Quote:
Originally Posted by EE-BO
People like you and me don't get paid 3 digits an hour to just do what our client wants. A big part of earning our fee is in guiding our clients through that decision process to help them understand what is in their best interests.
|
I'm not going to address the other parts of your argument, as kddani and RC have done a far better job than I would have; as a 1L, with them actually seeing this in practice, I'll leave it up to them.
However, I caught this part of your statement, which seems in line with comments from a couple of other posters on this board. Attorneys aren't just running up client bills for the heck of it; they have ethical regulations they agree to when they take the bar for a certain state, ethical standards they have to fulfill whenever they practice. A big part of this is, as you noted in your own profession, counselling a client on what's best for him, her, or his/her business.
This doesn't only mean pursuing long, expensive litigation. A lot of times, it could mean warning someone that the costs of litigation won't be worth the final result. It could mean going to alternative dispute resolution, mediation, or dropping things altogether, based on what the client's ultimate decision.
Your hypotheticals could include such variables as, a client who really does not want to pursue long litigation, or a smaller practitioner without access to a number of resources, etc.
It seems your comments come down more to an ethical level, so I (even as a lowly 1L) felt compelled to comment.