00:00:00 – 00:00:08 Nitin Bajaj

Hey everyone, welcome to The Industry Show. I’m your host, Nitin Bajaj, and joining me today is Neeraj Singh. Neeraj, welcome on the show.

00:00:09 – 00:00:12 Neeraj Singh

Thank you for having me. Really appreciate being here.

00:00:13 – 00:00:16 Nitin Bajaj

Great to have you here. Let’s start with who is Neeraj?

00:00:17 – 00:00:42 Neeraj Singh

I guess the answer to that depends on who you ask. I’m reminded of the famous quote from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So to my wife, I would say I’m a loving husband. To my two kids, I’m an adoring father. To my parents, I’m an obedient son. And to my clients, I’m a fierce but compassionate lawyer.

00:00:42 – 00:01:02 Neeraj Singh

If you were to ask me personally, I would say that I’m an empathetic person with a strong sense of conviction. I’m someone that believes in the best in people, believes everything happens for a reason, and believes that attitude shapes perspective. So as that saying goes, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. I firmly believe in that.

00:01:03 – 00:01:27 Nitin Bajaj

Love that. And I’m looking forward to peeling some of those layers here in the next few minutes and getting to know the person behind the persona. So you obviously run a very successful law firm, and I’m always curious to know what and why people do what they do. So what was what was that trigger that made you start Singh Law?

00:01:28 – 00:01:49 Neeraj Singh

Well, Singh Law is a boutique law firm focusing on defending the rights of individuals who are accused of committing crimes in Southern California. I started this practice about five years ago after managing the Orange County branch of Shout Law Group, which is a well-established criminal defense law firm with offices in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

00:01:49 – 00:02:07 Neeraj Singh

When I what I noticed in my time there is that personal attention means everything to criminal defense clients. They don’t really care how big your law firm is or that you have 30 years of experience if ultimately you’re not going to be the one actually working on their case and standing next to them in court when it matters.

00:02:08 – 00:02:24 Neeraj Singh

My mission with Singh Law is to only take on cases where I know I can make a meaningful difference and to ensure my personal involvement at every stage. So starting from the initial consultation onwards, I want my clients to know that I’m invested in the outcome of their case.

00:02:25 – 00:02:39 Neeraj Singh

You know, criminal law is a lot different than civil law. You have your personal freedoms at stake. So it’s almost like going in for brain surgery as opposed to going in for a cosmetic procedure, right? If you don’t make it off that operating table, that’s it for you, right?

00:02:40 – 00:03:02 Neeraj Singh

And the same applies when it comes to, you know, freedom and and being able to stay out of custody. So I want my clients to be able to shift the burdens that come with the criminal defense charge onto my shoulders so that they can refocus their time and attention on what truly matters to them: their families, their careers, their health. All of those things, you know, should take priority.

00:03:03 – 00:03:24 Nitin Bajaj

I love that focus to who your customer is because that’s, as you said, of utmost importance, especially when it comes to criminal law. Give us a sense of now you’ve been at it for just over five years. Give us a sense of the size and scale, but more importantly, the impact that you and your team have been able to create for the community.

00:03:26 – 00:04:18 Neeraj Singh

Well, having my own practice was always the end goal for me. Like many South Asians, I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. So although my father was a scientist by profession, he and my mother also owned and operated a convenience store, and I spent my formative years there. In fact, it’s where I first experienced the intersection between business and personal relationships and how one can facilitate the other. So working the register at a neighborhood convenience store, you tend to develop personal relationships with your regular customers. And eventually, you kind of take on this pseudo-therapist role where people come to you for advice for all sorts of problems that they may be experiencing. Some of those problems involve issues with addiction, which is also a prominent issue I deal with today as a criminal defense attorney. So in many ways, I’ve been training for this role as a legal advisor for my whole life.

00:04:19 – 00:05:01 Neeraj Singh

As to why now, I would say that this is actually the most pivotal period in my lifetime as far as the need to defend constitutional rights is concerned. So, you know, what we are seeing unfold with ICE, for example, it’s a blatant attack on our Fourth, Fifth, and now even Second Amendment rights. So it can be disheartening when you see the Supreme Court, the highest court in all the land, hold positions that seemingly go against everything we were taught in school about the law and our personal freedoms. So having a law practice that centers on fighting to preserve those rights against government overreach and holding law enforcement accountable feels not only appropriate but necessary at a time like this.

00:05:01 – 00:06:06 Neeraj Singh

As far as the size and scale of the operations, you know, I’ve represented thousands of individuals accused of various crimes from DUI all the way up to murder and attempted murder. So as far as geographies are concerned, I have appeared before courts throughout Southern California over the years, so from San Diego all the way up to Santa Barbara and everything in between. As far as demographics are concerned, I would say that roughly 80% of my clients are first-time offenders with little to no criminal history. So needless to say, they’re they’re scared and oftentimes anxious. They are looking for someone who not only has experience defending cases like theirs but is also willing to hold their hand throughout the process. You know, in the medical field, they call that bedside manner. In criminal law, they just call that customer service. I’m proud to say that I’ve consistently earned the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award for the past nine years running for client satisfaction. And I’ve also been named one of the 10 best attorneys for client satisfaction according to the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys. So I’m very proud of those achievements.

