Hello all! October is just FLYING by, and Halloween will be here before we know it! Today I wanted to add a third installation to my “how to” series and focused on the qualities of a good client. In order to get the best results from working with an attorney it is incredibly important that you do your part as a client to be as cooperative, helpful, and understanding as possible.
1.) Make sure you set expectations at the beginning. At your initial consultation ask a lot of questions! Discuss costs and fees, how you want to be updated and communicated with, and what goals you want to achieve from this legal dispute. Setting these expectations can help your attorney know how to proceed, as well as be realistic with you about how successful your case may be and what you can expect from them throughout the process.
2.) As always, listening is incredibly important. You may come to speak with your attorney having thoughts and ideas of how you want your case to go, but you should give your attorney a chance to explain their strategy and how they think they can get the best results. You may not completely agree but listening and responding will help the conversation flow better and find a strategy plan that benefits both the attorney and you as the client.
3.) Be responsible. This should go without saying but respect your attorney and the attorney-client relationship. Pay your bills on time, communicate in a timely fashion, and do what you say you are going to. This cooperation will go a long way in resolving your case and maintaining a good relationship with your attorney.
4.) Be responsive. If your attorney reaches out to you with a clarification question or a request for a document pertaining to your case, make sure to respond! Answer as quickly as possible to keep your case moving and be sure to let your attorney know if you will need some time to obtain the requested documents. Even if you cannot get the requested documents immediately, letting your attorney know that you are working on getting them what they asked for will maintain a good relationship and let the attorney know that you are prioritizing getting your case resolved.
5.) Don’t lie or embellish. This is a simple rule, but often one that clients ignore or overlook. Honesty will make resolving your case difficult for your attorney, especially because it is almost guaranteed that the other side will discover your lies, or, that they will come out and do damage to the case that your attorney has built. Disputes can be embarrassing, but if you are not fully honest with your attorney, they will never be able to help you achieve the goals that you hope to achieve.
I hope you all found this week’s “how to” helpful. Whether you have been involved in a legal dispute, are currently involved in one, or just want to learn more about the legal world, these tips will take you far. Although legal disputes can be incredibly stressful, the better you act as a client the better your attorney-client relationship will be, and hopefully help you achieve the best result possible.
***The thoughts and opinions contained in this blog are for informational purposes only and do not constitute any form of legal advice. Please consult with an attorney if you have any legal questions.
Sources:
https://www.simplelaw.com/blog/basics-good-client
https://www.clio.com/blog/law-firm-client-communication/
https://www.attorneyclientmatch.com/what-should-a-good-client-do.html
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