Big Law Facilitates Unreasonable Client Demands, Clients Say
Lawyers at all levels ranked unreasonable client demands among their top sources of stress and anxiety in a recent survey, but clients say high fees and a lack of pushback further the unhealthy dynamic.
August 17, 2023 at 02:32 PM
7 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Excessive demands from clients are among Big Law attorneys' top stressors and sources of anxiety, a recent American Lawyer survey found.
- Clients feel lawyers who charge top-of-market rates should expect to be highly responsive while firms should prioritize clients who spent the most with them.
- Associates look to partners for leadership in pushing back on unreasonable client requests, but cultural and systemic issues at law firms drive partners to side with clients.
Unreasonable and inhumane demands from clients are stressing lawyers out and damaging their mental and physical health, according to a recent American Lawyer survey on mental health in the legal profession.
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