00:06:06 – 00:06:09 Nitin Bajaj

As you rightly should be. Congratulations for that. And.

00:06:09 – 00:06:10 Neeraj Singh

Thank you.

00:06:10 – 00:06:28 Nitin Bajaj

You know, just having gotten to know you, I I know how detail-oriented you are and how customer-focused you and your team are. So kudos to you for building a stellar team and for keeping the community and the customer at the heart and soul of everything you do.

00:06:29 – 00:06:30 Neeraj Singh

Thank you. I appreciate that.

00:06:30 – 00:06:43 Nitin Bajaj

Now, you mentioned yeah you mentioned a few things that have become challenging in the country, in the environment. What’s the biggest challenge you face?

00:06:43 – 00:07:11 Neeraj Singh

So the biggest challenge I’m currently facing is one that is not an uncommon challenge for solo practitioners such as myself, and that is marketing. I find that when people are actually able to find me and speak with me, they understand quite quickly that they’re getting more than just legal representation with me, right? They understand the value that they would be receiving in hiring me. But again, that can only happen if they’re able to find me in the first place.

00:07:11 – 00:07:28 Neeraj Singh

So criminal defense is a very saturated marketplace, and larger firms with the higher marketing spend will undoubtedly be easier to find on platforms like Google. However, if as a consumer you do your research, you’ll discover those firms are not always going to be the best for you in your case.

00:07:29 – 00:07:49 Neeraj Singh

Now, I’ve tried various marketing campaigns with Google, Avvo, Yelp, and I continue to work on my SEO. But I feel that the lifeblood of any good marketing campaign is client reviews. So I put everything I have into each and every case that I take on because I know that I need that client to be willing to share their experience online.

00:07:49 – 00:08:19 Neeraj Singh

And that’s not an easy ask in a field like criminal defense. You know, having been arrested or charged for the crime is often an embarrassing experience that people want to keep a secret from their friends and family. So I understand that I really need to be willing to go above and beyond to earn their five-star review. And I’m proud to say that I currently have a 10.0 rating on Avvo with about, I would say, 100 five-star reviews, and I’m sitting at a 5.0 rating on Google with over 55 star reviews as we speak.

00:08:20 – 00:08:43 Nitin Bajaj

That’s amazing. And as you rightly said, you know, that’s a a difficult place to be in when you’re literally saving lives and people’s freedoms, but on the flip side, not something people are proud of and and want to talk about. So yeah, but kudos to you for getting as many of those reviews that you have and all, you know, 100% 10-star and five-star. That’s awesome.

00:08:44 – 00:08:44 Neeraj Singh

Thank you.

00:08:45 – 00:08:52 Nitin Bajaj

Now, on the flip side of challenges come opportunities. What’s the one that you’re most excited about?

 

00:08:52 – 00:09:26 Neeraj Singh

Well, I would say the most exciting opportunity I’m currently targeting is an expansion of my practice area to include personal injury law. So given my background in the courtroom and strong passion for justice, I have been targeting an expansion into this area because whether you’re going up against the government or a large insurance company, it’s easy to feel powerless, and there’s a tremendous need for meaningful advocacy there. So, you know, I believe victims of others’ negligence deserve to have their day in court, and I’m ready to give it to them. So I’m currently in the process of hiring the right personnel to support an expansion into that area.

00:09:27 – 00:09:38 Nitin Bajaj

Well, I’m super excited at this phase of growth that you’re looking at, and maybe we should bring you back in and and talk about that once you’ve had that set up.

00:09:38 – 00:09:39 Neeraj Singh

Absolutely. I’d love that.

00:09:39 – 00:10:02 Nitin Bajaj

Yep. Now, as we look forward, I’d like to pause and reflect and invite you to share two moments from your past: one where things did not work out as you had expected. There was disappointment, failure, and lessons. And another where things exceeded your expectations and became a success beyond what you had imagined.

00:10:05 – 00:10:34 Neeraj Singh

Well I think starting with the latter, where things exceeded my expectations, it was certainly opening up this practice, right? When you go out on your own and you hang your own shingle, as they say, there’s a lot of uncertainty. You know, you it’s unpredictable. All you can really do is put your best foot forward and hope for the best. And so I would say that starting this practice and being sort of in control of my destiny in terms of my career that has been the greatest reward for me.

 

00:10:35 – 00:11:02 Neeraj Singh

As far as the failure that turned out to be a great lesson, I can think of one from way back in high school that shaped who I am today. Like most Indian parents, mine wanted me to become a doctor. And in preparation for that, I was enrolled in AP Chemistry and all the AP Sciences. However, those those classes were like a foreign language to me, quite frankly. No matter how hard I studied or how hard I applied myself, I could not get into it.

00:11:02 – 00:11:31 Neeraj Singh

I will always remember having to sit my dad down and break the news to him that I was failing those classes and that I couldn’t fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. But, you know, the lesson came in his response that his dream wasn’t necessarily for me to become a doctor per se, but to be in a profession that would allow me to help as many people as I could. He said that where he comes from, helping other people is akin to serving God. And I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since. It’s been a guiding light.

