5 Things Lawyers Wish Everyone Would Stop Doing

Lawyers are people too…I know, I know, this seems crazy. But attorneys have lives and bad days and short fuses just like the rest of us. There are parts about their jobs they dislike and more often than not, it’s because of someone else. Everyone has their own assumptions about attorneys - we even wrote a whole blog about the variety of stereotypes out there (link to other blog). Because of these stereotypes, it’s easy to treat them all the same way without thinking much about it. 

So, whether in a personal or a professional setting, these are the top five things attorneys wish people would stop doing.  

Asking for free legal advice

Every holiday somebody in the family just needs some small advice. Friends call to catch up… and get help out of traffic tickets and they have a great idea that they want to get patented. Can we just visit without it turning into a free consultation? 

Assuming they know every kind of law

Non – attorneys think that knowledge of law means knowledge of every law. Things do not always translate from one area to another and no one can be an expert in everything. So no, Greg, I can’t help you sue your contractor.

Refusing to be realistic about a situation

Whether you’re explaining to Grandpa about the Terms & Conditions on Facebook or talking with a client, trying to get them to think realistically is never easy. Lawsuits and courtrooms are not like the ones on TV and your emotions are mostly likely clouding your judgement.  

Trying to convince them that you have the biggest case, EVER

Everyone thinks they are justified, or that they have the best idea. They can’t believe that they won’t win millions of dollars in a lawsuit. Let’s be real - attorneys don’t care if it’s the smallest or biggest case ever, if you hire them, their job is to help you either way, so no need to sell them on the idea. And if they warn you that your damages may be small, or that you don’t have a winning case, listen to them, because it might save you a lot of money down the road.

Being surprised when they have a life 

Why didn’t you answer my email at 3am? Clients, and sometimes other attorneys, want you to be available and at the office all hours of the day. If you have a family, pets, or hobbies everyone seems shocked and can’t believe you could have time for any of those. 

At Engage, attorneys office with other attorneys. So, when that cousin calls with a question about employment law, you can pop your head next door and ask your neighbor instead of spending hours trying to learn an unfamiliar area of law.

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