Managing Client Expectations

Imagine this: A person comes to your office claiming a personal injury. You decide to take the case but before filing suit you draft a demand letter to the defendant. Knowing that this demand is a starting point for negotiations, you demand an amount of money that may be more than the minimum your client would accept. Strategically, you may even demand an amount of money that is highly unlikely the client would be offered or awarded. Things happen and you fail to timely file the lawsuit or make some other mistake that causes your client to lose their cause of action. What do you think is going to be Exhibit A in the client, now plaintiff’s, lawsuit against you?