Attorney Client Relationship

There are two articles focusing on how one can be a good client for their attorney and how one can be a good attorney for their client. These ideas are great for each person to adopt; however there is an aspect of the attorney client relationship that can still be improved on, cooperation.

Both the attorney and the client need to approach the relationship with a cooperative attitude. They need to work together as a team and be able to depend on each other. The expectations each has for each other should be made clear prior to any retainer agreement being signed.

When attorney's do not make their expectations of their client clear they end up with a client who calls every three hours, who expects paperwork done yesterday, who may be less than truthful, who doesn't pay in a timely manner....the list goes on and on.

When clients do not make their expectations of the attorney clear they end up with an attorney who never calls them back, who takes weeks, even months to file the simplest paperwork, who doesn't keep them informed of the progress of the case....this list can go on and on as well.

There is a lot of truth in the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Both attorneys and client should approach the initial consultation as an interview, and determine if the person across the table is worth their time. If that person works the way they need them to. The commitments made in that initial consultation should be incorporated into the retainer agreement. Currently, retainer agreements seem to only protect the attorney's financial interests. Altering retainer agreements into a comprehensive agreement that serves the needs of both the attorney and the client can go a long way towards satisfying both parties throughout the relationship. It also provides each people with a written reference regarding what is expected of them.

It is not acceptable for attorney's to not call clients for weeks on end, or not return a phone call because a bill has not been paid. They should return the phone call, advise that further work cannot be done until a bill is paid.