Lawyers often represent clients of varying levels of sophistication. Some clients may seek counsel for routine legal issues, while others may have some level of understanding of the complexities involved in the matter. Clients may even seek to weigh in on legal strategy, depending on their level of experience with the law.

Over the years, many bars and courts have reviewed an attorney or firm's legal representation of a "sophisticated" client—who may have a greater understanding of complex legal issues (or the corresponding impact on their business)—in comparison to the average client. The question these bars and courts have grappled with is whether the client's level of sophistication impacts the scope of the attorney's duties or the applicable standard of care. Most recognize that, regardless of the client's sophistication, an attorney's duties and obligations to the client remain fundamentally the same.