Ernst Janensch

Ernst Janensch is Of Counsel with Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC. He works primarily on litigation, including probate and personal injury.

Ernst received a dual undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He fell in love with Arizona after moving here from Chicago to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. He received Legal Writing Honors and was a Pedrick Scholar. He was Editorial Assistant for Jurimetrics Journal, published by ASU and the American Bar Association. In 1993, he earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, and was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona.

Goals when first meeting with a client:

Listening is the first step I take when meeting a client. You can’t just assume what the client’s goal is, because it’s different for different people. In addition, it’s important to explain the litigation process, so the client has realistic expectations about the nature, time, and expense of litigation.

The most satisfying aspect of being a litigation attorney:

I like the intellectual challenge. First, the practice of law involves a lot of problem-solving. Figuring out the most effective and efficient strategy for the client’s unique situation is always interesting. Second, the law has become very complex, and it is constantly evolving. No case is ever the same as any previous one, and I learn something new every time, whether it’s our strategy for the lawsuit, or the particular issues of substantive law or procedure that arise.

What I have learned from my clients:

Everybody’s circumstance is unique, every transaction is unique, and every business is unique. You have to know and understand where the client is coming from, what the client’s particular situation is, and what the client’s goals are. You can’t assume you understand what the client is going through. You have to listen and learn.