Many business attorneys won’t talk to a client without the meter running. So many clients don’t call their attorney before they make important decisions, often to their detriment.
The client then has to pay the attorney to fix their mess, often a lot more than they would have paid had they gotten advice in advance.
In the short term, the attorney makes out. In the long run, maybe there’s a better way for both client and attorney.
What if attorneys let their clients know they won’t charge them for “micro advice”? A quick call to find out if they’re going in the right direction, a question or two to see if they do (or don’t) need something else?
I heard that’s what many smart business attorneys do.
I concur.
You want your clients to call you often and they’re more likely to do that if they know they won’t be charged by the nanosecond. Maybe they have something that needs your help, maybe they don’t, but it’s better for both of you to find out.
How is this better for you? For one thing, it builds trust. The client sees that you’re looking out for them, not just sucking them dry.
It can also lead to more work for you. In the short term, if they need your help, you’ll be able to show them why. In the long run, by looking out for your clients, you help their business grow and you can grow with them.
Yes, some clients will (try to) take advantage of you. You will have some line drawing to do. But most clients will appreciate you for “not being like all those other attorneys”. You’ll earn their loyalty and their referrals.
This isn’t just for business attorneys. It’s a good policy for all clients. Even one-off clients can send referrals.
Referrals are good for your fiscal health
