Managing difficult clients—family law
Produced in partnership with Ursula Rice of Family First Solicitors Ltd
Practice notesManaging difficult clients—family law
Produced in partnership with Ursula Rice of Family First Solicitors Ltd
Practice notes
This Practice Note highlights issues that may arise with difficult clients in family law cases and the techniques that may be adopted to manage such clients together with related professional rules and potential capacity issues. It also considers the court’s approach to pseudo-legal arguments and misconceived legal submissions, which may originate with either a client or another party.
Family work is demanding in many ways that have nothing to do with the complexity of the relevant law and procedure. A client experiencing relationship breakdown may be distressed, distracted and unable to separate their emotional response to the situation from commercial or practical considerations. However, in the case load of every family lawyer, there may be clients who present particular and substantial challenges. Recognising such clients and tailoring an approach to them may save the lawyer from unnecessary complaints and the client from unnecessary costs.
Basics
Setting the scene with all clients at the outset of a case can help to manage expectations. A compassionate but emotionally neutral approach, with a focus on the legal issues,
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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts:
Key definition:
Pro forma definition
What does Pro forma mean?
Pro forma can refer to financial statements prepared ahead of a planned transaction such as an acquisition which include the anticipated result of the transaction (eg including estimated net revenues and synergies). In an accounting context, it refers to statements that exclude unusual or nonrecurring transactions.
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