The Perfect Client
The Greatest American Lawyer blog had a post a few months ago about what makes the perfect client. The (anonymous) author's perfect client exhibits the following characteristics:
- Loyal: Loyal clients consider you to be their attorney for all their legal needs. They understand that if you do not handle a particular legal issue, you will refer them to a qualified attorney who can. Loyal clients do not simply fly off the handle when the first unexpected event arises. Loyal clients know that your interest is to protect them, and they work with their attorney to immediately focus on problem solving when difficult issues arise.
- Hard Working: The best clients have no fear of jumping into the problem at hand and doing some heavy lifting. For instance, they review the documents that are produced by the opposing party and identify the documents that they believe to be important. They prepare well for their depositions, put the time and effort into their discovery responses, and track down needed information. In short, they are part of the team and help their attorney achieve great results.
- Sensible: Clients should be sensible about what they can achieve through the legal system and what results can realistically be expected. Sensible clients consider the costs / benefits at each stage of their cases. They appreciate that litigation is the last resort not the first step in problem solving. Sensible clients do not blame their attorneys when cases take longer than they want, and they understand that their attorney want to resolve their case in a timely manner as well. A sensible client takes an objective look at their legal problem and understands which solutions are achievable in any particular period of time.
- Trustworthy: The perfect clients are the ones that their attorney can trust. They provide their attorney with accurate and truthful information, and they do so in a timely manner. They take responsibility for their own actions and open up without reservation to their attorney. Some clients fail to understand that a lawyer cannot help them unless they fully understand the problem. The client who holds a few little items back is the client that typically loses in the end. A trustworthy client is a critical piece of any successful litigation.
I agree that these characteristics are desirable in every client. Too many times I have had a client mention late in my representation that there is "one more little thing" that they need to tell me. In the packet of materials that I give to all new clients, I have several different requests that they give me all of the facts of their case, whether good, bad, or other. In fact, I typically assume that I do not know "everything" in a Family Court case until I have had at least three in depth communications with a client. I strive to be the best attorney I can possibly be, and I ask my clients to strive to be the perfect client as well.
Great comment about encouraging clients to be 'all that they can be.' Sometimes, we set up a process internally which just begs for trouble. Too often, we take on clients who we know can pay, but also know will never be satisfied.