Meet Terrelle Bynum | Personal Injury Trial Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terrelle Bynum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terrelle, how do you think about risk?

I assess risks with a two-tier approach: (1) Does the potential gain outweigh the loss, and (2) am I willing to deal with the consequences if I fail? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then I’m all in. If not, I look to see how I can change my circumstances to be in a more advantageous position to take risks. This approach has guided my decisions in both life and career, allowing me to have diverse experiences in numerous legal spaces while developing me into a more dynamic attorney and person.

I chose to be an attorney because of the variety of areas a law degree allows you to practice in. I always wanted to be a trial lawyer, but I wasn’t thrilled about being glued to one field of law. I wanted to try different areas and build my trial skills so I could handle a plethora of case types and complexities.

This led me from Mercer Law, a small law school in Macon, Georgia, with a reputation of producing talented trial lawyers, all the way to Los Angeles, California, where I had the opportunity to serve as an assistant public defender of some of LA’s most famous courthouses, including Inglewood, Compton and Long Beach.

Then life called, and when my wife moved to the Bay Area, I soon followed and transitioned from criminal law into personal injury defense. I had the opportunity to learn how insurance companies work and handle claims from the inside out.

Then life called again, and my wife was laid off by Airbnb due to the pandemic. We moved to Houston, where I had the challenge and opportunity of rebranding myself.

I started with a defense firm specializing in insurance defense, and then transitioned to the plaintiff’s side, where now I work with a boutique black-owned personal injury firm handling trial work in all types of personal injury and civil cases.

At times it felt like I was lost, and I couldn’t see the forest through the trees, but I saw the omens (alchemist reference) and trusted in myself and my abilities. Now I am doing the work I dreamed of when I first decided to go to law school.

Each step involved a risk that seemed bigger than the last. But when you are prepared, risk is self-investment. I went all in on me, and every time I either won or learned, but never lost.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

The way I practice law is a reflection of who I am and my perspective on life. Through social media, I share experiences and stories to highlight what cannot be captured in billable hours or a website bio. The posts I share are inspired from triumphs and challenges I have dealt with as a litigator, advocator and advisor. I aim to provide basic legal education through informative comedic anecdotes that resonate with people of all backgrounds. My posts help others learn about the law and feel more comfortable to utilize the law and legal systems to their aid and benefit.

I approach my legal practice the same way, using legal strategies to solve “people” problems. I represent people who were injured negligently by others, whether it be in an auto accident, at a store or at some event by another person or corporation. I advocate on their behalf to make sure they are justly compensated for their injuries. I help navigate people through what is a scary time for many. In the blink of an eye, most people lose their vehicle, are no longer able to work or severely limited in their ability to perform their jobs, and some require serious medical treatment such as surgery.

Through social media, I am able to culminate my experiences to connect with lawyers and people who have gone through the process, people who are currently dealing with it, and prospective clients who may have questions or are trying to determine who to choose as their attorney. I cater my posts to them, providing content that is educational, entertaining and easy to understand. Not every post is going to go viral or change the world, but the collective impact of my social media can influence many over time to become more knowledgeable about the law. What I want the world to know about my brand is I stand for getting where you want to be by being yourself, and sharing the wealth once you get there. You are the commodity, you are the content. You don’t have to change, just learn, grow and be fearless. Share your knowledge with the world, and watch how many it resonates with.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I’m new to Houston but I’m still learning, but here are my recommendations:

Friday – Dinner at MF Sushi, I love that place, followed by a wine tasting at Pur Noire, an amazing wine bar downtown. I can’t tell you about NIGHT night life on Friday night, I’m still learning myself.

Saturday – Brunch at Tiny’s No. 5 or Tiny Boxwoods, drinks at Clarkwood and then you’re on your own.

Sunday Funday – Brunch at Lucilles & then head to Chapman & Kirby or the Address.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people to give credit to for my journey, including my loving wife and family, who have always supported me in so many ways. However, I have to give credit to my long-time mentor and law school professor Anthony Baldwin, who showed me that your true value can never be measured with grades or statistics, but by your tenacity and impact. His constant belief in me, challenging me and refusal to accept mediocrity is something that I will forever be grateful for.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attorneyterrellebynum/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-terrelle-bynum-694aa331/

Other: https://robertsmarkland.com/