Hiring an attorney is a significant decision and often made during stressful, high-stakes moments. Whether you’re dealing with a business dispute, a real estate matter, or active litigation, your attorney’s role is to protect your interests, advocate on your behalf, and guide you through a legal process that can feel unfamiliar and overwhelming.
What many clients don’t realize is that strong legal outcomes are rarely the result of attorney effort alone. The most effective cases are built on collaboration. When clients and attorneys work together as a team, matters tend to move more efficiently, cost less, and result in better outcomes.
Below are practical ways you can support that teamwork by helping your attorney help you.
It’s All About Trust
As the client, you set the goals. You decide what outcome you want to achieve. Your attorney’s role is to determine the legal path to get there.
Once you’ve clearly communicated your objectives, it’s important to trust your attorney to manage strategy, procedures, deadlines, and court rules. Legal decisions often involve behind-the-scenes considerations that aren’t immediately obvious. Constantly second-guessing tactics or micromanaging the process can slow progress and increase costs.
Think of it this way: you choose the destination, but let your attorney handle the navigation.
Honesty Really Is The Best Policy
Your attorney can only be as effective as the information they receive. That means full transparency is essential. Be prepared to:
- Share all relevant facts, even those that feel uncomfortable
- Provide details you may think are insignificant
- Avoid guessing or exaggerating, accuracy matters
Surprises are fun for birthday parties, not legal cases. Information that surfaces late in the process can undermine strategy, damage credibility, or limit available options.
Responsive Communication is Key
Legal matters often involve strict deadlines, discovery obligations, and time-sensitive decisions. When your attorney asks for documents, clarification, or availability, timely responses make a real difference.
To keep things moving smoothly:
- Respond to emails within a reasonable timeframe
- Provide requested documents promptly
- Communicate upcoming travel or scheduling conflicts
Delays on the client side can lead to higher fees, rushed work, or missed opportunities. At the same time, remember that law firms operate within standard business hours and prioritize work based on court deadlines and case impact—not urgency alone.
Follow Your Attorney’s Advice
Legal guidance isn’t always easy to hear, but it’s given for a reason. Ignoring advice, resisting cooperation with discovery, or relying on internet research instead of professional counsel can:
- Increase costs
- Weaken your position
- Create unnecessary legal exposure
If you don’t understand a recommendation, ask questions. Questions are encouraged! Just keep in mind that repeatedly challenging strategy requires additional attorney time and that time costs money.
Have Realistic Expectations
Legal matters are unpredictable. While everyone wants efficiency and resolution, no attorney can promise:
- How long a case will take
- What it will ultimately cost
- How a judge, jury, or opposing party will respond
Understanding this from the outset helps reduce frustration and builds a more productive working relationship.
Be Careful What You Say (and Where You Say It)
Discussing your case with third parties (or posting about it online) can seriously harm your position. Statements made outside the attorney-client relationship may be discoverable and used against you.
When in doubt, say less.
This Is A Professional Partnership
The attorney-client relationship is built on trust, respect, and candid communication. Stress and difficult conversations are normal, but professionalism on both sides is essential. Strong collaboration leads to stronger outcomes.
You Are Part of Your Legal Team
Your attorney brings legal knowledge, experience, and strategy.
You bring facts, cooperation, and decision-making authority.
When those pieces work together, cases run more smoothly, and that puts you in the strongest possible position.
At Anderson Legal, we believe informed, engaged clients are empowered clients. Understanding your role in the process helps us advocate more effectively on your behalf and work toward the best possible outcome.
Nothing on this website or this blog should be considered legal advice. Anderson Legal does not represent you and no client-attorney relationship is formed until you have completed our client intake process.