Do not try to please your client

From Mollycoddling to Truth-Telling: The Evolution of Client Communication in Legal Practice. Explore the shift from pleasing clients with comforting words to confronting them with harsh truths for better outcomes. Learn why honesty and clarity build stronger lawyer-client relationships in the long run.

5/21/20241 min read

One thing I used to do very often as a young lawyer during my early days of practice was to mollycoddle my clients when they narrated their stories to me. I did this to please them as my customers or clients.

Over time, I have realized that this does not benefit the client; in fact, it causes more harm. Eventually, the client also realizes this phenomenon.

It's better to be confrontational, to tell them the harsh, bitter truth, and to sift through the facts and procedures that will have a bearing rather than engage in emotional and evasive conversations.

By doing so:
a) Better results are achieved.
b) The client appreciates it more in the long run.