Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 33
FEATURE
THE SCIENCE OF WHY
CLIENTS IGNORE
COUNSEL'S ADVICE
By Stephen D. Lott, Chit Yuen Yi, and Aaron D. Dumas
Y
ou represent a large corporate client. The client has retained you because
of your specific expertise in a particular area of the law. The corporation
has paid your firm's retainer, and you've racked up a hefty bill preparing
a report detailing the risks and likelihood of success associated with
pursuing a particular course of action. You spot numerous red flags and
go to lengths to explain the potential negative consequences (both legal and
financial) of going forward. You also suggest more sensible, lower-risk alternatives.
After considering your recommendations, the client decides to go ahead with
the contemplated venture or lawsuit anyway.
Months later, the client calls about a cease-and-desist letter from
the third party you warned them about in your original assessment.
Alternatively, in the case of litigation, the client calls about your invoice
after the latest round of voluminous discovery, or after the court grants
summary judgment in the other party's favor.
Oftentimes, such experiences leave the lawyer wondering, "Why did
they even hire me, if only to completely ignore my expert advice?" Of
course, it is not the lawyer's role to tell clients what to do, but rather to
provide the information they need to make an informed decision and
let them decide the level of risk with which they are comfortable. This
is a fundamental aspect of the attorney-client relationship. The choice
of whether to follow the lawyer's advice belongs solely to the client.1
Nonetheless, as most lawyers can attest, it can be frustrating when
a client ignores counsel's warnings only to end up paying the price for
doing so further down the road. And common sense cautions the lawyer
against telling the client, "I told you so" (at least if the lawyer hopes to
continue representing the client).
Illustrations by Keith Negley
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
*
WASHINGTON LAWYER
33
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020
Digital Extras
Your Voice
From Our President
Practice Management
ABA Delegates Corner
Calendar of Events
Re-Envisioning the Bar Exam feature
The New Normal in Legal Education feature
On Shaky Ground feature
How the Pandemic Has Transformed Courts Feature
The Science of Why Clients Ignore Counsel's Advice feature
Taking the Stand
On Further Review
The Learning Curve
Member Spotlight - Susan Biniaz
Member Spotlight - Whit Washington
Worth Reading
Attorney Briefs
Disciplinary Summaries
Speaking of Ethics
Pro Bono Effect
A Slice of Wry
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Cover1
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Cover2
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 1
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 2
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 3
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Digital Extras
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Your Voice
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - From Our President
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 7
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Practice Management
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 9
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - ABA Delegates Corner
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Calendar of Events
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Re-Envisioning the Bar Exam feature
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 13
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 14
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 15
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 16
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 17
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - The New Normal in Legal Education feature
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 19
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 20
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 21
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - On Shaky Ground feature
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 23
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 24
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 25
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - How the Pandemic Has Transformed Courts Feature
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 27
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 28
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 29
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 30
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 31
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - The Science of Why Clients Ignore Counsel's Advice feature
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 33
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 34
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 35
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 36
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 37
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Taking the Stand
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 39
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - On Further Review
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 41
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - The Learning Curve
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 43
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Member Spotlight - Susan Biniaz
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 45
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Member Spotlight - Whit Washington
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 47
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Worth Reading
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 49
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 50
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Disciplinary Summaries
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Speaking of Ethics
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 53
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Pro Bono Effect
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 55
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - A Slice of Wry
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Cover3
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - Cover4
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