We have to trust each other.
If you meet with us and don’t feel a good level of trust, you should not hire us. We believe that a client’s trust in their attorney and legal team is one of the most important factors in a positive outcome for the client.
In 30 years of helping hundreds of clients, I can honestly say there was only one client who I felt did not trust us and our recommendations to him. This lack of trust made handling his case nearly impossible.
As trial approached, we explained his options in great detail and made our recommendations. He disagreed with our recommendations. That was perfectly fine. While most of our clients agree with our recommendations, a few decide to proceed differently, and we always move forward with their preferences. We are fine either way as long as the decision is fully informed by the client. Again – this believe that this your case, not our case.
However, because this client did not trust us at all, anything we suggested was simply dismissed as coming from an “untrustworthy source.” I realized this when the amount we were trying to obtain in a settlement kept changing. When the defendants offered what the client said was an agreeable settlement amount, the number would then change.
We tried his case as he instructed and obtained a very favorable verdict. However, this verdict could have been obtained through a settlement without risking his future financial security by going to trial. I thought of many analogies during his case. It was as if we were speaking a foreign language he didn’t understand and he didn’t want to accept an offer for fear of making the wrong decision.
In the end, your attorney and legal team will be making recommendations based upon complicated, foreign issues of the law to you. If you do not trust him, you may become afraid to make any decision, and you may second guess any decisions you do make.
Trust is a vital component of any attorney-client relationship, and we take it seriously. We understand that clients come to us during one of the most challenging times of their lives and that they’re placing their trust in us. That’s why we’re committed to being transparent, honest, and communicative with our clients throughout the legal process. We want you to feel comfortable asking us any questions you may have, and we’ll do our best to provide you with accurate and timely answers.