When we asked Rob why he might turn down a potential client, he gave some interesting reasons that provide some insights into how a lawyer decides who he will or won’t work with. Following are the three main reasons a lawyer might decline to take a case.
You Just Don’t Have A Case
First and foremost, if there’s nothing that can be done, a good lawyer doesn’t want to waste your time, or their own. It might sound a little bit harsh to tell someone they simply don’t have a case worth pursuing, but if that’s true, an honest attorney should tell you so up front.
Lawyers Offer Legal Advice, Not Business Advice
When it comes to working with businesses and/or business owners, many lose sight of the fact that a lawyer can only provide advice relating to the organization’s legal situation, not what is good or bad for the business itself. Once presented with the options and possibilities, the business owner needs to decide what will be the best course of action. If these roles are not understood, sometimes it’s better that the relationship ends.
A Personality Clash
It may sound a little oversimplified, but lawyers are people too, and not everyone gets along together. Sometimes it might become apparent that working with a particular client is just going to be a bad decision for everyone involved. In this case, it’s probably a better idea to decline to take the case and suggest the client seek the help of another qualified attorney.
In the end, it all comes down to not wanting to waste someone else’s time or money. A lawyer who ignores any of these factors and takes a case anyway is just going to be wasting the client’s time and taking their money in exchange for what they know will most likely turn out to be bad results.
