What is the Client Communication Pledge?
The Center for Legal Solution's Client Communication Pledge simply expresses an attorney's a commitment to promptly return phone calls from his or her clients.
Clients are often frustrated by their attorney's failure to promptly return phone calls. They may assume their case is being neglected or that their attorney does not respect them enough to return their calls. This frustration undermines trust between attorney and client. In some cases, lack of communication can destroy the attorney-client relationship. We believe that the simple courtesy of prompting returning phone calls would greatly improve public perception of lawyers and reduce the incidence of legal malpractice lawsuits.
The Center for Legal Solution's Client Communication Pledge is an aspirational commitment by attorneys to honor their clients' trust and confidence. The Pledge states:
I recognize that the relationship between attorney and client is a special, privileged relationship. Maintaining that relationship requires good communication practices by an attorney and his or her law office.
My office will endeavor to return client phone calls within one business day. Client phone calls will be returned by me personally or someone in my office who is accountable to me.
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Pledge is outward expression of a positive belief. The Pledge is not a contract nor is it a professional standard of care. The Pledge is limited to client phone calls as the proliferation of instant messaging makes a commitment to respond to all emails, text messages and the like impractical.
While we would like to think our Pledge so compelling that no attorney will dissent, we expect less than universal agreement on this matter. Maintaining client communications may be more of a burden than some attorneys can bear, but we believe that potential clients will appreciate an honest effort in this regard.
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