Clients To Avoid, If You Want To Get A Good Night's Sleep

Dr. Mark Goulston, M.D., a prominent Los Angeles Psychiatrist and Author, has compiled a list of 10 types of prospective or new clients a lawyer should seriously consider avoiding if the lawyer wants to get a good night's sleep.

...and, keep in mind that one or two "clients from hell" can ruin an otherwise satisfying and enjoyable practice.

That list:

1. The prospective client is presently represented by an attorney whom they have decided isn't doing a good job;
2. The prospective client is looking for someone to review their case to see if they should sue their current counsel for professional malpractice;
3. The prospective client wants to hire you because they heard that you are a real pit bull;
4. The prospective client lays out their litigation strategy in the first meeting for you to follow;
5. The prospective client presents you with a highly organized and tabbed notebook of trial exhibits for a case that hasn't even been filed;
6. The prospective client forgets to bring any documents to the initial consultation meeting;
7. The prospective client wants you to handle their business litigation matter on a contingency fee basis;
8. The prospective client cries during the initial consultation (and it's not a divorce case);
9. The new client calls you twice to discuss the case on the same day they retained you; and,
10. The new client disputes charges for telephone calls and e-mails made to them that are on the first billing.

We are certain that this list could include many other "less-than-ideal" types of clients.

Comments

[Matt Faler, Attorney at Law,]

Those are all excellent things to look out for when screening new clients. I would add "any client who says the system is unfair to _________(whatever class or group, he/she self-identifies) or Judge _____ doesn't like me". Any client who believes the system is inherently unfair, will never be satisfied and will seriously make an attorney's life miserable.