The Top Ten Annoying Client Traits

 

Pet Peeves of Lawyers and Paralegals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

I have a real affection for my clients, but some people can be really annoying, even with the best of intentions. The following is a list of the top ten annoying traits of some clients I have had in the past or of people who contact us about obtaining legal advice. It is meant in good humour and nothing personal to the offending parties!

 

The Top Ten Annoying Traits of Clients

 

1. # 1 - The Repeated Dialers

Don’t you hate those people who insist on calling and leaving voicemails every 2 hours? Sometimes, believe it or not, I am busy on other matters or out of the office!  The amazing thing is that these are usually the same people who take a week to respond to my initial email, but then suddenly they “urgently” need advice!

 

1. # 2 - The Repeated e-mailers

Why do some clients feel the need to tell me the same story in 5 different ways?  Enough said.

 

1. # 3 - The Carbon Copiers

I cannot stand when I get copied on emails in a dispute.   Even worse is when people who have not even retained me start coping me on emails to their debtors.  It is unethical and simply dumb.

 

1. # 4 -The Mass E-mailers

Closely related to the carbon copiers are those who include me on their mass email to all their friends or colleagues.  I do not need Sam Smith from Toronto, Ontario to know my email address.  If you must send a mass email, then at least blind carbon copy it.

 

1. # 5 - The Big Mouths

When will people realize that everything shared between a lawyer/paralegal and client is privileged.  I actually have to inform every client now that whatever we discuss is confidential just to save some people from ruining their own cases!

 

1. # 6 -The Case Killers

There is nothing worse than a client who has a strong case but he ruins it by doing something dumb such as posting a defamatory comment online or the like.

 

1. # 7 - The Bargainers

Legal professionals are not street vendors.  We are professionals, and many of us are already significantly reducing fees to provide small claims court advice.  When people try bargaining on my fees, that’s usually a very bad sign.

 

1. # 8 - The Sleazies

Here’s a sleazy shtick that people try and pull.  They promise that money is on the way, and in the meantime they try and pull whatever free information they can get out of you.  Recently someone tried this on me, but I advised right away that I need a retainer, after which she said “It’s on the way”.  I never heard from her again.

 

1. # 9 The Blamers

I get very annoyed when people call me with stories about how lousy a job their lawyer or paralegal did.  Of course, there are always some bad apples, but usually the legal professional has tried his best with the case handed to him.

 

1. # 10 - The Ingrates

Related to the blamers are the people who don’t appreciate hard work put in by lawyers or paralegals which results in a great result.  Fortunately, many of my clients are very thankful and send in testimonial letters, but others simply vanish without even thanking us for our efforts at getting them a great outcome.

Have some more annoying client traits you would like to add to the list.  Email us!

 

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