Law Technology

Contract for Legal Services vs. Client Plan

By Andrew Flusche

I think it scares my clients when I ask them to sign a contract with me. Especially when they’re coming to me because they were just burned in a contract with someone else.

It’s partly my fault.

My previous contract was proudly titled: Contract for Legal Services. I was trying to be a good lawyer, explaining exactly what the document is about. It made sense to my rational brain.

But then I started thinking that maybe the title is daunting. I decided the title itself might be scaring clients.

I read a great article on alternative billing by Jim Calloway and Mark Robertson that talks about the idea of having a “Case Plan.” I love the idea! It present the contract as a roadmap for the work, instead of a scary legal agreement.

Since only some of my clients have actual litigation cases, I decided to call my document a “Client Plan.” That has the double-bonus of putting the focus on the client. My practice really is about serving the clients.

Yeah, this is a small detail. But small things add up. And little details can be huge improvements.

Photo by Sakurako Kitsa

Full post as published by Legal Andrew on October 19, 2008 (boomark / email).