Managing Expectations

Setting client expectations from the outset is crucial to a successful attorney-client relationship, but what about as the case proceeds?

Explaining the realities of litigation to your clients upfront is not enough--it's an ongoing journey.

This occurs through regular check-ins. Sure, our ethical rules require this, but what does it look like in practice?

Just as you have regular meetings with your litigation teams, you should have regular touchpoints with your clients, addressing:

🫱🏻‍🫲🏻 case progress--overall status and next steps.

🫱🏻‍🫲🏻 changes in timing and strategy.

🫱🏻‍🫲🏻 strengths and weaknesses of the case--especially as new themes and information come to light.

🫱🏻‍🫲🏻 creating trust and transparency through honest and quick updates about setbacks and surprising decisions or outcomes.

All the while, it is important to create an environment in which the client feels comfortable asking questions and trusts that you will give them clear and honest answers.

Reassessing and adjusting will happen. Open communication and expectation management, along the way, allows you and your client to adapt. It builds in flexibility for new developments and strengthens the relationship.

There's no hiding the ball--and no pressure to do so--when you communicate clearly and honestly every step of the case.

Your clients are humans--they want human interaction from you--this includes being real with them and being real with them will build trust that allows you to lead them to follow your conclusions and recommendations.

🔥❤️✌🏻