How Lawyers Keep Initial Case Outcomes Private

In the law field, lawyers often appear as superheroes who can tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation. But in reality, that’s not valid. Many movies also try to validate this point, thus misleading those outside the legal system. But with this article, we will elaborate on the peculiarities of why would a good lawyer not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation.

Furthermore, lawyers are trained experts who usually offer legal advice and aid to all clients who desire their services. They can also influence the final result of a case, but telling their clients about the result may be impossible due to some reasons. Some of these have been elaborated below. Come along as we highlight these.

How Lawyers Keep Initial Case Outcomes Private

Some of these reasons include:

The restrictions of the law

The first reason why a good lawyer would not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation is due to the restrictions of the law. This prevents lawyers from influencing the outcome of a case via unethical means.

This further restricts them from altering the facts regarding the case. Rather, they solely depend on the evidence available about the case, as well as the final decision of the judge. Thus, it would be quite difficult for them to accurately tell a client regarding the outcome of the case.

He is aware that the case may not end in the client’s favor and doesn’t want to break the sad news to them

If a lawyer is aware that the case may not end in the client’s favor and doesn’t want to break the sad news to them, he can keep it discreet upon the initial consultation. The lawyer can also choose this path if he is terrible at communicating such issues or saddening information.

The lawyer feels he doesn’t have enough expertise to handle the case

Another reason why a good lawyer would not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation is due to their inability to handle the case.

If a lawyer feels he doesn’t have enough expertise to handle the case, he may decide to be discreet regarding the outcome of the case. At this point, the lawyer can refer the client to a more experienced lawyer, while discontinuing with the case. This referral process is a normal and legal practice in the legal field.

You are not the actual client in the case

If you are not the actual client in the case, a good lawyer will not tell you how the case will come out at the initial consultation. This is a common practice to respect the privacy of the main client regarding the case. In legal terms, this is called attorney-client privilege.

The client is not heeding his instructions

Every lawyer usually sets up initial consultation meetings with their potential clients. And this helps both parties to decide if they can work on the case as a team.

Thus, a good lawyer would not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation if the client is not heeding his instructions. Some lawyers may also discontinue with the case at this point, to avoid complications as the case progresses.

My Opinion

In conclusion, lawyers are trained professionals who work diligently to offer valuable advice to their clients and represent them in court. But on the other hand, some reasons may prevent them from telling their clients how their case will come out at the initial consultation.

These have been explicitly highlighted above. In the event of any confusion as a client, it’s best to dialogue effectively with your lawyer during the initial consultation phase.

References

• Boon, Andrew; Lawyers and the Rule of Law: https://books.google.com.ng/books?id=G0aGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA215&redir_esc=y
• American Bar Association; Model Code of Professional Responsibility: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/legal_ethics