In the past, my Dad has worn the fact that I am a lawyer, that my wife is a lawyer, and my sister is a lawyer like a sixgun on his hip. If someone messes with him in a way that he feels is inappropriate he politely tells them this fact and threatens to sue them. If he is threatened with a lawsuit he also informs them of this fact and almost invites them to take him on. Oy veh! It is what we children get for the privilege of him working to put us through law school. He treats it as, and to a great extent it is, a pre-paid legal care policy.
That is my Dad and I appreciate his hard work and money that left me with no student loan debt. So, I do what I can with as little complaint as possible. But, for someone other than my Dad, you should not take these clients.
The "Dad scenario", as I will call it, invites clients that will cost you time, talent and money. These clients have to go:
1. The client who calls you at night and on weekends to rely issues and to check with you. It is the client who does not respect boundaries and wants around-the-clock service. In the past, I discovered that family law clients are the worse. Regardless of the area of law, however, unless it is an isolated and true emergency this should not be happening. Either raise your rates to this client substantially or get rid of the client completely.
2. The client that is always threatening to sue someone for one reason or the other. Unless this is Sumner Redstone of Viacom you need to be worried. If it is Sumner Redstone you need to get a big retainer.
3. The client who wants you to be something you are not. My Dad had a serious problem with his financial adviser. I do not know securities law or arbitration and it is so far afield I am not sure I want to learn. Be who you are, practice what you practice and do not be afraid to refer this client.
4. The client that expects you to deliver more and more in the way of service for the same low price you charged (or no money at all). You need to purge this client immediately.
5. The client that is never satisfied. In my case, with all parents, and especially when I am practicing outside of my comfort zone or legal specialty, Dad can (and probably should) get critical. You do not need to be outside your legal area and if your client is not satisfied, move them along.
6. And, this goes hand-in-hand with #5 above, but if your client is a know-it all, you certainly do not need this client.
I am going to make an exception for my Dad. You should too. But, not for anybody else.
Could not agree with you more. For that reason alone refer them to Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Hopefully you will kindly tell them the law firm they wish does not exist, but there is another option. You will find this web site interesting:
www.idtheft-attorney.com
You would have to undersell the service, of course it won't be like yours but they will have access to a full law firm, across the nation and in Canada.
Residual income ....
September 29, 2007, Former Attorney General Mike Moore will be hosting a documentary about Pre-Paid Legal, on Court TV at 10 a.m. CST.
Or log on to www.dre.buildlastingsuccess.com
or call
1-800-605-0293 16 min.
Best Regards,
Dre' Parajon
Posted by: Dre' Parajon | September 22, 2007 at 08:58 AM