Laura Copp, founding attorney of The Law Office of Laura E. Copp, shares why she works so hard to be accessible to her clients and to make sure they’re on the same page at the outset of each case she takes on.
Three Things You’ll Learn:
- The importance of making yourself available to clients
- Why setting expectations from the beginning is important
- The benefit of being fluid when times are changing
From History to Law
Laura didn’t always have her sights set on becoming an attorney. She first pursued a degree in history in hopes of becoming a history teacher, only to realize quite quickly that was not for her. It was then that she decided to go to law school, leading her to where she is today.
Laura describes how her first boss’s hands-off management style helped her grow as an attorney and form opinions about helping less experienced lawyers. Since she was allowed to guide her own cases and make her own decisions, Laura was able to understand firsthand what it takes to run a successful law office.
Being Fluid While Times are Changing
Laura believes attorneys should be willing and able to change with times, especially during a year that has been so significantly disrupted. By keeping her doors open and being available past standard business hours, she has been able to take on the cases that her competitors could not.
Setting Expectations from the Beginning
When meeting with a new client, Laura says it’s important to give things to them straight. Set expectations from the start and make sure they realize which goals are realistic and which are unattainable. Clients need to know what to expect, even if it isn’t exactly what they want to hear.
“I never go into a consultation saying, ‘I am going to get you everything you want.’”
With over-promising comes a greater opportunity for disappointment. Laura encourages attorneys to share what they can’t control and explain the options that are available. If your client has reasonable goals, it will make for a smoother transaction overall.
Making Yourself Available
Laura makes sure that all means of contacting her firm go directly to her. By taking every call herself, she ensures complete control over the level of care her clients receive. She describes how important it is to be available and to remember that you’re helping people through some of the toughest times in their lives.
“I have found that if I am the person answering the phone, then that person is more likely to hire me.”