How To Become A Lawyer

TIP 22 You Are Not Right for Everybody

Attempt to create your legal clinic match you and your style instead of trying to change yourself to suit somebody else's idea of what family law practice should be. Stay true to your values and principles or attempt to change who you are to accommodate a customer. Do not attempt to be a round peg in a square hole. There are lots of different customers, some and some match do not. There are other lawyers who can help.

TIP 6 Mutual Consultation

Similar to the tip above on being exclusive, another strategy to exclusivity is to make it clear in the first interview with a prospective family law client that it's a mutual consultation. That is, the client is consulting you in order to determine whether the both of you are a match, and you're consulting with with the customer. This makes it significantly simpler to say. Among the wonderful stressors in family law is currently acting for clients. High conflict cases involve people. They make practicing radically more difficult than it must be and can be the ruin of your life. You want to make it apparent on a first interview that the purpose of the interview is to determine if there is a fit between the attorney and the client and that there is to be no duty on each side to either retain the lawyer or accept a retainer. Accordingly, it follows that when it becomes apparent from the first interview that there are a number of reasons why you shouldn't take the case, you have to learn to say "no" at the very earliest possible stage.

TIP 18 Get it Off Your Chest

Clients, especially matrimonial customers, often need a way to tell their story to other people. Think about forums where a client can get it. Consider using Dispute Resolution Officer hearings, social workers, mediation, psychologists, Judicial Dispute Resolution conferences and arbitration as techniques that are possible to permit a client to unload.

TIP 7 Agendas and To-Do Lists

In the customer meeting, the schedule is reviewed to talk about potential targets and results (together with the results often being the unwanted consequences of what may occur if there's absolutely no plan) and legal options are discussed. A strategy for this client is developed. In the end, the strategy is then put down on paper and a "to-do" record is ready.

TIP 14 Voice Mail Schedule

So as to establish realistic customer expectations, place your daily schedule in your voice mail so that the customer knows when they can expect a return call.