One of the most crucial abilities a lawyer must employ throughout their profession is communication. Every day, lawyers employ some type of communication, whether it be in a courtroom, during a settlement negotiation, when writing a motion, or when meeting with clients. For lawyers, good communication is essential to success.
It is well-recognized that lawyers face particular stresses at work that can result in burnout. These pressures can include working long hours, handling complicated cases, and running the risk of secondary trauma when dealing with clients’ emotional distress and the issues that led them to seek legal counsel.
Conflicts between collaborating lawyers, competing lawyers, and even between lawyers and their clients may result from this additional stress. In this post, we’ll go through how to effectively manage and enhance client-counsel communication on both sides.
Client-to-counsel communication
Communication between two people involves processes such as perception, meaning-making reflection, and reaction. It is not surprising that people frequently come to various interpretations of what happened and what to do. This is because they typically begin with very diverse perspectives of the same incident.
You must be deliberate in your communication if you want to foster trust and teamwork. Good communication results when we are conscious of the self-messaging that lies beneath our worry or any other emotion. These feelings frequently have an unconscious influence on our behavior and thought processes.
By being aware, we may bring these messages to the surface, reframe them, and modify our communication so that the client “hears” what is meant. The longer you talk to a client who phones too often, the less likely it is that they will trust you and want to cooperate with you.
The client might not be aware of your responsibilities or function. If critical communication is missed during the intake and engagement phase, you will also neglect the client’s role and obligations. To maintain the accuracy of messages and efficient communication, both sides must take action.
Client-to-counsel relationship
Even if there is no fresh information to share with a client after you have taken them on, they still expect to be kept in the loop. All calls and emails should be returned within 24 hours to the sender’s contact. At the absolute least, you should check in with them every six weeks. If you won’t be available, utilize an out-of-office email note to let others know.
It is simpler to manage the client relationship and give your clients a satisfying working experience when their expectations are met.
Clients do not approach their cases in the same way that lawyers do. This gap could be the root cause of a lot of problems that could be resolved quickly.
It is advised that you adopt a policy of verifying any decisions made during meetings and phone calls in writing. This is to ensure mutual understanding and guard against a client later complaining that they weren’t properly informed about their case or topic.
It is advised to request client feedback once a problem is finished because the top clients frequently return and provide references. The greatest information on upcoming actions or changes is available here. The majority of clients also value having their opinions sought out after a case is over to see if anything could have been done better.
By overseeing each stage of the client experience, the lawyer establishes the lawyer-client relationship. Clients have expectations, and lawyers should comprehend, manage, and promptly address those expectations. Effective communication is key.
Client communication allows for connection-making
Ask your clients questions, be patient with them, and pay attention to what they have to say. Show them respect and don’t be hesitant to interact with them on an emotional level or to tie your own experiences to their predicament. When you care about your clients, it will come naturally for you to want to assist them.
If you are sincere, people will sense it and return the favor. Whether you contact your clients by phone, email, or social media, make sure to do so securely. Building trust and a connection with your clients requires constant communication and keeping them informed. Your clients will become angry, frustrated, and confused if you don’t let them know how their case is progressing.
For law firms, effective client communication is a fundamental skill. Every connection you have with your clients, from the first phone conversation to the last deliverable, is an opportunity to build client-centered experiences as you advance matters. Keep in mind that poor client-law firm communication has led to a sizable portion of clients terminating their business relationships.
Additionally, losing one client frequently results in the loss of several others. If a client has a bad experience, almost 13% of them will tell 15 or more individuals. Communication with clients is crucial in a field where recommendations are important and excellent client service must be the priority.
The recommendation is to communicate frequently and early in almost every business. By appreciating the value of client communication, handling relationships well, and utilizing technology tools, your company may become a client communication powerhouse. You’ll produce a client experience as a result, leading to growth for your business.
Why client communication is possibly the most crucial aspect of your practice
Client communication is the most important tool for creating and keeping strong ties with your clients. They are the people who could become regular clients and significant sources of referrals for your business.
Your interactions and the experience you create, whether consciously or unconsciously, determine how the client feels about working with you as a lawyer. It also determines how they see you as a person and a professional. Every part of your law practice will improve if you increase client communication.
Clients routinely complain about lengthy interactions and delayed response times from organizations in every sector. The most frequent bar complaint is precisely the inability of law firms to interact with clients. Client communication is essential to your practice because it:
1. Develops your business
Businesses that provide better client experiences generate revenues that are 4% to 8% higher than their market. Additionally, you’ll have no trouble keeping your current client while luring new ones. This aids in your business’s expansion plans.
2. Boosts your reputation
The legal profession is one where reputation is essential. Unlike 89% of businesses that compete on the level of experience they offer, you will set yourself apart from other legal firms in your industry.
