About Laura Yaeger
Laura Yaeger, the founder of Yaeger Legal Consulting, provides consulting services to lawyers and law firms ranging from developing compensation models, evaluating and implementing case management platforms, starting new practice areas, and evaluating case management workflows from intake to settlement to enhance efficiency and productivity, to the logistics related to starting a law firm.
Laura brings 20-plus years of complex litigation experience to her consulting work. She has represented thousands of individuals that have been harmed by the conduct of others. Laura has managed large teams of associates, contract attorneys, paralegals, and litigation support assistants to accomplish all aspects of litigating complex mass actions from intake management, client management, and litigation management to settlement management without losing sight of the details of individual cases. She has significant experience with legal technology and developing efficiencies while managing a large volume practice. In the past, Laura utilized her knowledge along with technology to implement successful strategies to increase new client contracts received monthly and boost conversion rates.
In 2017, Laura started her own firm – Yaeger Law – utilizing her years of experience and skill in managing voluminous dockets. She knew developing and implementing best practices and technology to increase proficiency and productivity would be key when starting her firm. At its formation, Yaeger Law implemented vital strategies and technologies to ensure productivity and proficiency. Her commitment to technology and the development of protocols allows the Yaeger Law Team to work smarter and not waste unnecessary time or manpower. Key performance indicators are reviewed on a regular basis to identify problems, develop solutions, and increase productivity. Yaeger Law is also a virtual law practice and Laura has honed best practices for managing remote teams.
While making a lateral move in 2013, Laura discovered that there was a lack of data related to plaintiff lawyers’ compensation and benefits packages. She discovered that plaintiffs’ lawyers at all levels had much to learn about various packages available in the field. After speaking about her lateral move and all she had learned at the Women en Mass annual conference, the compensation survey and Amplify-Yourself.com were developed. Over the last few years, Laura has been honored to speak at AAJ’s Educational Events, Texas Women Rainmakers Conference, Kentucky Women Trial Lawyers Association, and the Women en Mass annual conference about salary negotiations and marketing yourself.
She is the past chair of AAJ’s Women’s Lawyer Caucus; co-founder and past chair of the AAJ’s LGBT Caucus and is Board of Governor. She is a graduate of AAJ’s Leadership Academy and is a member of several AAJ Committees and Litigation Groups. She is also an active member of the Florida Association of Justice and serves on the Board of Directors.
Laura Yaeger has been honored with several awards including, the AAJ WTLC Leadership Award, AAJ Distinguished Service Award, AAJ Certificate of Recognition for her contributions to the organization. In 2021, she was honored with the AAJ Harry Philo Award for her outstanding contribution to the civil justice system.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
LL.M in Health Law, Spring 2009, with Honors
RESEARCH
Directed Research Projects: Fall 2008, Baylor College of Medicine Center for Medical Ethics: Spring 2009, Professor Barbara Evans.
HONORS
Winner of the 7th Annual Robert S. Toth LL.M Writing Competition. Amendment 7: Medical Tradition v. The Will of the People, Has Florida’s Peer Review Privilege Vanished?
ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, MIAMI, FL
Juris Doctorate, May 1996, with Honors
HONORS
Top 10%; Dean’s List: Fall Semesters 1993, 1994, 1995.
Academic Jurisprudence Awards: Legal Research and Writing, Fall Semester 1993, Law and Medicine, Fall Semester 1995.
Academic Scholarships: 1994, 1995, 1996.
Moot Court: Executive Board Secretary 1995 – 1996; Participant in the J. Braxton Craven Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition 1995; Member since 1994.
Public Interest Fellowship: Legal Services of Greater Miami, Spring Semester 1996. Legal Intern.
ACTIVITIES
Florida Association of Women Lawyers: St. Thomas Chapter President 1995 – 1996,
Organized the Second Annual Domestic Violence Forum 1995.
Gay & Lesbian Law Student Association: St. Thomas Chapter Founding Member; Vice President 1995 – 1996.
Phi Delta Phi: Member 1994 – 1996.
North Dade Bar Association: Member 1995 – 1996.
EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant to Professor Siegfried Weissner, Fall Semester 1994,
Organized the Indian Law Symposium, “Back to the Future: Tribal Sovereignty.”
Judicial Intern to Honorable Judge Raphael Steinhardt, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL, Summer 1994.
Research Assistant to Professor John Hernandez, Fall Semester 1995.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, ROME, ITALY
Study Abroad Program, June – July 1995
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, TALLAHASSEE, FL
Bachelor of Science, English Education, May 1991
ACTIVITIES
Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Little Sisters of Minerva, Vice President 1990.
YAEGER LAW, P.L.L.C. TIERRA VERDE, FL
November 2017 – present
FOUNDER/ATTORNEY
VERSUS, CHICAGO, IL.
CSO – CHIEF SOLUTIONS OFFICER
November 2017 – March 2018
Startup with the vision and mission to develop an innovative case management platform for plaintiff lawyers. Worked directly with the development team to define features and technical user stories within an agile process. Used my expertise and experience being the voice of the customer and providing a business perspective to the development team. Strategic planning and business development. Brand management within the litigation market. Customer service and product management.
