A reality of the legal field is that lawyers have to regularly deal with problematic clients. When a case isn’t going in a client’s favor and there’s nothing that can be done, many clients will become frustrated and immediately blame the lawyer. Situations such as this generally occur when a client’s expectations are unrealistically high.
Prior to representing a new client, you should always be sure to discuss the difference between realistic and unrealistic expectations. Determine what the client wants to achieve and let him or her know if the goal is feasible. If your client comes in with high expectations and you aren’t confident that you can deliver the desired results, you should be honest. Tell the client the truth! Also, don’t ever take a case outside of your comfort level just to earn a few extra dollars. You’ll thank yourself later.
If you don’t establish realistic expectations before taking on your new clients, you are setting yourself up for disaster. Your time spent in the office will be far more productive when you’re not nursing a stress headache.
Authored by Peter Clarke, Content Manger for LegalMatch.com.
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