Hella Scheuerman: Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC
Covering All Bases
By Michelle Vasquez | Photography by David Teran
Trust is the foundation of every interaction with personal injury attorney Hella Scheuerman, whose impressive credentials and approachable demeanor distinguish her in her field. She exudes warmth and knowledge.
Hella is a fully bilingual (Spanish/English) and native Nicaraguan. She and her family fled the civil war of 1981 and came to the United States when she was young. Her success story is one of re-invention and dedication.
As she grew up with cultural differences in the States, she consumed legal dramas on TV, and “the lawyers always seemed to have all the answers.” Impressed, Hella knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Motivated and determined, she learned all she could about the profession. Everything she did focused on being an attorney and going to law school.
Hella graduated from St. Mary’s Law School in 1997. After her first class in torts, she knew she wanted to represent plaintiffs as a personal injury attorney. Her husband encouraged her to try insurance defense work first. This experience honed her litigation skills and prepared her to argue the other side. Hella is board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been practicing for 27 years. She has tried cases on both the defense side and plaintiff’s side of personal injury.
Having worked as a defense attorney gives Hella an edge in serving her clients today. She evaluates cases from both the plaintiff’s and defense’s points of view to identify weak spots and areas of opportunity, including medical expenses, lost wages, physical impairment, physical pain, mental anguish, and disfigurement.
Once the tangible costs are determined, she will examine the intangible opportunity costs to the client in terms of life and lifestyle. Today, with over 50 jury trials under her belt, she leverages her defense experience to effectively counteract opposing arguments.
In addition to personal injury litigation, Hella handles probate, trust, guardianship litigation, and estate planning, which often come up in personal injury cases. For example, suppose there’s a death and a surviving spouse or children are involved. In that case, evaluating whether a probate estate should be opened will occur. “I not only do the analysis for the personal injury case, but I do the analysis for the probate because I have experience with both, and the analysis is more robust,” says Hella.
Hella brings comprehensive and pragmatic skills to her practice of law. “I have an eye on the big picture and can give my clients a compassionate, comprehensive, and expert perspective on how to come up with the best options,” she says. It behooves individuals to consult with an attorney before making the claim themselves so that they can educate themselves on their options.
The client-attorney relationship is about legal advice and forming a team. Hella emphasizes that trust, expertise, and good communication are essential for this relationship to work. “They know I’m fighting for them, and I’m on their side,” she says.
Teamwork and communication are critical to determining the value of each client’s case and identifying how to present their facts to a jury. When defending clients for liability disputes, Hella mentions that “the client’s input in identifying witnesses, showing and describing the location of the accident, and providing photos or videos of the scene have helped solidify the liability of the negligent party.”
When not practicing law, Hella takes on leadership and civic roles. She is a past president and current member of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a past president and member of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association.
Hella believes in civic engagement and volunteers as a Director with Catholic Charities and a member of the National Charity League, a philanthropic organization where she volunteers with her daughter. Her accolades are numerous, and she is among San Antonio’s Best Lawyers and Outstanding Women in Law.
As an award-winning lawyer with a deep passion for the law, Hella Scheuerman is professional, compassionate, and fiercely committed to her clients. Her dedication ensures that she advocates effectively throughout the legal process, from deposition preparation to jury presentation, achieving the best possible outcomes for each individual.
Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC
210.735.2233
sch-lawfirm.com
322 W Woodlawn Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78212
