P.J. Scheiner practices law with his father at Associates & Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured. And, though he’s been practicing law since 2007, it’s advice from his father that has always guided his legal approach.

“My father often told me of a local legal legend named Jimmy Franklin, who could walk into a courtroom, tell the judge what the law was, and — without even reading the case establishing the law or precedent — the court would usually accept his representation and rule accordingly,” he says. “My father’s advice was to earn the respect of the local bar and judiciary so that ­like — Jimmy Franklin — when I made a representation in the courtroom, no one would ever have reason to question or doubt its accuracy, integrity or veracity.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

The advice that accompanied the story of Jimmy Franklin was always the same: A reputation takes a lifetime to build and only a moment to destroy.