As a member of Fund Capital America’s business development team, I’ve had the privilege of not only helping plaintiffs and attorneys navigate their cases but also reflecting deeply on what it means to work in this industry with integrity. It’s a word we all hear tossed around often, right? But when you’re in legal funding—an industry that can sometimes feel like it’s under a magnifying glass—integrity isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a guiding principle.

Let me start with this: legal funding is about trust. Plaintiffs trust us to help them bridge financial gaps during some of the hardest times in their lives. Attorneys trust us to be professional, ethical partners who won’t interfere with their cases. And the courts trust the industry as a whole to uphold fairness and transparency. It’s easy to say we’re here to help people, but this year has taught me that what we do is what matters most.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in 2024 is the importance of clear communication. Integrity doesn’t just mean “doing the right thing”—it also means being upfront and transparent with everyone involved. I’ve had conversations with plaintiffs who were scared and confused about what legal funding actually means. What’s the cost? How does it work? Will it affect their case? Explaining everything in simple, straightforward terms—not sugarcoating it or burying them in legal jargon—has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job. When people walk away feeling informed and confident, that’s when I know I’ve done my part to build trust.

But it’s not always easy. This industry, like any other, has its share of challenges. We see bad actors, overly aggressive marketing, and practices that make people question whether legal funding companies really have their clients’ best interests at heart. Those moments have reminded me why I chose to be part of a company like Fund Capital America. We’re not just about closing deals or hitting numbers—we’re about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. And that starts with staying true to ethical standards, even when it means walking away from a potential deal that doesn’t align with those values. One moment that I will never forget this year was working with a single mother who’d been in a car accident. She was trying to keep her life afloat—raising her kids, keeping her job—while dealing with a drawn-out lawsuit. When she told me, “I’ve never had anyone explain this so clearly and honestly,” it hit me. This is why integrity matters. It’s not just about policies and procedures—it’s about people.