This is the second post in my series about the attorney-client relationship. Earlier, I took a look at what clients should expect from their attorneys, and today I want to discuss what lawyers should expect from their clients:
I am very selective when it comes to deciding which clients I will represent. In fact, I would estimate that I accept less than half of the clients that want to retain me to handle their Family Court cases. However, that wasn’t always the case. When I was a much younger lawyer, I would agree to represent the vast majority of those who wanted to hire me. Over the years, I learned that was definitely not the way to be successful, happy, or healthy, and I became much more selective. I am glad I did, and I haven’t looked back.
So what factors should an attorney consider when deciding whether to represent a potential client? I believe that the following list of expectations offers a good starting point:
- Always tell your lawyer the truth. Untruths are never acceptable, and they can frequenly backfire and cause serious damage to your case – which might be irreparable. There are no such things as "little white lies" in Family Court, and I have seen people essentially destroy their own cases by having their lies exposed at trial – many times with that being the first time that the party’s lawyer has heard the truth.
- Disclose everything to your attorney, even if you don’t think it’s relevant. Your lawyer cannot do his job unless he has ALL of the relevant information. It is the attorney’s job to decide whether it is relevant or not. Lawyers have a very strict ethical obligation to keep all client information confidential, so your disclosures are safe.
- Communicate with your lawyer in a timely manner. The better attorneys will communicate with their clients within twenty-four hours (unless physically unable to do so, in which case someone from their office will contact you on their behalf). It is only fair that clients respond in a similar manner. If your attorney calls you, emails you, or sends you a letter, please repond so that you help the attorney do his job efficiently and timely. (Also, be sure to keep your attorney updated if any of your contact information changes.
- Do not ask your lawyer to do anything unethical, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate. While this should be obvious, it has happened from time to time. Quality attorneys will not participate in or condone any such activity under any circumstances – period – and they will tell you that they studied too long and hard to get suspended or disbarred by engaging in any such conduct.
- Treat the attorney with respect, and show his office staff that same respect. You deserve to be treated honestly and respectfully, and that should flow in both directions. While there are attorneys around who will yell and curse at their clients (and their staff), I would not tolerate any such conduct if I was the client. Attorneys and their staff are highly trained professionals, and they should act as such and expect the same in return from their clients.
- Pay for all work done on your behalf and do so in a timely manner. Your attorney will have you sign a written fee agreement at the beginning of the representation that will outline the specific payment terms and conditions for your case. The attorney should provide the agreed-upon services, and in return, he should be paid for doing so in a timely manner.
- Act in a manner that makes the attorney want to help you. I not only consider the client’s need for my services, but how well the client will "fit" with myself and my staff. I approach domestic cases using a team approach, and the client is an integral part of the team. If the client has a bad attitude, has unreasonable expectations or demands, or is just generally not likeable, then it is typically not a case that I am interested in handling – no matter how much the potential fee would be.
Obviously, this list is not exhaustive, but I believe that it provides a good starting point. What other expectations can you suggest to add to this list? For my non-attorney readers, do you believe this list is reasonable? For my attorney readers, what do you expect of your clients? Please feel free to click the "Comments" button below to share your thoughts.
Thanks to Caitlin Moon for her post on this topic at her C2Law Creative Legal Counsel blog.