Aguero, Dorothea G.

There's always somebody who proclaims that Shakespeare had it right when he wrote, "The first thing we do is kill all the lawyers." The character who says that is a violent illiterate who thereupon accuses a clerk of witchcraft because he can read, write and count. Most folks who quote the line have probably never heard that part of the story. They've probably never needed a lawyer, either.

They certainly don't know Paul and Steve Aiken, the brothers who 21 years ago decided to practice law together. Combining their talents seemed like a great idea.Twenty one years later, it still is.

Paul opened a general practice in Hyannis in 1976, after graduating from George Washington University Law School in 1973, and worked for Legal Services of Cape Cod for three and a half years. In l978 he broke new ground as the first lawyer on the Cape to advertise. He saw it as a way to reach out to people unfamiliar with the system, specifically those seeking a divorce. "Many divorces are simple," Paul explains, "and yet many couples were being charged as if they were terribly complicated." Paul's services were a boon to many who were "not being served fairly," he recalls. "I wanted to help people without intimidating them."

Steve, who went to law school in New Orleans at Loyola University, brought his own expertise in medical malpractice and personal injury law to the firm. He began his practice in New Jersey, and from 1977 to 1983, concentrated on medical malpractice, product liability and personal injury cases, but from the opposite perspective - the defendant. Joining the firm in 1983, he brought a whole perspective to the practice as well, as he fully understands the attitudes and considerations his adversaries will have in any given situation. In 1983, upon formation of the partnership, the practice began to concentrate almost exclusively in the personal injury field, which it does to this day.

In their years together, the firm has handled thousands of cases, from dog bites to product liability. Just as there is no "typical" case, there is no "typical" client either. A client could be a young worker injured on a construction job, or an elderly shopper who slipped and fell in a supermarket. Aiken and Aiken is selective, handling approximately 200 cases a year, with recoveries ranging from modest sums to million dollar settlements.

The key for Paul and Steve Aiken is personal service. They get to know their clients well, as cases often last from six months to five years. "If you are a good lawyer, you can't help but build a close relationship with your client over that time. Oftentimes," Paul says, "an attorney's most important role is as a listener. We take pride in handling a large number of clients while still maintaining close relationships. That's why returning calls promptly is a policy here. We take special care to communicate so clients are not left in the dark."

As they build that unique relationship with their clients, Paul and Steve and their staff members act as advisors, too, advising clients about available medical or counseling services, helping them to choose insurance wisely, even offering common sense information about injury prevention.

Giving a voice to the victim and fighting for the little guy are what truly motivates them. The satisfaction that comes from helping people out of difficult circumstances, especially when the adversary is a large institution like an insurance company, is rewarding.

For twenty one years, Paul and Steve Aiken have tried to remove the fear and anxiety often associated in legal matters with one simple rule: Treat clients well. As Steve puts it, "If someone is already a victim, there is no reason to make him feel like a victim again.