10 Questions to Ask Your Client at a Kick-Off Meeting

Open-ended questions are the starting place for understanding a client’s objectives and formulating the plan to achieve them.

Let’s start with how lawyers and law firms get jobs. That’s a long discussion but it certainly includes specializing not just in client sectors, but in clients themselves and anticipating client needs. But getting the job is only the beginning, then comes a period of inquiry. I have said that planning is a contact sport. This being so, the detailed task of understanding client needs starts with a conversation. This will be the first of many in which the client’s desires are articulated and expectations are understood and managed. These are early steps towards understanding, transparency and alignment.

This is a good time to emphasize the importance of specializing in the client, an under-discussed topic. Look at what the kick-off event offers the lawyer. It’s a valuable opportunity to study the client, ask the right questions and discover the root causes of the problem. In medicine they say the presenting issue isn’t always the underlying issue, and that’s a great takeaway for us. We have to ask the right questions, different questions, and so develop a deeper understanding of the client’s business and the problems. That’s why clients go to lawyers.

This premium content is locked for
Lean Adviser Legal subscribers only.

  • Subscribe now to receive:

  • 100+ Think Lean Daily Messages
  • 100+ Lean Lessons
  • 27 Lean Routine Checklists
  • 15 Lean Adviser Videos
  • Conference Calls for Q&A with Lean Adviser Editors including
    what’s coming next from Lean Adviser
  • Quarterly Training Sessions

Already have an account?
Interested in customizing your subscription with Law.com access?
Contact our Sales Professionals at 1-855-808-4530 or send an email
to [email protected] to learn more.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Lean Adviser Legal

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

Recommended Stories

More from ALM

 

ALM Legal Publication Newsletters

Sign Up Today and Never Miss Another Story.

As part of your digital membership, you can sign up for an unlimited number of a wide range of complimentary newsletters. Visit your My Account page to make your selections. Get the timely legal news and critical analysis you cannot afford to miss. Tailored just for you. In your inbox. Every day.

Privacy Policy

About Us / Contact Us / Site Map / Advertise With Us/ Customer Service / Terms of Service/ FAQ / Privacy Policy

Publications

Law Topics

Rankings

More

Law.com

Copyright © 2025 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.