Sometimes it feels like your personal injury attorney is living in a different universe, a universe where everyone speaks in legal riddles and no one has anxiety dreams about settlement checks. Here are 10 things every client wishes their lawyer actually understood:
1- “I Don’t Understand Legalese, And I’m Not Going to Pretend I Do.” 😵💫
You love showing off your proficiency in Latin but please know your client’s eyes glazed over three minutes ago. Please, translate it to English or send them the Google Translate link for “Lawyer.”
2- “This Case Is My Whole Life, Not Just Another File.” 🗂️❤️
Yes, you have 150 clients, but this is the only lawsuit your client will ever have (hopefully). Please remember they are not just another name on your caseload.
3- “Radio Silence Feels Like Abandonment.” 📵
If your clients don’t hear from you for a while, they spiral. Even a, “Nothing new yet” text makes a difference.
4- “I Need Honesty, Not Just Optimism.” 🥲
Your client wants to know if things are bad. Don’t tell them “we’re on track,” but forget to mention the train is in flames. They can handle bad news better than silence or sugar-coating.
5- “My Anxiety Level Is Already a 12 Out of 10.” 🫠
If your client is emailing you at midnight, it’s not because they’re plotting to ruin your curated life. It’s because they haven’t slept since the last “update” (which was really just you forwarding an email chain).
6- “I Google Everything, So Please Fact-Check Me.” 🤓
Yes, your client read an article about someone winning $4M for a slip-and-fall in 2009 and yes, they believed this could be their reality. Please explain why their case is different, and why they will be lucky to walk away with 1% of that 2009 settlement.
7- “Your Staff Members Are Your Brand.” 🧑💻
If your employees are rude, forgetful, or act like answering questions are a burden, it reflects on you, no matter how nice you are. A great attorney with a hostile team is like a designer bag filled with trash.
8- “I Want to Be Involved, Not Managed.” 🤝
Your clients want updates, input, and transparency. Don’t make big decisions or file things without telling them. This is their life, not just your workload.
9- “Please Don’t Judge My Life Choices.” 👀
If your client mentions their crazy ex, their dog’s in-patient surgery, or their much-needed staycation, they are not asking for moral judgment. They are human, not a checklist.
10- “I Need You to Care Or at Least Pretend Really Well.” 🎭
Even if they aren’t your favorite client, they need to feel like you’re in their corner. No one wants to be a “problem file.” Fake it if you must, just don’t let them see you roll your eyes.
Pro Tip:
A little empathy (real or well-acted) goes further than a thousand legal citations. Clients don’t remember your closing arguments; they remember how you made them feel.