3. Safeguards both you and your client
You are shielded from ethical lapses and malpractice lawsuits by constant contact. Additionally, it shields the client from making choices in light of a dearth of information from you. For instance, client portals provide a simple and safe way for you to communicate with your clients.
Even though we are all aware of how crucial communication is, many lawyers still struggle with it. Time constraints, poor relationship management, and too complicated communication techniques are all to blame. There are strategies and resources to close the gap, which is good news.
Making the most of each communication with a client is the key to developing strong client connections.
Tips on how to communicate with your lawyer more effectively
Your lawyer-client relationship is a mutually beneficial one, just like most other relationships. Most relationships will fail without clear communication and respect for one another. The same holds for your relationship with your lawyer. A crucial alliance that works to maximize the result in your favor is the lawyer-client relationship.
You must be able to trust your lawyer, whether you’re hiring him or her to handle a corporate contract negotiation, represent you in a tough divorce, or bring a medical malpractice claim against a doctor.
To successfully navigate litigation, which is frequently unpleasant and can take years to conclude, a solid lawyer-client relationship is crucial. Too often, to the disadvantage of the case, expectations between the lawyer and the client are not set up front.
Here are some tips on how to cooperate with your lawyer to the fullest extent:
1. It takes two to communicate
Inform your lawyer of your preferred means of contact. Update your lawyer on any phone, email, and address changes. Be accessible and attempt to react to your lawyer within 24 hours, or sooner if necessary. Ask questions and be a proactive participant in your case.
2. Be confident when you ask questions
Communication is one of the most crucial facets of the client-lawyer relationship. Regular communication and updates on the status of your case should be expected from your lawyer. Additionally, you should anticipate your lawyer to be accessible and address any queries or worries you may have.
Ask your lawyer if you ever have any questions or concerns. It is their responsibility to explain the case’s developments to you. Here are a few examples of the many various kinds of questions you can ask:
1. Have you handled cases similar to mine before?
Since it is fairly usual for lawyers to specialize, not every lawyer can assist with every situation. It’s usually a good idea to inquire about how many instances they’ve handled that had conditions comparable to yours. This is so you can assess their expertise and understanding in that field.
2. Could you please clarify in plain English what this means?
It’s critical to select a lawyer with strong communication abilities because the law can be difficult to understand and complex. A nice approach to confirm that you both understand one another is with this inquiry.
3. What choices do I have to address this case?
Your lawyer will be able to suggest a few potential lines of action after reviewing your case and conducting the necessary investigation. Your lawyer will assist you in weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each choice. This is so that you may choose the course of action that best serves your objectives.
4. How long is the anticipated time frame?
Conflict resolution can take a very long period. For instance, a commercial dispute might be settled through mediation in a few hours whereas a family dispute might be settled through litigation in a few years. Your lawyer will be able to provide you with an estimate based on their experience.
3. Participate in your case
Work diligently to locate and deliver any paperwork, phone messages, or emails that your lawyer requests as soon as possible. Spend more time at the beginning of your case going through your attic’s boxes and making time to get ready for your deposition. Your active involvement in your case could make the difference between a significant settlement and a jury trial finding of no cause.
4. Be sincere when speaking with your lawyer
No lawyer wants to learn damaging information from the opposing side at trial for the first time. Tell your lawyer everything, good, ugly, and terrible. Your lawyer has a right to anticipate that you would be sincere. Don’t conceal the truth, do not tell lies, and most importantly don’t throw away pieces of evidence.
If your lawyer is aware of negative facts in advance, he can deal with them and lessen their impact. There isn’t much your lawyer can do to aid you if something you’ve concealed, lied about, or sought to destroy unexpectedly arises during litigation. This might result in your case being lost.
With this information, a lawyer may deal with unfavorable facts more skillfully and be ready to handle them when they arise. One thing is certain, your opponent will present false information.
5. Follow the instructions of your lawyer
You might be required to complete several duties. They include gathering or verifying specific pieces of material, getting a physical, or carrying out other chores that will be beneficial to your case. Make it a priority to finish all you said you would accomplish as soon as possible. Your case will be resolved more quickly the sooner you do your tasks.
A lawyer cannot effectively perform his or her duties without the client’s active participation. You must provide all of the information and paperwork. The lawyer has severe deadlines to meet, and without your collaboration and input, your case won’t be in the best possible position for a favorable resolution in your favor.
Please be sure to give fast attention to all inquiries for the greatest lawyer-client relationship.
6. Contact your lawyer right away when new information becomes available
As the case develops, you can learn of previously unrecognized facts and pieces of evidence that could be crucial to your case’s success. Never assume your lawyer is already aware of fresh information when it comes to legal matters.
