Dear John
With the internet, the first interview with a
client can be like a tutorial on the subject of their legal issue. I find it
very enlightening, but wish to return to the days when I gave insightful
comments rather than just listening attentively and looking it up later.
M.
Dear M
I have known clients to painstakingly research the
law on the internet only to find it had changed by the time that they got to my
office. After spending hours trawling the internet, I believe clients have a
better understanding of what we have had to put up with. They are relieved when
I refuse to trot out the usual legal claptrap and instead focus on their issue.
I seldom use law at all, and rely
on the Art of War by Sun Tzu, which is a manual on warfare written 2,500 years
ago. It is a sort of Quentin Tarantino version of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.
The Art of War is extremely effective in planning
strategies but combine its authority with the benefit of hindsight and you will
once again find yourself offering sage, insightful comments to appreciative
clients.
What clients do not want to hear that their
previous lawyer had disastrously and expensively laid a prolonged siege rather
than rushing forward to secure a quick victory, or had rushed forward rather
than adopting safer ground until the time was right?
I first started to use the Art of War to convince
trainee lawyers that everything was their fault as any discussion with them
involving law always left me feeling that I was to blame.
Once you are known as an Art of War Practitioner
other lawyers may no longer feel smug at your inaction as appearing to do
nothing is the ultimate deception. You will feel a general euphoria that
however bad things may appear, a brilliant unfathomable plan is at work and will
come to you eventually.
At thirteen chapters, the Art of War is a far
easier read than the entire common law, and you will be pleased to know that
there was no Latin in Ancient China.
J.F.
Extract from - I'll have the law on you -selected letters of John Fytit to be published later this year.
(c) Paul Brennan 2014. All rights reserved.
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