Navigating the legal landscape can be complex and intimidating for some. At the center of a successful legal journey lies the crucial element of the attorney-client relationship. This relationship is built on trust, communication, and mutual respect and is the foundation of effective legal representation.
Whether you’re seeking legal advice for the first time or have ongoing legal needs, understanding the dynamics of this relationship can empower you to make informed decisions and foster a more productive partnership with your attorney. This article will explore the benefits of a good attorney-client relationship and the expectations you and your attorney should have for each other.
What Are the Benefits of a Good Attorney-Client Relationship?
Maintaining a trusting and friendly relationship with paid professionals is always a good idea. However, a stable professional relationship is even more necessary in the courtroom, where your attorney’s performance directly affects your life.
Ease & Clarity of Communication
At the core of every great attorney-client relationship is making good communication the highest priority. A lawyer must know all the relevant facts about you and your case to best serve you. You need to feel completely comfortable sharing everything with them, and they need to be timely in informing you of updates and developments in your case.
Additionally, throughout the litigation process, issues will arise that require you and/or your lawyer to make fast, informed decisions. In these instances, both you and your attorney need the certainty that you can reach each other quickly and reliably.
You must have reliable lines of communication between you and your attorney and a willingness to speak freely and transparently to one another. The consequences of having poor communication between you and your attorney can be significantly detrimental to your case.
Mutual Trust & Respect
Depending on the exact reason you’re seeking legal representation, it’s often very likely that some very personal or private information about you will somehow be relevant to your case. In these situations, having an attorney you can trust with this knowledge is mandatory. Likewise, if you ever feel reluctant to share something with your lawyer, even hesitating briefly at the wrong moment can have consequences.
A successful outcome is built on a firm relationship of mutual trust and respect. Your attorney should be doing everything in their power to achieve what is in your best interests. They should do so while respecting your time, your privacy, and the decisions you make. On the other hand, you should also have complete trust in their professional expertise and experience when they are making legal decisions on your behalf.
Let Them Take Care of the Job You’ve Hired Them For
Remember, you’ve hired your attorney to do a particular job that isn’t your area of expertise. Of course, you should stay informed and active in your case, but you should always be able to trust and feel good about handing off the workload of legal proceedings to the experts you pay to handle it.
Expectations for a Strong Attorney-Client Relationship
Hopefully, it’s clear why maintaining a good, honest, and stable relationship with your attorney is a good idea. But how does one do that? Here is a list of basic expectations of what you should expect and how you should behave towards your lawyer, and vice versa.
What Does My Attorney Expect From Me?
- Responses to Their Communications — When your lawyer calls, it’s because they need to tell or ask you something important. It’s in the best interest of your case to be quick and responsive when your attorney reaches out to you.
- Cooperation With Pre-Trial Work — If you are preparing to go to trial, your attorney will often need you to complete paperwork or practice statements or may ask you to do things like avoid social media. Give these requests your full attention and effort for your own sake.
- Understanding That They Can’t Control Everything — You should always be aware of what is in your lawyer’s control and what isn’t. Hold them accountable, but don’t blame them for every setback or problem in your case.
What Should I Expect From My Attorney?
- Their Full & Best Effort — A client’s fate is often in their attorney’s hands. You should trust that they are putting their full attention on your case, ensuring their work is completed properly and avoiding negligent mistakes.
- Professionalism — Your lawyer should look, act, and sound like a legal professional. They should be prompt in communications, and their word must be dependable.
- Loyalty and Respect — Lastly, your lawyer should prioritize your legal interests, treat you courteously and kindly, listen to your input, and respect your decisions. Trust must be mutual.
Turn to Pullano & Siporin for Reliable, Trustworthy Representation
When you and your attorney can build a foundation of trust, clear communication, and mutual respect, it leads to successful outcomes and satisfaction. At Pullano & Siporin, our relationships with our clients are of the highest priority, because developing excellent relationships with our clients is what allows us to achieve full justice on their behalf.
If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury or accident, contact us today for a free consultation and allow us to earn your trust as your legal advocate.
