Lawyers + Other Folks With Books of Business

[Deleted]

Agree or disagree:

People are more likely to give business to lawyers whom they like than lawyers they don't like, even though the lawyers they don't like may be better lawyers.

(Insert your own profession if you're not a lawyer.)

[Deleted]

I dont have my own book of business

But I would agree.

[fuddyduddy]

I'm not a lawyer, but I think this is true in many settings.

[vegas]

I'm in house so no book of business, but I agree.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 17:29:55 GMT -5 vegas said:

I'm in house so no book of business, but I agree.

Ah, but execs certainly have their favorites.

I know ours do.

Where is my halo emoticon? LOL.

[IIOY]

Depends. I think this is accurate in most situations. However, I have known of businesses that opt for the asshole attorney either because they need someone who is willing to shamelessly bully the other side or stand their ground OR who is just so good that personality is overlooked. The latter category often includes attorneys with a lot of experience and considerable prior interactions with judges.

[vegas]

Oh yes, I have to agree. Halo emoticon x2.

[starlily]

Agree. I know that I am more prone to cut a deal for attorneys that are nice to me, so if I needed representation I would definitely want someone who wouldn't piss off the DA or judge.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 17:38:33 GMT -5 @blessed said:

Non lawyer also agreeing.

There are studies that show that people are far less likely to sue a doctor that they like even if the doctor did screw up over a doctor that they don't like.

Being likeable goes a long way and being a douche is something that people don't forget.

My friend represents doctors in malpractice suits and says they are ALL douches. haha

[Deleted]

for certain.

there are rare exceptions, but as a general rule people like to like the people to whom they pay insane sums of money to address their legal needs.

[Deleted]

Depends--if I'm doing estate planning I want someone nice but obviously competent.

If I'm charged with murder I want the best lawyer I can get. Who cares if I like her.

[cjeanette]

Not a lawyer but have I book of business and I very much agree. Have a co-worker who never gets referrals from other business lines at the bank we work at. Other's think he is a jerk and socially akward. Who want's to refer their client to that?

[thedutchgirl]

Agree. So much agree.

[Susie]

May 15, 2012 17:26:28 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

I dont have my own book of business

But I would agree.

+1

[nestbrenda]

ehhh false. I can think of several times we kept/hired attorneys that we didn't like, but were fantastic.

[Bob Loblaw]

Absolutely agree. Good lawyers generally aren't that difficult to find, and clients know that. They want someone they enjoy talking to. And eating/drinking with, in my experience.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 17:30:50 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

May 15, 2012 17:29:55 GMT -5 vegas said:

I'm in house so no book of business, but I agree.

Ah, but execs certainly have their favorites.

I know ours do.

Where is my halo emoticon? LOL.

Dude, totally. Fwiw, I have no problem wearing a skirt to get my way.

[Deleted]

A professional is more likely to refer business to a lawyer who they like. I have my own practice, and paid a legal marketing guru a lot of money basically learn that I'll get a lot of referrals if I get other professionals to like me (and obviously to also believe I'm competent.) Of course, he also gave me a lot of specific advice on how that's done.

Clients are a different story. A client wants a lawyer who will get the best result, and sometimes even prefer someone nasty, especially in my practice area (divorce).

However, the way to build a book of business in most practice areas is to build a solid network of referral sources, and being a likeable person is the key to doing this. The high asset client isn't going to google "divorce attorney" and hire the person with the pretty website. He is going to call up his CPA or estate planning attorney and ask for a referral.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 20:22:14 GMT -5 @envinoveritas said:

May 15, 2012 17:30:50 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Ah, but execs certainly have their favorites.

I know ours do.

Where is my halo emoticon? LOL.

Dude, totally. Fwiw, I have no problem wearing a skirt to get my way.

Dude. Gross.

I just make people laugh.

[lishie]

Agree. As a government lawyer, I have no book myself, but I'm often asked to recommend attorneys.

While I wouldn't recommend someone I feel is totally inept, I also won't recommend someone I think is an ass, even if they're amazing. I tend to recommend people with solid reputations who I like, and who I think the person asking me would get along with.

[rubytue]

Not a lawyer, but I work with them. I definitely have my favorite lawyers who I love to have on my project, and there are a couple that make me want to scream. And then there are those I like as people, but I'm not a fan of working with.

I have a meeting with one type 1, one type 3, and my technical staff in 2 hours. *sigh*

[midwest07]

May 15, 2012 19:37:45 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Generally agree. However, for some specific fields where the litigant wants to create havoc and act like and ass I think there can be exceptions (ie. some people seek out a divorce attorney specifically because they think he will be an ass to their exspouse).

I agree with this. There is a "domestic litigation" law firm that I think is nationwide or at least in most cities in the midwest, and you can tell by their radio ads that they are going to do whatever it takes. There may be other litigation situations where you don't care about whether you like the lawyer, you want them to be really aggressive which could translate into not being a nice person (though some people are totally different outside the courtroom/negotiations, etc).

But other than that, yes, I think you go with someone because you like them. Or if someone asks me for a referral for something I don't do, I will refer them to another attorney I like (but who I know to at least be competent though maybe not the very best).