Have you ever laughed at a lawyer joke? Have you ever told one to a friend or a group of people to get a laugh? If so, you are probably in the majority of people. However, when one stops to think about the meaning of this seemingly humorous joke, one may come to the conclusion that the legal profession is facing a great dilemma. A profession that was once revered and respected is now perceived significantly different if not totally different.
As an attorney, I do not want to be grouped into the group of attorneys that fit the profile captured by “lawyer jokes”. I have spent a significant portion of my life studying and learning to enable myself to practice law. Thus, I want this profession to keep the respect that it once had. I had to begin with myself and therefore I have created some policies and procedures for my own practice that I consistently apply. Therefore, the clients that I work with, will hopefully recognize the difference in my approach to the law and the legal profession and perhaps be moved and encouraged by it.
I believe that my approach to law is different than the approach many attorneys have adopted. I want the client to feel totally comfortable with me and to be able to ask questions and explain to me their situation. I want to develop an excellent working relationship with others. Therefore, when I meet a client for the first time, I explain to them that they are completely in control of their situation and that I am here to assist them. They have come to me because they know their expertise are limited in the legal field and need my advice and counsel. Thus, I create an outline for them of the legal possibilities from which they can choose. I give them specific options with specific realm of consequences. I believe that a lot of times, attorneys, for whatever reason, do not provide their clients with this type of decision making power even though the client ultimately does have that authority.
I remember a specific situation where I provided this outline to a potential client and she quickly became less uptight and began to communicate her true thoughts and feelings to me. In this way, I was better able to learn about her situation and then to ultimately assist her with her legal needs.
Further, I believe that listening and paying close attention to the client is of the utmost importance. Sometimes, clients may not know what they really want. They know they have a problem and that they need legal assistance, but sometimes it ends at that point. Therefore, by using these skills, I try to understand truly what the client wants. I try to discern what the client’s goals are and not just look to immediate fixes. I believe in a holistic approach to helping clients. By this, I mean that a client may believe he needs one thing, but in reality needs something else. In this way, a portion of my practice is about communication and listening to clients.
I try to be conscientious about all aspects of my practice including fees. It is very common for attorneys to bill by the hour. Especially in areas of specialty, hourly rates can be quite steep. Clients are paying huge sums of money and have to depend on the attorney’s honesty about the number of hours spent working on their case. Therefore, I have adopted a flat fee billing approach for most of my practice. In this way, I am able to estimate what a project is worth and then give the client an estimate of sorts. If the client is satisfied with the estimate, then I begin working. If I have underestimated the fee I need to cover my expenses, then I chalk it up to experience and give the client the benefit of my underestimation. I have seen positive responses from clients in regards to this practice of billing by flat fee. I believe that they appreciate it and at least know that one attorney is honest and truly not in the business only for personal gain. I have developed client relationships that have been enhanced by this practice.
Finally, I have a motto in which I believe whole-heartedly and by which I try to structure my practice: “Personal Service. Professional Representation.” This is an excellent summation of my philosophy. I want to provide clients with personal attention and service while approaching their situation with professionalism and great competency. That is no joke.