As soon as you learn anything, let them know. This is so they may either use it to their advantage (if it’s a good thing) or take action to lessen the harm (if it’s a bad thing).
7. Be reasonable in terms of expectations
Most likely, you sought legal counsel due to a disagreement that you were unable to resolve. That dispute already existed before you contacted your lawyer, and it won’t just vanish now that you have one on your side. A lawyer cannot win 100% of your case or make the other side miraculously disappear.
If it were so simple, you wouldn’t even need to consult a lawyer. Just remember that there are two sides to every tale. And know that a judge or jury will probably hear two conflicting accounts of the same facts that are significantly different from one another. It is impossible to predict which side the judge or jury will support.
8. Respect the information that your lawyer has provided for you
You initially sought the services of your lawyer because they have more experience in the legal field. You might not always concur with the lawyer’s assessment of your situation.
A lawyer has a variety of skills and education that make him or her more qualified to evaluate your legal situation than your friends or family. Family and friends can be listened to for emotional support, but you should let your lawyer handle the legal analysis.
9. Do not forget that your lawyer is working for you
Unfavorable developments in your case, terrible news that needs to be communicated to you, or even a disappointing verdict at trial could all be possibilities. Your lawyer took up the challenge to represent you because he or she believes in you and your case.
10. Be open-minded and receptive
Your lawyer cannot anticipate how your case will turn out in the future. Your lawyer may occasionally break the bad news to you, such as that your claim has factual or legal flaws or that its value is lower than you initially thought.
Keep an open mind, consult with your lawyer to address any weak points in your case, and devise a plan to settle your claim for a fair sum. No lawyer can ever promise you a certain outcome, so if one does, you may want to think about getting a second opinion.
11. Pay your bills on time
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of lawyers do not practice law for financial gain. Some people engage in trial practice for the thrill of justice, to right wrongs, or to advance the law. Even though lawyers like what they do, it is also their job. Please don’t expect your lawyer to work for free; you wouldn’t expect your doctor or your barber to.
12. Maintain discretion while the case is ongoing
On social media sites, a lot of individuals prefer to share and talk about what is happening in their life. If you use social media frequently, be aware that anything you post that relates to your case could be used against you. It might be a good idea to avoid social media while you are involved in a legal situation until it is settled.
In either instance, exercise extreme caution when posting anything online. Also, make it a priority to only discuss your case with your lawyer and those close to you that you are confident you can trust.
What does a positive working relationship with your lawyer entail for you?
Here are a few advantages of having a strong lawyer-client connection:
1. Your lawyer represents you (and only you)
They are not permitted by law to collaborate with a party who opposes you in your case. If a client’s lawyer tries to represent both sides of the issue, it is unfair to everyone. In this case, everyone loses except the lawyer.
That does not imply that your lawyer is exclusively focused on your case. Many lawyers manage several cases at once. However, it is illegal for him or her to collaborate with the opposition.
2. They owe you a fiduciary duty
Fiduciary means that your lawyer must represent you in the best possible way. Even if it means going above and beyond the call of duty, they must do everything in their power to assist you. They must offer you their best because it is the law.
3. Privacy is maintained
Everything you say to your lawyer is kept private. Nothing you say to them may be repeated to anybody else. They can only violate your confidence if you intend to hurt yourself or another person. Therefore, you can be completely open with them and divulge all of your knowledge.
Legally, your lawyer cannot testify against you if they have knowledge that could be used against you. They are not required to reveal embarrassing material in court, whether it is directed at you or someone else, so you can again be entirely honest with your lawyer. You will be better off the more he or she knows.
What happens if the lawyer disregards these guidelines?
Your lawyer may be fined, accused of professional misconduct, and perhaps have their license revoked. If a lawyer violates any of the aforementioned standards of the working relationship, you have the right to sue them.
You must establish a positive working relationship with your lawyer, one that is founded on trust and good faith. You don’t have to keep anything from your lawyer because everything you say is private.
To increase your chances of winning your case, tell him or her everything you know. The more he or she understands, the more effectively they assist.
Conclusion
The lawyer-client relationship is a partnership, so keep that in mind. Be realistic in your expectations of one another and know what to anticipate from one another. You deserve to be represented by knowledgeable, talented lawyers who will treat you with respect if your legal situation is significant.
Consult a lawyer
If you’re ready to take the next step and speak with a lawyer, visit Agatha Legal to discover a qualified expert nearby.
Agatha Legal works directly with clients, taking the time to hear and comprehend their requirements and problems. This is necessary so that we can create the legal strategy that will address your issues the most successfully and affordably.
Click on this link to set up a meeting with one of our lawyers, and let’s get that case started for you.
