By Christine Schumacher
While you want to be compassionate and allow your client to confide in you, you do not have time. You dread the conversations as they can last an hour, with many concerns you cannot fix.
A social media survey of attorneys reveals these top three strategies for managing expectations:
- Schedule specific times to talk.
Let your client know you only have time to talk once or twice a week to address concerns. - Ask your client to email instead of call.
If your client sends multiple emails, you can read them all at once, narrow down what issues need to be addressed and respond with one email. - Set time limits.
Remind the client you only have a certain amount of time to chat. Once that time is up, let the client know you have to go and will need to set up another time to talk.
Christine Pangan is co-Editor of San Diego Lawyer and a Lead Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, lnc.