Want to make a relationship work? It doesn’t matter what type a marriage, friendship, family or business arrangement in any relationship, the parties need to understand and appreciate each other’s expectations, they need to communicate effectively and they need to work diligently toward a common goal. In the practice of law, the attorney-client relationship functions just like any other pairing. Of course, nothing is easy in life, particularly in the practice of law, but lawyers who can properly set client expectations, communicate properly and work diligently toward their client’s goals will likely keep their clients happy and avoid ethical problems too.
A lawyer practicing in today’s world faces a myriad of potential ethical pitfalls. Sadly, we have often learned of colleagues who have committed serious ethical violations. Who has not heard of, for instance, disciplinary cases where lawyers have misappropriated client funds or have made material misrepresentations to another lawyer or the court? Frequently, even major ethical infractions result from minor ethical mishaps that snowball and get out of control. However, any violation of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct can snowball, even something as seemingly benign as failing to return a phone call or two. When you think about it, therefore, thoroughly explaining the parameters of the attorney-client relationship, or in essence, setting client expectations, must occur early in the relationship.
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