Communication with Clients Q&A
June 6, 2019
We participated in Solicitors Chat on Twitter answering questions about why good communication between clients and solicitors is so important.
Our Chartered Legal Executive, Lucy Watson, was on hand to provide some much needed guidance.
We’ve set out our answers out below.
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How do you help your clients understand their case when it comes to more complicated aspects and legal jargon?
It is important to remember that not all clients have legal knowledge; therefore it is vital that we explain things in plain English without unnecessary legal jargon.
We explain what terms mean so that clients can get a better understanding of the legal issue that they are dealing with. It is always so important that clients know what Lawyers are doing for them so they don’t get confused.
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Why do we use legal jargon in the first place instead of plain English and why is it so important?
Legal terms and phrases are important as they have a specific meaning in Law. So it is vital to use legal jargon but just explain it when needed. If you use incorrect legal terms or phrases it could be detrimental to their case.
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Every client is unique, how do you approach tailoring your advice to make sure their individual needs are met?
In Law you have to ensure your advice is tailored to the specific client and circumstances of the case, sometimes that requires a Lawyer to think outside of the box when providing the advice to the client. Every client is different, so it is important to remember that when giving advice. If you are providing business advice, it is also important to tailor that advice to the particular sector that the client operates in.
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Do you do anything aside from the usual emails and face-to-face meetings to communicate with clients?
These days a lot of legal correspondence is completed over email and face to face meetings. We feel that it is important to meet with our clients at the start of a matter to build that initial relationship. We also believe that any verbal advice should be followed up in writing to the client to confirm the advice we have given.
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What are the benefits of clients feeling that they’re able to ask their solicitor questions and then actually doing so?
For a client to get the most out of their Solicitor it is important that they feel they can ask them anything and that they will get the advice required. It is not ideal if a client feels that their Solicitor is unapproachable and therefore can’t ask them questions when required to do so. A client, when picking a solicitor, should feel that they have a good working relationship which enables them to ask questions when required and also know that they will get a response.
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What tips would you give to clients when it comes to having open communication with a solicitor?
Be honest, and give your solicitor all the facts. Solicitors are only able to help you and give you the best advice if they know the full circumstances. If you hold something back it will likely come out later on and potentially have a bigger impact on the matter than it would have done if the solicitor knew from the start.
It is always better to have a solicitor involved as early on in a matter where possible, as they are likely to be able to resolve a matter earlier and save the client money, compared to being instructed late on and having to do things within a tighter time restriction.
If you have a legal matter that you would like advice and assistance on, please get in touch with our experienced team and set up an initial consultation. Call us today on 0800 158 4147.