So back to uncovering the mystical world of law practice brought to you like no other law firm...
So here's the deal...many lawyers are calloused or unresponsive when it comes to empathizing and explaining things so that clients can understand. There are a couple of reasons for this, one of which unfortunately (in my experience) is ego... After years of schooling and practice in a given arena many lawyers seem to feel that it is beneath them to have to explain themselves or the subject matter to client. Often times this problem is unconscious. Other reasons may be simply that the firm does not realize the importance of educating clients or they are simply not able to do so. So lesson number one is...
Go with a lawyer and law firm that you feel is both instructive and receptive to you. A few suggestions are:
1. Go with a law firm that assures you that the attorney you spoke with will be involved in your client services "after" you hire the firm for services. Often times, law firms arrange a meeting with a "rainmaker" and low and behold, after hiring the firm you won't speak to that lawyer again. Also, you need to be comfortable with the support staff and the philosophy of the firm, in my opinion, as well as the lawyer you met with. Remember, law offices function in teams.
2. Go with a firm that is deeply committed to educating clients and answering your questions. Many firms, particularly in the wills, trusts and estate planning arena adopt a volume based strategy (in both their pricing and services) to provide the minimum level of service for the lowest cost. Find a law firm who is committed to service as well as value with emphasis being placed upon the former...cheap attorneys often provide little service. Also, good firms tend to propose a variety of options for the client to consider regardless of whether the practice area is estate planning, asset protection, business planning, probate, civil litigation or another area of concern.
3. Go with a firm that listens to your goals and objectives and proposes to act accordingly...within reason. Obviously, there are areas in which the attorney is the expert. However, as an example, how you would like the disposition of your estate (in an estate planning scenario) to occur is generally your call and not the attorney's decision. I do note that if there are significant estate tax or business tax or other concerns that your attorney may and should advise you strongly in one direction or within certain options.
So friends, understand that the new wave of legal services is all about client services and client friendly practices.
As a side note, the Gibbs Law Office has joined the "New Wave Legal Group" and our new office is located at 2150 West First Street, Suite 2-B, Fort Myers, FL 33901, so you will be first in line to see some exciting changes in the weeks to come.
Until next time friends.
SJG
