Profiles in Advocacy: Aimee Gromowsky

Aimee Gromowsky, J.D.

What makes your practice different?

I am on the cusp of technology.  My clients appreciate that I text, email, and use Facebook.  That sets me apart because my availability is there for them in several different ways.  It is very easy to get in touch with me on several different levels.

Most traffic attorneys do not send out an engagement letter, but I do.  I will email it.

I also admit my mistakes and offer a fair solution.  People need to hear that you are sorry.  Once, I missed a court date because of a scheduling error.  I immediately apologized to my client after I had reset a date and refunded my attorney fee to him.

What are you passionate about?

I want justice and equality for people.  That’s why I went to law school.  I’m passionate about making things equal and better for people.

How does your practice represent that ideal?

I have a fair pricing structure to make my practice accessible to most people.  I strive for affordable legal services.

What life experiences have helped you become a better lawyer?

Being a mom has helped a lot.  I definitely learned patience from becoming a parent that I apply to my clients.  I was a social worker for four years before law school and that plays a huge part.  There are people who come to me at very low points in their lives, and I have empathy for them because of my life experiences as a social worker.

My political advocacy is helpful because I have met so many great people over the years.

Learning the important of candidly dealing with clients has helped me.  It depends on the case, but it serves me best when I am completely honest with people about potential outcomes.  Lawyers who paint the moon are setting themselves and their clients up for a rude awakening.  So, I always let me clients know “here are the four things that could happen.”  That helps you to decide how to proceed.  I have to balance knowing what I think but also respecting what they want.  It helps with the referral process, too.

How did you pick your primary area of practice?

When I was working for Albert Riederer, I was doing all kinds of things, which included speeding tickets.  Also, every time I went to municipal court, I was there with everyone I knew from the prosecutor’s office.  It was like a school reunion.  It was a bar I felt very comfortable in.  I was not a trial lawyer or criminal defense attorney per se, but I felt comfortable with traffic law.  So, I was going to become the best at it when I decided to start my solo practice when I was having kids.

While I would be happy with 100% speeding tickets, you have to do everything that comes your way.  So I am prepared for that.  DUIs or driving while suspended or municipal marijuana charges, I handle it all.

What are your hobbies?

Missouri Tiger Athletics and political campaigns.  I’m a PTA person.  Tigers, politics, and being active in my kids’ school.  I built my practice around being able to be flexible with my schedule to allow for time to be with my children and to pursue my passions. During an election, for example, I could leave my office or volunteer for election protection.  Now, I am on the Parks Boards.  I am able to still have an effective, money-making practice and pursue my own interests.

I love the board work.  Now I’m able to provide input to help the city.  It’s a position of power you don’t have to be elected to.  It represents one of the best parts of our government, because it is citizen driven and directed by people who genuinely care about the future of our city.

Have you witnessed change for women in the legal professions?

I graduated from law school in 1999.  Most of the women I graduated with who I was friends with are no longer lawyers.  Often, women graduate from law school and 10 years later no longer practice to start families.  My specialty, traffic court, is somewhat male dominated.  I think women are getting positions of power in a more equal way than they used to, however.

When I put my kids down, I have to go to work.  For mothers in the legal profession, they often leave practice to find a corporate job that provides them with more time flexibility.  You’re always working.  The work is not getting done without me doing it.  I’m checking voicemail, email, and phone calls.  I don’t want my business to collapse when I take a week off.  Balancing all of that and motherhood can be too difficult for a practicing attorney at times.  The system needs to change to allow more mothers the flexibility to practice.

What has been your most interesting case/project?

I practice a very mundane type of law that I love, but I like situations where I can help someone get their license back because they had too many points.  I help people who do not know why they are getting their license revoked.  Simply put, it feels good to help people.  My clients are people I can help get on their way, to their job or to their kids after school.  It can be boring work for some, but I do it and love doing it.

How does your practice facilitate referrals?

I get a lot of referrals.  I try to always thank the people who provide me with them.  I refer business back to them and/or whatever they need me to do.  I try to be thankful and grateful to the people who think of me and send me clients to help.  I tell them referrals are my biggest source of business so they always think of me when they hear about a traffic case.

I am hyper responsive.  I check my email and email people back as quickly as possible.  I check my voicemail.  I don’t think any of my clients wait more than 24 hours from me unless my voicemail says otherwise that day.  Even then I have a secretary answer the phone.  I try to personally get back to my clients promptly or within 24 hours.  I know it is a huge problem in the legal industry.  I know my clients like that I am responsive.  Traffic is high volume law.  Clients are price shopping with traffic cases.  People want their phone answered.  They can get the scoop from me about the ticket itself immediately.  Even though I really do not have to tell clients bad news, the only times I have potentially negative interactions with clients is usually because they owe me more money.  But, even then, I make clients appreciate the experience and feel grateful for my services.

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Aimee Gromowsky has owned Truman Tickets for the past 10 years. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1999 and was awarded Best of the Bar in 2007 and 2008.

“I have been an attorney for ten years with the last four focusing on speeding tickets and traffic law. Whether you were going five miles over the speed limit or fifty, traffic tickets can be a hassle. I can help keep it off your driving record and keep your insurance rates low.”

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