Attracting and Keeping Good Clients is a Skill
Good Clients are Kings, not Gods, successful lawyers know. In Secret #5, we mentioned that clients are essential to worthwhile legal careers. But lawyers can get so caught up in representing clients zealously that they surrender too much objectivity and professionalism to their client’s cause.
Health care lawyers, particularly in-house counsel, have found themselves on the wrong end of criminal prosecutions because they represented their clients’ wishes too zealously. Government lawyers have recently been under investigation for writing legal memos, some say inappropriately. Navigating between appropriate advocacy and legal ethics can be more difficult than we expect. Yet satisfied lawyers with lasting careers learn how to attract good clients, keep good clients, remain zealous advocates and simultaneously practice ethically and well within the law every time.
Clients will not always be happy with outcomes. This is an inevitable fact of life. Whether its a contentious divorce, a difficult custody matter, an emotional civil trial, or a transaction gone wrong, outcomes are frequently out of the lawyer’s control. Good lawyers with great careers have learned how to serve clients effectively and keep the clients in the firm even when outcomes are disappointing.
What skills have you mastered to attract, serve and keep good clients? Who helped you to learn the essence and application of Secret #5?
