Have you ever considered how the legal process impacts clients on a personal level? Most law firm clients score above 300 on the Social Readjustment Scale and have an 80% chance of becoming ill–adding to their existing stressors.
Consulting an attorney isn’t exactly an item on anyone’s list of enjoyable activities. Imagine the litigation experience for clients without a legal background.
Much of the legal process is designed to be intimidating and adversarial. It also demands a lot of time, money, and resources. Add the confusing formalities and technical language, and even the most confident person can develop fears and self-doubt.
While lawyers might find confidence knowing that worst-case scenarios are statistically unlikely, clients’ fears can destroy their confidence and peace.
Understanding the emotional journey of clients might be more important than our legal knowledge. By acknowledging their unique human experiences, we can foster comprehensive conflict resolution and empower them to advocate for peaceful resolutions in all areas of their lives.
What Can Lawyers Do to Improve the Client Experience?
Are your clients feeling the weight of litigation’s emotional toll? Perhaps it’s time to mediate.
Nance L. Schick and ProLawCLE have partnered on one of her favorite courses. Originally presented for Lawline, this course reminds attorneys and paralegals of the emotional costs of litigation. Among other things, Nance intricately explores the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in relationship to various litigation matters. Integrating these psychological insights into various legal scenarios, she shows how mediation can lead to profound resolutions that litigation might miss.
Course Overview
This course will allow participants to:
- Define conflicts that arise between best and actual practices
- Identify their clients’ full range of interests
- Co-create a more complete settlement strategy
- Execute that strategy effectively in mediation