services Coordinator at First Legal. Can you tell us a little bit about this position and what your day-to-day looks like?
Most Service of Process orders can be handled quite quickly, but sometimes subjects can be difficult to find. That’s where Investigations comes in! It’s my job to make sure our process servers are able to complete their assignments. If problems come up, I communicate between the client and the investigators. Our Process Server may go to a house several times and no one answers the door. We always attempt service 6 times before we escalate to an investigation, unless there’s an extenuating circumstance.
What would qualify as an extenuating circumstance?
Well, sometimes the individual we are serving may try to hide their identity. Some people have even fled by car! If the process server knows what the person looks like, they may hear music or see someone through the window.
It’s not always that dramatic. Occasionally people have odd work hours, so our investigators show up early and check out the place or speak with neighbors. They try to get an idea of the person’s schedule, so they can work around it.
Of course, we don’t have police powers, so we can’t compel someone to reveal their identity, but if the subject is deliberately avoiding service, I would bring that information back to the client. All of First Legal’s Process Departments place these problem services in the “701” powertrac. After making the client aware of the situation and previous service attempts, I recommend an investigation service best suited to bring about a successful service.
I’m essentially the interface between our clients and our investigators. Some clients reach out to Investigations directly for Asset Searches, DMV searches, Skip Traces, etc. I handle most of those client emails to coordinate their needs with our investigators. I’m in charge of answering questions so that there is always an open line of communication and clear expectations.
Between client correspondence and the 701 powertrac, my day is a constant stream of activity!
When did you know you wanted to work in Investigations? Have you always been interested in the field?
I came to this job in an unlikely way. My wife works in the legal field, at Wolf Rifkin, and one day Don Fritsch came in to give a presentation about First Legal. He made such a great impression on her that I actually reached out to Don the next week. I was looking for a change of pace at the time. I wanted to try something new. As it happened, Don was establishing an Investigations office here in Vegas. Initially, I wanted to be an investigator, but I had a background in customer service. I love my current job, and I’ve been here for 3 and a half years now.
If you don’t mind sharing, what were you doing before you made the move to Investigations?
I’ve worked in a lot of fields. I used to drive Army trucks in Alaska. Primarily though, I spent a long time working in graphic design. I created billboards for huge shows like Circus Circus. I also created the billboards for the Crazy Girls show in Las Vegas. My work was all over for a while – on billboards, taxi cabs, and bench ads. You likely saw them if you visited Vegas 10 years ago since they were everywhere.
After that, I moved into web design. Around the time my wife met Don, I was working on a website for an attorney, which got me thinking about the legal field. I’d actually worked as a runner before, and as I said, Don made a great impression for First Legal, so it seemed like a good move.
We’re all glad that you ended up here with us! Is there something specific you like most about your job?
I never get bored. There’s something new almost every day. It’s a challenge all the time, and I am constantly adapting. I think this ability is what allows me to be such a successful team player. We work within multiple states, so I’m constantly coordinating between them.
It’s been great talking with you, Sam! Thanks for sharing your First Legal experience with us.
If you’re interested in joining the First Legal Family, visit our careers page to browse available opportunities. We look forward to speaking with you!
