Do You Have to Act for a Difficult Client?

Do you have to act for a difficult client?  The short answer is "no".  The answer is simple, but sometimes difficult to apply in practice because you might:
  • not immediately identify the client as being difficult;
  • worry that turning away any client is bad for business;
  • feel passionate about the client's cause and fail to consider the consequences of acting for the client; or
  • think that you can handle a difficult client.
 
While it may sometimes be difficult for some clients to find legal representation, remember that if the case has merit, someone will represent them.  As each client has different personality traits, so do lawyers. There may be others who are more experienced, who have a particular expertise or who have different personality traits that will affect how they represent the client.  Keep these factors in mind when considering whether to act for a difficult client.