Listen to Your Attorney

Is The Horse Leading the Cart,

or the Cart Leading the Horse?

A Doctor Rarely Tells You What You Want to Hear, He Tells You What Will Save Your Life, Don’t Argue!

You’ve hired an attorney.  You wanted legal advice and guidance, and you were willing to pay for it.  Presumably, you hired them because after interviewing several, you felt that this one was competent, reasonably priced, and knew how to represent you in a professional manner, while having your best interest in mind.  The plan was to hire someone who could not only guide you through this legal process but offer you professional advice based on their training, knowledge, and experience.  You hired someone who knows the law, knows the system, and knows how to navigate that system, maximizing the results while minimizing the damage.  That attorney is not only a friendly face in the office, but a tough advocate in the courtroom, someone who is ethically bound and legally responsible to tell you what you need to know, to be truthful, and to fight for you when the time comes and protect you by avoiding that fight when appropriate.

Your Attorney’s Job is not to Say Just What You Want to Hear

At times, clients find our services to be “great” because we’re telling them what they want to hear. We’re not saying what we’re saying because it’s what they want to hear, but because it’s the fact.  Other times, clients can get upset because we’re not telling what they want because it’s not honest.  We tell the truth, and at times, it’s painful. At times, the substance of the truth is not what one was hoping for, but it’s honest, and it’s being said to protect that client before proceeding with what they wanted to hear hurts them. Not unlike little kids wanting to play near the edge of a cliff, a responsible parent tells them “Hey, don’t do that” for their safety, even though that’s not what Junior wanted to hear.  Dad would’ve been a lot more popular had he allowed the kid to play on the end of the cliff, but the kid is 4, and that’s just a stupid thing to do.  Yes, we do at times have to tell clients not to stand too close to the edge of the cliff, but it’s honest.

Your Attorney’s Job is To Warn You of Possible and Probably Outcomes

“Hey Bob, you should consider settling with that offer, it could really hurt when down the line at trial.” Delivering a warning is not bad news, it’s recognition of the facts.  Sometimes your attorney has to make you aware of the risk.  This isn’t to say they are going to fight for you, that’s a big one, it’s making you aware that based on their knowledge, experience, and common sense.  Attorneys that promise the world and deliver nothing are the best attorneys in town, …until they lose.  Your attorney’s job is to tell you the painful truth. Your decision is to use the advice and guidance you paid for, or not. Complaining after ignoring your attorney’s advice is not smarter than smoking after a heart attack.

If You and Your Attorney are not Working Together, You don’t have an Attorney.

Remember, your attorney will not be your cell mate, their involvement in your case ends.  Hopefully, it ends as soon as the jury says “Not Guilty”, but unfortunately, it also ends in the alternative.  They were only involved in your case to help you make the right decisions, to guide you through the process, and to fight for you.  If you allow them to do their job, you’ll fare far better in the long run.  Ignore their advice, and you may be complaining to your cellmate for years to come.