Client Expectations When Hiring Appellate Lawyers

I’ve seen lawyers win cases and lose clients in the same week. The result was in their favor, the silence wasn’t. Because here’s the truth: clients rarely walk away over a lost argument. They walk when they feel unheard, uninformed, or blindsided on fees. So, I started asking one simple question at the beginning of every deal: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴?” And then, 2 things shifted: - My every advice landed, because it was tied to their interests, not just their legal positions. - Expectations stayed grounded, even when emotions ran high. It is like waiting for an online order. The package might arrive safely, but without tracking updates, every day feels uncertain. Seeing “out for delivery” gives peace of mind. The same goes for your client communication. Here’s a 7-step rhythm you can steal and repeat monthly on long matters: 1. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: “Here’s where we are compared to the outcome you defined.” It keeps emotions tied to agreed goals, not assumptions. 2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁: 3 quick bullets - what’s done, what’s in motion, what risks we see ahead. 3. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: Fees-to-date vs. the estimate. Simple and transparent - so no shocks down the line. 4. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Lay out Options A, B, C and give your recommendation. Clients value choice, but they hire you for judgment. 5. 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: “What helped? Anything to change?” This real-time adjustment avoids silent frustration. 6. 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀: Who owns what, and by when. Confidence rises when responsibilities are crystal clear. Tiny touches send a huge signal: note their format preferences, cadence, pet topics. Add thoughtful “think-of-you” pings - like a relevant case, regulation update, or even that classical concert they mentioned. Clients forget memos. They remember how you made them feel: clear, in control, and cared for. What’s one simple rhythm you’ve used to build client trust without needing more time?

As I've grown as a litigator--and taken on more client-facing roles--setting and managing expectations has been a constant lesson. It is crucial to do this from the jump. Otherwise, misconceptions about the process abound and lead to frustration (to put it nicely). Here's the reality: litigation is often more expensive, slower, and more disruptive than clients anticipate--and than clients like. It is intrusive and the opposite of fun. So, it is vital to have conversations around this--honest and candid conversations--from the outset. This includes: 📞 discussing costs--a proposed and phased budget is helpful. 📞 addressing the timeline--estimating how long it'll take and when certain things will occur. 📞 outlining how and when you will communicate with the client--and aligning with their communication preferences. 📞 explaining the types of information (verbal, narrative, and documentary) that the client will have to share--with you, their counsel, and with the other side and even with the court. Focus on clear communication and follow up with a written summary of the discussion--create a paper trail every step of the way. This builds trust and cooperation, while reducing frustration and surprise. Litigation can be unpredictable, so couch all discussion with that caveat, but better to set the right expectations upfront, as a foundation to the relationship. ✌🏻❤️🔥 #emilylitigates #professionalwomen #biglaw

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 But that's not correct It’s how you communicate before, during and after the case Clear, consistent, client-centered communication isn’t optional It’s your brand It’s your reputation It’s what makes clients trust you or walk away Here’s how to do it right: ➜ Drop the Legal Jargon Your clients aren’t lawyers. They’re stressed, confused and just want answers 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝: → Use plain English → Break down what’s happening and why it matters → Keep it short, clear, and confident ➜ Make Clients Feel Heard Law is stressful. Most clients are overwhelmed. They don’t want perfection, they just want to know you get them → Ask them what they want, not just what happened → Listen without rushing → Address their fears before they ask → Show empathy, not ego Because people don’t hire lawyers, they hire clarity, confidence and peace of mind. ➜ Set Expectations From Day One Surprises are great for birthdays not legal matters. Let them know what’s coming and how it works. 𝐒𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭: → The legal process (step-by-step) → Your fees and billing timeline → When and how they’ll hear from you → What success realistically looks like ➜ Feedback = Free Consulting Want to get better? 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. → Ask for feedback mid-case and post-case → Review every complaint, they’re gold → Train your team to listen like pros Great law firms aren’t just legal experts, they’re client experience experts And clients hire lawyers for legal help but they remember how you made them feel. Your messaging matters alot That’s how you turn first-time clients into lifelong referrals #legalmarketing #clientacquisition

Lawyers love words like "ipso facto". Clients don’t. ⛔ Newsflash: Most of them don't know Latin. 🤣 They want clarity, not complexity. Connection, not cold professionalism. Want to be the lawyer they trust and rave about? Here’s what they wish YOU knew: 1/ Speak Human, Not Legalese ↳ “If they leave confused, they leave frustrated.” ↳ Simplify. Use analogies. Add visuals. 2/ Ask Better Questions ↳ “What’s keeping you up at night?” gets you closer to the real issue than “What’s the matter?” 3/ Learn Their World ↳ Tailored advice > textbook advice. ↳ Know their business. Speak their language. 4/ Set Expectations Early ↳ No one likes surprise bills or radio silence. ↳ Map the process. Flag risks upfront. 5/ Be Accessible (Without Burnout) ↳ Boundaries matter. But so does communication. ↳ Tools like case dashboards help. 6/ Acknowledge Their Emotions ↳ A little empathy goes a long way. Legal issues are personal—even in business. 7/ Celebrate Wins ↳ A simple “Congrats! So happy for you!” builds trust faster than a 30-page opinion. 👉 Final Thought: Clients may never say it out loud, but they notice the small things. Show you get them, and you’ll be the one they recommend. What’s one lesson you’ve learnt from your clients? Drop it below. 👇 ♻️ Repost to help lawyers. 🔔 And follow Shulin Lee for more.

A note to trial lawyers, particularly those in domestic relations/family work: if you anticipate a client will need an appeal, please get an appellate lawyer on your team sooner rather than later. Clients hear things differently than you intend them to and get the wrong idea about what the appellate process can do for them. For example, I get that it's common for lawyers to say to clients: "the trial court loses jurisdiction when you file an appeal" or "the case stops once you file the appeal." This is true to an extent (although the rules for custody in Colorado, at least, are more nuanced). I can tell you from experience, however, the client hears what he wants to hear from that statement. So though you mean, "the trial court cannot modify its order once you appeal," the client hears, "I don't have to pay the judgment if I file the appeal." I use my consultations as an opportunity to educate a potential client about what appeals can and (maybe more importantly) cannot accomplish. Call us early and often, and don't let a miscommunication lead your client into a contempt trap. #trial #appeals #appellatelaw #familylaw