- Quickdraw McLaw
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One of the commenters yesterday asked an important question:
I’m a litigation attorney (field isn’t important) and I am about to have a conversation with a client and it will involve this client degrading me about nonsense (complete nonsense) and I’m wondering why have I kept this up for 20 years, and why do I continue to let clients treat me this way. As an aside, more than ninety percent of my clients are polite and professional- dare I say some are even complimentary. They keep me going I guess – not sure. This particular client I am about to speak to is a General Counsel. It is always the lawyers – General Counsel/In House Counsel who act this way. Do they get off on speaking to other lawyers like they are children? If this were “my” client I would fire them – but it is a firms client. I’d like some feedback. How do you cope? I’m seriously burned out and sick of being degraded for b.s.
What do you think? What tips do you have for dealing with difficult clients? What about when you’re the associate being assigned to work with them versus the partner that can fire them? What makes a client difficult?
ICYMI. I loved this response. Makes me want to go out on my own.
23 years here.
The way that I always handle the unruly disrespectful chastising client, as soon as they are done and let me speak…: "Ok. I am just letting you know that, with me, you get ONE of those outbursts. I am a professional and I dont speak to you that way, I expect the same courtesy and professionalism. We can disagree, but if you ever speak to me again like that, we can amicably part ways."
It always goes one of two ways. (1) the client apologizes and changes their approach to me. (90%). and (2), the client gets more pissed and confrontational, at which point I terminate the phone call and draft my withdrawal, cutting the refund check (if there is one) immediately. I dont play those games.
This profession is enough of a grind without putting up with some pain in the ass client.
I'm really interested in hearing what family law attorneys have to say. I've had several clients in the past few months who have been extremely high maintenance and I'm interested in hearing how others deal with their problem children.
Manage the expectations and the relationship. Set boundaries, hold client accountable and and don't take any shit. They will respect you more for it. Of course, always be professional, empathetic and kind. The worst situation is when a FL client acts out and hurts their own case. I have on many occasions forced the client to submit all comms to me for approval, in many cases, drafting text messages myself for them to send.
Seems like the response depends on how much you need the client, or if you're assigned to the client by a firm, how much the firm needs you to work for the client. Over the years, I've tried hard to figure out who I should say "no" to – both inside the firm I work at and outside it. Some clients and lawyers are great to work for, will let you do interesting work, will help you grow as a lawyer, will compliment you when you do well, and will make sure the firm knows it so you can get promoted. Others don't. Right now I only work for partners and clients that do all of the above, and I am always "too busy" when someone that I've learned doesn't do the above things asks for help.
What should I do if I believe opposing counsel has manufactured a fake covid positive test in order to get the trial date kicked?
LMFAO would not surprise me even a little bit, some of the shitbags in this town will do anything to get a continuance. No idea what to do
Ask the court to order he/she to appear remotely or for another person at the firm to do it until he/she can return. Not entirely likely to work but more likely than you somehow proving the test was faked.
3:35 – 1) What is your evidence? Be careful as an accusation without evidence could get you before the Bar, 2) When an Opposing Counsel lied to the Court in one of my cases, I asked the Court for a 1 hour evidentiary hearing where I could present my evidence (an email in my case), I presented it and "won" 3) Consider whether it hurts your client because battling another lawyer who will be fighting for their career life is going to be difficult 4) obviously you will burn that relationship with OC – just some thoughts
Begin immediately having a private investigator follow this attorney constantly. If he’s faking, he will be going about his day and not staying home. Then present the video to the judge and move for sanctions.
How much does it matter? I'm pretty sure the same thing happened to me when a serial liar told me he blew discovery deadlines because he had COVID, but I just gave the extension because it ultimately wasn't a hill to die on.
So off topic – Nacho, wtf?
Sadness.
I have a feeling that everyone who doesn't show up in Breaking Bad is going to wind up dead by the end of the season.
Except for Kim – she cuts a deal, goes into witness protection, and we get another spinoff that kicks further ass
If only!
The question of what to do with a "problem" client clearly illustrates one of the top reasons to be consistently and effectively marketing. Whether small firm/solo, or a medium or large firm one of the first benefits of marketing is replacing your worst clients with better clients.
It's always good to continually replace your bottom 5 to 10 percent of clients with better ones with whom you can enjoy mutually beneficial relationships.
If you find yourself "needing" a client, it's time to replace that client regardless of practice area.
And if you are an associate in a firm that doesn't understand this, start looking for a better situation.