Recently, I was complaining about poor service I received from a contractor. That got me to thinking about the service lawyers provide to clients. Here a few thoughts about what a client should expect from an attorney in terms of service:
- The attorney should be readily accessible by phone, email or another method that is convenient for you.
- The attorney should communicate regularly and clearly about the status of the case and should promptly respond to your questions and requests for information.
- The attorney should consult with you about strategic approaches, provide you advice and obtain your authority for important decisions that may affect the outcome of the case.
- The attorney should work with you to develop a realistic budget to accomplish your goals.
- The attorney should inform you when events have occurred that may affect your strategy or goals for the case and suggest adjustments to the strategy when appropriate.
- The attorney should treat you with respect.
If you are not receiving good service from your attorney, I suggest you schedule a meeting to discuss your concerns and attempt to rehabilitate the relationship. If issues persist, it may time to change attorneys. In that event, you should communicate your expectations clearly before retaining new counsel.