Managing the Client Relationship

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Reception to Follow

Sponsored by: The Solo & Small Firm Section  

This program will provide pragmatic advice to help you address the many issues, from ethical to practical, you face when working with clients.  The seminar will cover the best practices for managing client relationships from initial contact through the conclusion of the case.

The panel of experienced attorneys will address a wide range of important, fundamental, and often overlooked issues to ensure productive and ethical representation of clients. They will provide you with a solid understanding of common pitfalls and offer practical suggestions on how to deal with them.

Specific topics will include:

Establishment of the Attorney-Client Relationship

• Ensuring your relationship is clearly defined;
• How to handle referrals from other attorneys and co-counsel relationships.

Retention/Engagement Letters

• Defining the scope of services;
• Reliance on experts/consultants/non-legal service providers;
• Retainers and billing issues.

Managing the Client

• Managing Expectations: costs, range of possible outcomes, time to conclusion, alternative approaches;
• Managing the client who “plays lawyer.”

Mid-course Corrections

• Uncooperative clients;
• Impaired, ill, or incapacitated clients;
• Handling unforeseen conflicts of interest;
• Obligations to the court and opposing counsel.

Concluding the Relationship

• Withdrawal issues;
• Maintaining and returning client files/records/evidence;
• Termination of services.

Panelists

Joseph S. Berman, Esq.
Looney & Grossman LLP

Susan E. Cohen, Esq.
Peabody & Arnold LLP

Rodney S. Dowell, Esq.
Law Office Management Assistance Program

Jane R. Rabe, Esq.
Office of the Bar Counsel


Program Chair

Edmund J. Gorman, Esq.
Law Office of Edmund J. Gorman

Program Prices

$120 - BBA members
$155 - Non-Members
$85 - BBA Sponsoring Section Member
$65 - BBA Member Legal Services/Government Lawyer
$25 - Law Student

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