MORGAN & MORGAN, P.A., TAMPA, FL
April 1, 2013 – November 2017
PARTNER – COMPLEX LITIGATION GROUP
Manage complex mass tort litigation including all phases of management, discovery, and trial preparation. Participate in Multi-District Litigation: attend status conferences, draft discovery, depositions, document review management, meet and confer with defendants on discovery and document production issues, drafting and arguing motions to the court, expert preparation, and participate in bell whether trial pool selection. Manage a team of paralegals and litigation support staff and develop strategies to intake and evaluate new cases while handling the day-to-day tasks related to mass tort litigation, including drafting complaints and discovery, hiring experts, developing case strategies, etc. Design case management database and workflow methodologies.
FLEMING & ASSOCIATES L.L.P., HOUSTON, TX
August 1998 – March 30, 2013
MANAGING ATTORNEY OF 8500 MULTI-DISTRICT LITIGATION CASES:
Manage a large team of associates, contract attorneys, paralegals, and litigation support assistants which scheduled and attended over 10,000 depositions while preparing and producing over 12,000 Fact Sheets and handling the day-to-day practice; Design protocols and case strategies; Develop and implement cost-effective methodologies; Formulate and initiate management decisions; Participate in Multi-District Litigation status conferences; Draft and argue global MDL motions; Manage individual caseload of 1900 cases, Draft and argue case-specific motions; Handle all aspects of discovery (written and oral); Design case management database; Hire and train contract attorneys and staff; Interview and hire expert witnesses; Trial preparation; Design, implement, and manage the settlement process.
ASSOCIATE
Key participant in 10 jury selections in one year: Draft voir dire outlines, jury questionnaires, and PowerPoint presentations; Draft motions to disqualify venire persons and bench briefs; Argue motions to strike jurors for cause. Mass tort litigation work includes all phases of management and trial preparation of Fen-Phen diet drug litigation, including: Case evaluation; Legal research; Draft pleadings and motions; Attend hearings; Prepare cases for trial; Discovery (written and oral); Preparation of deposition designations from video and written transcripts; Create case-specific demonstratives; Create case-specific cross-examination outlines; Interview witnesses; Create case-specific timelines; Document Review. Additional substantive litigation experience includes product liability cases specifically related to the lead paint industry, nursing homes, medical malpractice, and breach of contract. Work in this area included: Develop and implement protocols and procedures for massive document review/collection; Hire and manage contract staff to assist in large document review; Discovery (written and oral); Legal Research; Draft pleadings and motions; Case strategy; Prepared for and attended mediation; Develop firm-wide document review/production manual.
CONTRACT ATTORNEY
January 1999 – March 2000
LITIGATION SUPPORT STAFF:
August 1998 – December 1998
APPOINTMENTS
PLAINTIFF STEERING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
ESSURE CALIFORNIA JCCP # 4887
RISPERDAL/INVEGA CALIFORNIA JCCP # 4775
STRYKER REJUVENATE & ABGII MDL # 2441
TRANSVAGINAL MESH MDL #S 2187, 2327, 2325, & 2326
FOSAMAX MDL # 1789
Discovery Team Member
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Amendment 7: Medical Tradition v. The Will of the People, Has Florida’s Peer Review Privilege Vanished?
Journal of Law & Medicine, Winter 2008
Florida’s Vanishing Peer Review Privilege Amendment 7: A Patient’s Right to Know About Adverse Medical Incidents
MedStaff News, Vol. 7, Issue 2, May 2008
Florida’s Vanishing Peer Review Privilege Amendment 7: A Patient’s Right to Know About Adverse Medical Incidents
MedStaff News, Vol. 7, Issue 2, May 2008
A Little Too Late: The Public Health Response to the World Trade Center Attack
Health Law Perspectives, November 8, 2007
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE (AAJ)
Member – 2001 – Present
Board of Governor at LargeLaw Schools Committee
Trial Lawyers Care
Marketing & Practice Development Committee
Publications Committee
The AAJ’s Press Advisory Board
Membership Oversight CommitteeCo-Chair Local and State Bar Outreach
New/Reinstated Welcome Committee
Past Chair of LGBT CaucusDiversity Committee Representative
Co-founder of LGBT
Founding Member for the Wool Yaeger Cabraiser LGBT Scholarship
Past Chair of WTLCCo-Chair – Leadership Summit
Publications Committee
Diversity Committee Representative
Awarded the Harry Phillo Award
Awarded the Distinguished Service Award
Graduate of AAJ Leadership Academy 4
Speaker for AAJ EducationWTLC Leadership Summit – Winter 2016
The Multigenerational Workforce, Diversity, & Law Firm Management Workshop – Winter 2016
Law School Forum – STU Law School (Miami)- March 16, 2016
AAJ Education’s Technology in the Courtroom and in Practice Seminar – October 29 – 30, 2015.
AAJ Hot Topics & Trends in Litigation Seminar, Risperdal & Invega Update, January 28, 2015, Miami Beach, FL
AAJ Education’s Risperdal Litigation Update Webinar, Invega: Risperdal Repackaged, February 18, 2015
TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BIOETHICS COMMITTEE
Community Member – 2007 – 2009
COLLEGE OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS
Member – 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 & 2015
RECOGNITIONS
Top Young Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2005 and 2007.
Houston’s Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2008
Texas’ Top Young Attorneys, H Texas Magazine, 2008.
Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2008.
INTERESTS
Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Cycling, and Hiking