By the time a potential client has reached out to your law firm, your working relationship has already started. They may have stumbled upon your blog when searching for answers to a pressing legal question, or they may have decided to call you after reading several favorable online reviews about your services. Whatever factors influenced their decision to contact you, it’s clear that they made a good initial impression. Now, it’s up to you to solidify this favorable impression. Here are a few tips to ensure that you continue to inspire trust from your clients.
Listen First
When a new client approaches you with a legal issue, it’s natural to want to reassure them and demonstrate your ability to help them achieve their desired outcome. However, clients want to know that you’re genuinely interested in listening to their specific concerns and not simply offering them generic advice. During your initial meeting, try to listen as much as you can. By allowing your client to guide the conversation, they’re more likely to view you as a trusted legal professional who genuinely cares about their needs.
Provide Honest Answers
While it’s important to make clients feel comfortable as they navigate their legal challenges, be upfront with them about their options. Sometimes, it’s tempting to tell clients what they want to hear—but this can backfire and ultimately portray you as untrustworthy. Instead, go over realistic strategies and help them understand all possible outcomes, even if they are not all favorable. Your clients will respect your honesty and willingness to be straightforward with them. Over time, your reputation as a trustworthy attorney will continue to grow throughout your community, eventually driving up business.
Share Your Game Plan
During your first meeting with a new client, actively listening and making your client feel like they are in good hands is essential. Additionally, you’ll want to show that you have a game plan moving forward. Clients respond best to attorneys who walk them through their legal options so that both the attorney and client know what to expect. You don’t need to dive immediately into highly detailed plans—just provide a general outline to help your client understand your proposed course of action and why you believe this strategy best serves their needs. Your client will likely come away from this meeting feeling confident in your ability to help them successfully navigate their legal matter.
Reach out to the LegalRev team today at (800) 893-2590 to talk more about your law firm’s digital marketing goals.
