The dangers of an unknown or phantom client are numerous as outlined in the recent article, Beware perils posed by the phantom client (January 17, 2014 issue of The Lawyers Weekly).  The best advice to avoid such situations is:

The key is being very proactive. If somebody starts talking to you about a legal problem at a party and you give them what could be construed as advice, you have to document the encounter and send them a letter saying, ‘we talked about your legal problem but I am not your lawyer unless you retain me in the usual fashion. Nothing we talk about will be considered confidential unless you retain me as your lawyer…’

For more reading on use of engagement and non-engagement letters to ward off the perils of the phantom client, see:

• The rules of non-engagement
• Best practices: Engagement letters

A recent survey found that the unhappiest workers in America were associate attorneys. Legal assistants ranked seventh in unhappiness according to the survey. 

These distressing statistics are included in Linda K. Robertson’s recent blog post, Practising Law with Joy. Robertson notes that the key to practicing law with joy is ensuring your work aligns with your core values:

Where our work is not in alignment with our core values this can create so much internal stress and unhappiness that no amount of good practice habits or money or prestige will make up for it.

She also points to some resources lawyers (and support staff) may wish to draw upon in addressing career dissatisfaction.

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