When you live and work in the same town for more than four decades, you stop seeing it as a “market” and start seeing it as home. That feeling comes through in our Community Involvement video, where we talk about what it means to call Springfield home, raise a family here, and stay involved in the places that matter to local families.
This story goes beyond case results. It shows how our roots in this community shape the way we show up for our neighbors every day—inside and outside the courtroom.
The moment a client just stops by to say hello
One of the most real moments in the video is also one of the simplest. We talk about how Springfield feels small enough that clients will see Martin on the street and say:
“Oh, hey, I’m one of Martin’s clients. I just want to come and say hi.”
That short line captures a lot. It speaks to relationships that last beyond a case file. It shows that people feel comfortable walking up, saying hello, and reconnecting. For us at Haxel Law, that kind of everyday interaction is a sign that we have done our work with care and respect.
Forty-two years of calling this place home
In the video, we share that we have called Springfield home for 42 years and raised our kids here. We say plainly that it is a great community and a good place to raise a family. That is not marketing language. It is our life story.
When we sit down with an injured worker, a first responder, or a family after a serious accident, we are talking to people who shop where we shop and visit the same parks, museums, and hospitals. We see our work as helping our own community stay strong and supported in hard times.
Giving back to the places our kids enjoy
The video calls out a few specific ways we give back, and each one ties directly to families and children:
- Supporting the Springfield Museum. Just a block from our office, the museum is, as we say in the video, “a great place for kids.” We support it because we want local children to have spaces to learn, explore, and grow.
- Backing a charity hockey game for newborn care. We have had the opportunity to sponsor and help put on a charity hockey game over several years. The event raises funds for the neonatal intensive care unit at Saint John’s Children’s Hospital. That unit cares for some of the most fragile members of our community—newborns and their families in critical moments.
We do not share these examples to list every donation or event. We share them because they show what matters to us: kids, families, and the places that support them when life gets tough.
“You want to make it a better place for everybody”
Near the heart of the video, we say:
“You want to give back, you want to make it a better place for everybody. And over the years, we’ve done a number of things.”
That line sums up why community involvement is not a side project for our firm. Our day-to-day work at Haxel Law already revolves around helping people through some of the hardest moments of their lives—after a serious crash, an injury on the job, or a difficult insurance battle. Giving back to local causes fits the same mindset: do what we can, with what we have, to make life better for our neighbors.
In the courtroom, that means standing up to insurance companies and pushing for fair outcomes. In the community, it means supporting local organizations that care for children, families, and vulnerable people.
What this video says about how we practice law
The Community Involvement video may be short, but it speaks to several values that guide our work today:
- We build real relationships. The fact that former clients feel free to stop and say hi tells you a lot about how we treat people. We listen, stay accessible, and keep the conversation going.
- We are truly local. Forty-plus years in the same hometown means we know the area, the people, and the challenges our neighbors face. We are not an office that drops in and out.
- We care about the next generation. From museum support to neonatal care fundraising, we focus on places that help kids and families thrive.
- We see our work as part of a larger duty. Whether we guide someone through a workers’ compensation claim or help their family after a serious injury, we approach it as a responsibility to the community we share.
Why this matters now
Today, many people feel like they are just a number in someone else’s system—especially when dealing with large insurers. Our video offers a different picture: a small, community-minded firm that knows its clients by name, walks the same streets, and invests time and support into local causes.
When you watch, we invite you to think about what you want in a law firm. If you value personal attention, local roots, and a team that sees you as a neighbor, not just a case file, this story will give you a clear sense of who we are.
We plan to keep raising our families here, supporting local organizations, and standing beside people during some of the hardest chapters of their lives. If you ever need guidance after an injury or a work-related accident, you can reach our team at (217) 215-4166. We will take the time to listen, explain your options, and help you move forward.
For now, we hope you will take a moment to watch the video and see how our commitment to this community shows up in everyday ways—on the sidewalk, at the museum, at the rink, and in the lives of the people we serve.