In this episode of Sports ’N Torts, Joshua Stein sits down with trial attorney Hector Rojas, Jr. partner at Morgan & Morgan in Atlanta, for a wide-ranging conversation on law, mindset, and personal growth.

Hector shares his journey from immigrating from Venezuela and growing up in Cobb County to becoming a trial lawyer handling serious injury and wrongful death cases. He opens up about his transition from insurance defense to plaintiff’s work, the realities of working inside one of the largest personal injury firms in the country, and how he quickly stepped into a leadership role running the firm’s Marietta office.

The conversation highlights Hector’s $19 million jury verdict—including the critical decision to turn down a $10 million pre-trial offer—and what it takes to bet on your case and your client. Beyond the courtroom, Hector discusses how endurance sports, including completing all six World Marathon Majors, have shaped his mindset, discipline, and approach to adversity.

The episode also touches on the cultural significance of Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic championship, the power of sports to unite, and the importance of building a personal brand as a modern trial lawyer.

📝 Show Notes

🔹 Background & Journey

• Hector’s upbringing in Marietta after immigrating from Venezuela
• Attending Campbell High School, Kennesaw State, and Georgia State Law
• Early career path and how networking led to key opportunities

🔹 From Defense to Plaintiff Work

• Starting out in insurance defense and learning how cases are evaluated
• Transitioning to Morgan & Morgan after a deposition encounter
• Why legal careers are rarely linear and how relationships drive opportunity

🔹 Inside Morgan & Morgan

• Structure of one of the largest PI firms in the country
• Running the Marietta office and managing a team of attorneys and staff
• Breaking the “settlement mill” stereotype and focusing on litigation
• Requirement to try cases and building trial experience early

🔹 The $19 Million Verdict

• Facts of the case involving a catastrophic crash and wrongful death
• Turning down a $10M pre-trial offer
• Client-focused decision making and risk evaluation
• Trial strategy, jury presentation, and key moments
• Verdict outcome and impact on Hector’s career and reputation

🔹 Trial Lawyer Mindset

• Learning through long hours early in practice
• Developing confidence through repetition and experience
• Mentoring younger attorneys and building a team

🔹 Marketing & Personal Brand

• Differences between large firm marketing and individual branding
• Importance of social media and staying top-of-mind
• Community-based vs. mass marketing approaches

🔹 Endurance Sports & Mental Toughness

• Completing all six World Marathon Majors
• Training challenges while practicing law
• Mental vs. physical demands of marathon running
• Using running as a way to process grief and maintain focus

🔹 Sports & Culture

• Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic championship
• The emotional impact of sports on a country and community
• Why the tournament was bigger than baseball

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Careers are built through relationships, not resumes
• Trial experience is the ultimate differentiator in personal injury law
• Big results come from disciplined preparation and calculated risk
• Mental toughness—whether in trial or endurance sports—is a learned skill
• Building a personal brand is essential, regardless of firm size

As always, this episode is powered by the J. Stein Law Firm - a personal injury law firm in Atlanta, GA - www.jsteinlawfirm.com