Many legal and jurisprudence experts have pointed out that the goal of an attorney is not simply to be the best in presenting a case. We all think that when we hire a legal attorney, the important thing is to focus upon the cases won, the cases argued and so on.
However, what we all conveniently forget is that all the best legal attorneys are masters of the art of communication. In order to get the desired results from legal battles, it is important that the right channels of communication are set right at the beginning.
In this article, we will look at some issues relating to effective communication between a client and their legal attorney. We discuss some best practices as well as touch upon issues relating to client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege.
Attorney – Client Confidentiality: Meaning and Definition
If you are fighting any legal case, it is best, to be honest, transparent and open with your attorney at all times. This is because, in order to defend your interests in the best possible fashion, it is important that the lawyer knows everything about you and the case at hand.
All the information discussed between an attorney and a client is subject to confidentiality. This means that an attorney cannot be called upon to testify against his own client. Nor is an attorney legally allowed to use the facts and information disclosed by the client against the client himself.
This helps in protecting the interests of the client at all times, against wilful manipulation by the legal counsel. This confidentiality forms the basis of effective communication and allows a client complete protection to any information he or she is sharing.
The 3 Pillars of Establishing the Best Communication with your Attorney
In this section, we will look at what experts refer to as the three pillars of effective attorney-client communication. It should be pointed out that setting the right communication is not the responsibility of the client only. Attorneys too need to work towards it.
1. Listening –The association with a criminal lawyer does not end with your case. In fact, most people are looking to hire criminal lawyers to help them settle missouri expungement cases. Having prior records available against your name can become detrimental to your personal and professional interests. This is one area where an expert criminal lawyer can help you clear your name.
One of the most important ways to ensure the best communication is listening. Listening does not mean hearing. It means assessing, analyzing, understanding and taking actions based on what you have listened to. It also means stopping doing something, which can hamper the chances of success. Attorneys who listen to their clients evoke feelings of trust, empathy and satisfaction.
2. Hearing:
While hearing may seem to be something very normal, it is an important pillar of effective communication. Hearing should be a two-way communication channel where both the client and the attorney are able to keep aside time for hearing to each other’s’ inputs regarding the case. This will help in a free and frank discussion on all the facts surrounding the case and ensure you are on the same level as your attorney.
3. Speaking:
Many clients feel hesitant about speaking to their attorneys freely. This is something that can seriously impair the case and give the other party an upper hand. Attorneys should encourage their clients to speak up as much as possible. This will allow important facts to be revealed. Many times what clients feel is non-essential is actually important for a specific legal case at hand. It can prove to be the decisive piece of information, especially in a criminal law case.
The Final Word
More information is always better than no information. Sharing different pieces of information can be critical to guaranteeing success. By following the three pillars as well as other information mentioned above, clients and attorneys will be able to establish the right channels of communication.
It is also important to decide on the medium of communication. Phone calls, WhatsApp, Videos or even letters can be pre-decided upon between the parties. Once you have been able to set the basics right, you are well on your way to legal successes.
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