Notes from the New Generation — June Edition

Dear Counsel,

I met with a potential client for the first time a few weeks ago and discussed at length a legal issue she was facing. As she sat there across from me I could feel the nervousness seeping from her seat. As much as I wanted to lay out the strategy and legality behind her case, I decided to take the approach of an advisor and hear her concerns. 

We chatted for a moment about the facts of the case and what was on her mind. She conveyed her concerns and I tried my best to address them. We exchanged a few laughs and throughout the conversation I did my best to ease her nerves about how her case would likely play out. Instead of it being an interview of whether or not I’d take her case, I turned it into a simple conversation as if we were two friends talking. Just as our meeting came to an end, she paused and said something that’s honestly stuck with me ever since. 

“It’s so refreshing to sit with a woman attorney.” 

At first, I smiled and thanked her. At the moment, it just seemed like a mere compliment and I didn’t think much of it. But after the conversation and as I was reviewing her case, I sat and thought a bit more about the interaction, I realized it wasn’t really about me being a woman. It was about what she felt from me during our time discussing together. 

As she expressed her concerns to me, despite it being the first time we met, she felt heard, and more importantly she felt like someone genuinely cared about what she was going through. 

As lawyers, we spend years studying and dissecting the law. We learn how to craft flawless arguments, negotiate settlements to their max capacity, and advocate for our clients effortlessly. And don’t get me wrong, those skills are absolutely essential as a great attorney. But the longer I practice, the more I realize that clients are not simply hiring a law degree, they’re hiring a person who they trust with possibly the worst time of their lives. 

So many clients seek the guidance of an attorney after experiencing great loss, anxiety, or fear. It makes sense that although oftentimes our clients are seeking someone who is sharp and knows the law like the back of their hand, they also just want some reassurance that everything will be okay. Oftentimes, this looks like answering calls, providing feedback, and being there for your client, as a professional first but also, in a way, as a friend. This is what it means to be the greatest advocate of your clients. 

When I was first sworn in, I thought that I needed to turn the emotions off immediately, that my empathy might be my “kryptonite” in some sense. We’re often taught to keep that tough exterior when it comes to our cases and that having too much empathy can steer you away from the end goal of getting the case done. 

Instead, I now see empathy as my superpower. 

Empathy means recognizing that behind every case is a human whose life has been impacted. It means that although this may just be another case on our desk, this is someone’s entire life. 

Clients definitely need smart attorneys who can complete a case with success. However, the best feedback that I’ve gotten from clients isn’t much about how my firm has handled their case when it came to legal strategy. Instead, they tell me they felt supported, listened to, cared for and most of all, respected. Above all, this means the most to me. 

This feedback from clients reminds me that the practice of law is a profession of service, and it truly recharges my batteries knowing the help I’ve been able to provide to a client stays with them for the long run. 

As new lawyers, we often focus on developing our skills, building our resumes, and advancing our careers into the next level. Those goals are important and truly critical for us new attorneys. 

With that counselor, my advice for all of us this month is to never underestimate the impact of simply being present for the people we serve. Your empathy is your superpower, and with a generation of empathetic lawyers, we will truly be unstoppable. And as for your clients they remember it, and in turn, they’ll remember you. 

Until next time, 

Steph, Esq.