'Our work changes lives — it’s worth talking about,' say hosts Paul Miller and Renée Vinett
This article was produced in partnership with Howie Sacks & Henry LLP
When the name The Ambulance Chasers? was floated for Howie Sacks & Henry LLP’s first foray into podcasting, it was met with resistance from the firm’s partners.
“The reaction was basically, ‘Not a chance in hell,’” Paul Miller, partner at the firm and co-host of the podcast, recalls with a laugh. “But our producer helped us understand the value of a bold name in new media: it draws attention and starts conversations.”
The term, which paints personal injury lawyers as opportunists, was popularized by movies and TV shows — even an episode of Seinfeld that made light of the infamous 1992 coffee burn case Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants — and has long been a point of frustration for lawyers in this field. Ultimately, the name stuck because it captures the essence of the podcast: challenging the very misconceptions that it references. By using it as the title, the firm reclaims it — and flips the script.
“We want to pull back the curtain on personal injury law and to showcase why the work we do matters,” Miller continues. “It’s about showing people what we actually do and breaking down the stigma.”
Through storytelling, real-world insights, and the occasional laugh, Miller and his co-host Renée Vinett, also a partner at Howie Sacks & Henry, aim to connect with listeners in a way that demystifies their role and underscores the meaningful impact personal injury lawyers have on individuals and communities.
For Vinett, the podcast is a natural extension of her practice. With a background as a registered nurse, she brings a human-first perspective to her work in personal injury law.
“It’s not just about the legal process — it’s about the client’s recovery process and the person as a whole,” she says. “When they come to us, their lives are in turmoil. They’ve suffered life-altering injuries, and they’re carrying fear and uncertainty. We take their hand and let them know they’re no longer alone."
This message of hope and humanity lies at the heart of The Ambulance Chasers? It’s not just about winning cases, but helping people rebuild their lives. The hosts want the listeners — from the public to fellow lawyers in other practice areas — to understand the emotional and intellectual investment personal injury law requires.
“It isn’t just a job, it’s personal,” Miller adds. “What we do is complex, emotionally challenging, and deeply impactful. It’s not about chasing ambulances — it’s about standing up for people who’ve been hurt and making sure they have the support they need to move forward."
Vinett agrees, noting that the work requires immense emotional resilience as it involves dealing with clients who’ve suffered catastrophic injuries, children who’ve been hurt, and families who’ve lost loved ones. These are not easy cases, she notes, and “the really good personal injury lawyers put their hearts and souls into this work. That’s what we want to show people."
The debut episode of The Ambulance Chasers? was designed to introduce Miller and Vinett as both lawyers and individuals, steering clear of heavy legal topics.
"We wanted it to be light and approachable, focusing on letting people get to know us, our backgrounds, and our perspectives," Miller explains, adding that he discussed his work in class actions and mass tort litigation while Vinett reflected on her transition from nursing to law.
“We also shared some war stories — it was a way to show that we’re real people, with a sense of humour, and not just here to talk about dry legal issues."
Looking ahead, however, Miller and Vinett are eager to tackle an array of major issues affecting personal injury law. Topics on their radar include reforming Statutory Accident Benefits, which often fall short of meeting the needs of injured clients; gaps in Canada’s public healthcare system, including that rehabilitation and aftercare services essential to recovery are not covered by provincial healthcare; innovative treatments for traumatic brain injuries and the potential of these cutting-edge therapies to improve recovery outcomes for clients; and systemic issues in class actions.
Miller highlights a current case involving a First Nation community with the highest suicide rate per capita in the world. With lack of basics such as clean running water, it’s an example of what he calls “third-world conditions in Canada” and is a good example of how the work goes beyond compensation for individuals or groups. It’s a way to expose systemic failures and fight for change, including taking insurance companies and policymakers who often prioritize profit to task.
“These issues affect everyone,” Vinett says. “You may not be an accident victim today, but you or a member of your family could be one tomorrow.”
At the end of the day, the mission is to illustrate that personal injury lawyers chase many things, none of which are ambulances. They chase much greater concepts like justice, hope, and progress: the podcast also serves as a call to action for systemic reform.
“We’re not just here to talk — we’re here to advocate,” Vinett says. “We hope the podcast inspires conversations and, ultimately, change.”
If there’s one message Miller and Vinett want listeners to take away from The Ambulance Chasers?, it’s this: hope starts here. When clients come to the firm, they’re often at their lowest point, but “we’ll help them fight the good fight," Vinett notes.
Miller echoes this sentiment, adding that while the name of the podcast is provocative, it’s imperative that the word gets out about what personal injury lawyers really do.
“This work changes lives,” Miller says simply. “And that’s something worth talking about.”
