Section Newsletter Articles on Clients
Should initial client consultations be free?
By Kerry M. Lavelle
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
March 2018
Should clients pay for an initial consultation or not? Author Kerry Lavelle discusses the pros and cons of each option.
Are you acting unethically by failing to screen for domestic violence?
By Christine Hunt
Young Lawyers Division,
February 2018
It is an attorney’s ethical duty to both provide competent legal representation and to be an advisor to their clients. Screening for domestic violence only takes a few minutes, but is essential to successful and ethical representation.
What I learned about being a lawyer from being a client
By Karen Vandermeer
Young Lawyers Division,
December 2017
Despite having spent years providing advice and counsel to clients, the author was recently on the client end of the attorney-client relationship and the experience affirmed and reshaped her understanding of client management.
Working with the difficult client
By Stephanie E. Greenberg
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
February 2017
Follow these rules to save yourself a headache later on.
Ten steps for successful conversations with difficult clients
By Ken Stalkfleet
Young Lawyers Division,
December 2016
Difficult clients can pose an especially big challenge for young attorneys. Apply these steps to have more productive conversations with your clients and to improve your overall practice.
Dealing with difficult clients: Is it worth it?
By Masah S. Renwick
Family Law,
November 2016
For those of us to intend to make a career out of representing family law clients, we have got to know how to identify the cases that are the worst of the worst, and learn how to navigate them or avoid them altogether.
Should “free consultations” R.I.P.?
By Nicole Sartori
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
October 2016
Before discussing the advantages and disadvantages of charging a consultation fee, one must consider the type of client they are seeking and the type of law they are practicing.
31 ways to dramatically increase trust
By Trey Ryder
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
December 2015
Make sure your actions build your credibility, ideally, to the point where your clients trust you without question.
Communication etiquette as a young lawyer—Responsiveness
By Vincent A. Oppedisano
Young Lawyers Division,
October 2015
Developing a good sense of how to best reply to different communications will help you in your practice in a number of ways. Here are a few rules and general guidelines that should help.
My former client called and wants his file—What do I have to give him?
By Joseph Harvath
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
September 2015
The question of whether a client is entitled to receive his or her file relating to the representation by an attorney is a fact specific question, depending on the types of documents sought, whether the attorney has a lien on the property, and whether the attorney should exercise the lien.
Why do clients engage estate planners?
By Alan R. Press
Trusts and Estates,
November 2014
Earlier this year, Wealth Counsel and Wealth Management.com released their 7th Annual Industry Trends survey. View some of the highlights here.
My attorney won’t tell me what I should do!
By Curt W. Ferguson
Agricultural Law,
November 2013
An attorney should not tell you what you want to accomplish, but should advise you how to accomplish your goals. It’s an important distinction to understand.
Ensuring client confidentiality with best practices
By Vincent Incopero
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
September 2012
As a prudent professional, are you aware of your professional and ethical obligations regarding the way that your practice handles personally identifiable information?
So your client has given you physical evidence of a crime…
By J. Randall Cox
Traffic Laws and Courts,
May 2011
On the one hand, the delivery to the attorney is a communication which the attorney is required to protect. (Rule 1.6) However, an attorney is not to unlawfully obstruct another party’s access to evidence. (Rule 3.4) How is this conflict resolved? The courts of Illinois do not appear to have directly addressed this.
Key strategies for generating profitable new clients
By Byron G. Sabol
Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law,
February 2011
Clients do business with, and refer business to, lawyers they know, like, and trust. By focusing marketing efforts on the strategies outlined in this article, women lawyers will become better known and liked by clients.
Key strategies for generating profitable new clients
By Byron G. Sabol
Women and the Law,
October 2010
Clients do business with, and refer business to, lawyers they know, like, and trust. By focusing marketing efforts on the strategies outlined in this article, women lawyers will become better known and liked by clients.
Problem clients
By Michael J. Meehan
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
March 2010
It is easier to decline a problem client than to terminate the attorney-client relationship. By identifying these problem clients at the outset, you can be a happier lawyer and have a more productive practice.
Where have all the clients gone?
By Donald E. Weihl
Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on,
December 2009
Have your clients stopped calling? Is your daily mail just bills?
Just answer the question
By Willis R. Tribler
Bench and Bar,
September 2009
The author suggests that you keep People v. Harris handy for use whenever a client wants to “tell my story in my own words” or shows a tendency to give rambling or overbroad answers.
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