When interviewing a client for the first time many lawyers make the mistake of revealing all their planned legal strategies in a sitting. This gives the client the ability to take your ideas and go use another attorney which they know or feel will set up the desired plan for less. As a result, it is important that a first interview be focused on gathering information about the potential client that will give the lawyer an excellent feel for the interviewee’s needs. This will allow an attorney to formulate a proper course of action based on the circumstances and leave the client with the impression that they are being listened to and their interest protected. But a first meeting can also help a lawyer decide if the client is someone worth working with; a rude or demanding person may not be the best fit for many attorneys and can be avoided before engagement and save much regret down the road. First impressions count, in both directions, so always keep that in mind while meeting someone you may represent for the first time.
See Craig R. Hirsch, The Initial Client Meeting, Wealth Management, February 12, 2016.
Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse for bringing this article to my attention.
