Episode 218: From Marine to Consumer Financial Protection Attorney With Mike Cardoza

02/16/24 • 56 min

Mike Cardoza is a longtime client and friend of Foster Web Marketing. He is a unique lawyer—a California consumer financial protection attorney—who helps people regain control of their financial lives by getting the upper hand on creditors, debt collectors, and credit reporting agencies. He is also a former senior executive of a debt-buying company, a debt-collection agency, and a major regional high-volume debt-collection law firm. He now brings his experience and skill to exclusively help consumers, and he has truly created an excellent law firm.

Trained as a trial attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mike Cardoza has tried countless cases in federal and state courtrooms. As a veteran of the war in Iraq, and following additional assignments overseas and in the courtroom, he has now retired from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as a colonel and continues in his legal career.

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Military Experience

7:38 Marketing Military Service

9:45 Mike’s Career Path

12:40 A Military Lawyer’s Role

14:05 Leaving the Service

14:46 Challenges Transitioning to Civilian Life

18:14 Military Versus Legal Training

21:16 Positives of Mike’s Practice

23:40 Career Advice for Vets

26:43 Pitfalls & Setbacks

29:10 What Lawyers Should Avoid

30:40 A Veteran’s Perspective

32:11 Importance of Military Experience

34:30 Learning to Be a Marketer

38:10 Paying Attention to Your Marketing

41:43 Finding Your Niche

46:31 Overqualified as a Civilian

48:58 Mentoring Lawyers

50:36 Building Something That Lasts

52:14 Hire People Who Are Smarter Than You!

53:55 Closing Thoughts

Mike is the author of The Secret World of Debt Collection: Beat Collectors at Their Own Game and is a regularly featured speaker and commentator on consumers' rights and credit reporting. Mike founded The Cardoza Law Corporation to share the truth about consumer credit and finance with clients and be their “partner in prosperity.” If you are going through the hardships of financial instability due to debt collectors and creditors, be sure to contact The Cardoza Law Corporation today!

Speakers Featured in This Episode

Tom Foster of Foster Web Marketing- Mike Cardoza of The Cardoza Law Corporation

This episode is brought to you by Foster Web Marketing.

Foster Web Marketing is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, highly customizable marketing and strategic solutions specifically designed for law firms and medical practices.

Our award-winning marketing and systems solutions are what set us apart from everyone else.

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Military Experience

7:38 Marketing Military Service

9:45 Mike’s Career Path

12:40 A Military Lawyer’s Role

14:05 Leaving the Service

14:46 Challenges Transitioning to Civilian Life

18:14 Military Versus Legal Training

21:16 Positives of Mike’s Practice

23:40 Career Advice for Vets

26:43 Pitfalls & Setbacks

29:10 What Lawyers Should Avoid

30:40 A Veteran’s Perspective

32:11 Importance of Military Experience

34:30 Learning to Be a Marketer

38:10 Paying Attention to Your Marketing

41:43 Finding Your Niche

46:31 Overqualified as a Civilian

48:58 Mentoring Lawyers

50:36 Building Something That Lasts

52:14 Hire People Who Are Smarter Than You!

53:55 Closing Thoughts

Speakers Featured in This Episode

Tom Foster of Foster Web Marketing- Mike Cardoza of The Cardoza Law Corporation

This episode is brought to you by Foster Web Marketing.

Foster Web Marketing is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, highly customizable marketing and strategic solutions specifically designed for law firms and medical practices.

Our award-winning marketing and systems solutions are what set us apart from everyone else.

Previous Episode

Episode 187 REMASTERED: How to Build a Successful Niche Business With Kevin Mottley

This week we are remastering a favorite of ours from this time last year.

Kevin Mottley is regarded as one of the top traumatic brain injury (TBI) attorneys in the state of Virginia. Based in Richmond, he handles the complex, life-altering cases that many lawyers are not equipped to handle. On top of that, he is connected with lawyers around the country to provide referrals to the right legal team for people’s cases. His journey to where he is today is one of grit and determination. If you’re thinking about growing within a niche field of law, be sure to listen closely! Also, be on the lookout for a follow-up episode with Kevin that we recorded earlier and are planning to push out later this month!

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn

0:00 Introduction

3:05 How Kevin Got Started

5:09 Focus In & Find Your Perfect Client

8:30 Bespoke Cases

11:25 “What Did I Learn” Memos

13:36 Working With Other Lawyers

15:42 A Good Case in Federal Court

17:51 Complexities in Kevin’s Cases

19:49 Working as an NFL Player’s Agent

22:16 When Kevin Met Tom

24:00 Finding Your Niche

27:52 Being the Best at What You Do

33:00 Focus on Details

35:23 Closing Thoughts

Kevin’s practice, the Mottley Law Firm, has brought in impressive settlements for his clients. In fact, in 2023, Kevin was part of the team that landed the largest verdict in Virginia Federal Court and the largest verdict in a brain injury case. If you or a loved one is in need of serious firepower to take on a TBI case, be sure to contact his law firm today.

Speakers Featured in This Episode

Tom Foster of Foster Web Marketing- Kevin Mottley of The Mottley Law Firm

This episode is brought to you by Foster Web Marketing.

Foster Web Marketing is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, highly customizable marketing and strategic solutions specifically designed for law firms and medical practices.

Our award-winning marketing and systems solutions are what set us apart from everyone else.

Next Episode

Episode 219: Building Upon Your Niche With Kevin Mottley

Kevin Mottley is THE guy to handle traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases in the state of Virginia. In fact, he is sought out by personal injury lawyers and auto accident victims as far out as California! His journey from defense attorney to leading TBI attorney illustrates his acumen not only as a lawyer, but as an entrepreneur. No wonder this is his fourth time being on the show! If you’re thinking about growing within a niche field of law, be sure to listen closely.

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn

0:00 Introduction

0:49 How Kevin Got Started

3:40 First Brain Injury Case

5:13 Prior Legal Experience

7:28 Helping People With High Stakes

9:23 Recognizing Potential in a Case

16:16 Reviewing Cases for Other Lawyers

19:56 Knowing When to Refer a Case

21:23 “Bespoke” Cases

25:38 Habits for Success

27:30 Referring Cases to Kevin

30:02 Closing Thoughts

Kevin was part of the team that landed the largest verdict in Virginia federal court and the largest verdict in a brain injury case in 2023. His practice is a top-notch example of how to pick a niche and grow within it. From his early days as a defense litigator to reading the thoughts and words of Mark Lanier (someone he considers one of the greatest trial lawyers in the world), and then to building his firm within the TBI niche, Kevin is a force to be reckoned with! Reach out to The Mottley Law Firm today if you or a loved one have experienced a TBI or you have a client that is currently dealing with one.

Speakers Featured in This Episode

Tom Foster of Foster Web Marketing- Kevin Mottley of The Mottley Law Firm

This episode is brought to you by Foster Web Marketing.

Foster Web Marketing is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, highly customizable marketing and strategic solutions specifically designed for law firms and medical practices.

Our award-winning marketing and systems solutions are what set us apart from everyone else.