00:11:32 – 00:11:46 Nitin Bajaj

That’s amazing. And, you know, I’m inclined to crack a joke here. You didn’t become a doctor or an engineer, but then you still got the third from the three choices we are given as South Asians, right? So you checked the box.

00:11:46 – 00:11:47 Neeraj Singh

Exactly. Exactly.

00:11:49 – 00:12:06 Nitin Bajaj

Well, thank you for sharing those vulnerable moments. We talked about work. We talked about the intensity of what you deal with with your clients and just the general nature of what you practice. What do you do to de-stress, to kick it back, to have fun?

00:12:08 – 00:12:36 Neeraj Singh

Great question. So I’m married with two young children, so I love spending time with my family. My son, who is seven years old, is very much into sports these days, so I’m a total sports dad. You know, whether it’s baseball, soccer, tennis, or swimming, what have you, I try to be as involved as I can. I also love to play golf and just got him his first set of golf clubs. So right now, we’re just sticking to the driving range, but hopefully he’ll be ready for an actual round of golf soon enough.

00:12:37 – 00:12:55 Neeraj Singh

I also love to travel when I can. Last year, we did Disney Olani for the first time for my daughter’s second birthday. And that was a ton of fun, especially at that age. Her idol right now is Moana. So seeing Moana in person was, I believe, a core memory for her and and for all of us, for that matter.

00:12:55 – 00:13:13 Neeraj Singh

Then for my son you know, he didn’t want it to be you know, second chair. So we ended up doing a cruise down to Cabo San Lucas for his birthday. And that was a really special trip because we got to take both sets of grandparents with us. So it was a family affair that we will always remember.

00:13:13 – 00:13:21 Nitin Bajaj

That is amazing. I’m glad you’re able to sneak some time out and enjoy with family but also cater to your own passions.

00:13:22 – 00:13:23 Neeraj Singh

Absolutely.

00:13:24 – 00:13:29 Nitin Bajaj

Now, is there a book or a podcast that is a favorite and you would like to recommend?

 

00:13:30 – 00:13:46 Neeraj Singh

Yeah, actually, I have it here with me. This is a book that my wife gifted me for Christmas, and I I’m not kidding. I couldn’t put this thing down. It’s called Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions. It’s by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.

00:13:46 – 00:14:14 Neeraj Singh

It’s an anthology of 10 true stories of Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, family, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. So the stories take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place the racism, misconduct, corruption in the court system that can make them so hard to reverse. So it’s quite a page-turner. Highly recommend this book.

00:14:15 – 00:14:16 Nitin Bajaj

Thanks for sharing.

00:14:17 – 00:14:18 Neeraj Singh

Yeah, absolutely.

00:14:18 – 00:14:26 Nitin Bajaj

Now, onto my favorite part of the show. We call this the one-line life lessons. Neeraj, I would love for you to share your life lessons with us.

00:14:27 – 00:14:43 Neeraj Singh

Yeah, it’d be my pleasure. So I’m I’m a big quote guy myself. I love quotes. I think that they help put things into context and perspective. You know, when you are yourself at a loss of words, I think other people have been able to provide some insight.

00:14:43 – 00:14:56 Neeraj Singh

So the first one I’d like to start with is, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog,” by Mark Twain. This has always been a personal mantra of mine because I’ve always considered myself the underdog.

00:14:57 – 00:15:09 Neeraj Singh

The next one I’d want to share is, “We must become the change we want to see in the world,” and that’s, of course, by Gandhi. This is a reminder to lead by example, which at times can feel extremely difficult given the situation.

00:15:10 – 00:15:27 Neeraj Singh

The third one would be, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and that’s by Dr. Martin Luther King. This quote resonates with my feelings about justice and a reminder that no case is ever too small or unimportant if it means upholding the law.

00:15:27 – 00:15:44 Neeraj Singh

Fourth, I’d want to say, whether you think you can or cannot, you are right. This is all about mindset. While I do believe everything happens for a reason, I strongly believe that your mindset can dictate your outcome. Thinking positively these days is a requirement for survival.

00:15:45 – 00:16:04 Neeraj Singh

And then last but not least, a mistake is a lesson, not a loss. A temporary and necessary detour, not a dead end. And of course, this one, to me, means that we all make mistakes. That’s life. That’s called being human. But your mistakes should not define you. And that’s a very important one for me, given my profession.

00:16:06 – 00:16:37 Nitin Bajaj

Neeraj, thank you so much for making the time to share your journey and your story. But most importantly, those life lessons. You know, you’re an extremely well-rounded person, very thoughtful, very wise. And I’m really glad for your clients that get to work with you because they get a true taste of what a true professional looks like. Congratulations again on all of your successes, and I know you’re just getting started, so many more to come.

00:16:38 – 00:16:44 Neeraj Singh

Thank you very much. I appreciate you, and I appreciate your time and having me on the podcast. It means a lot to me. Thank you.