Lynda ArtesaniLegal Accountant and Data Migration Specialist at The Proper Trust

Clear Communication - The Key to Avoiding Scope Creep

22 Oct 2024 · 1 min

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Clear communication from the start prevents scope creep in client-attorney relationships. An engagement letter must spell out exactly what services are included and excluded. When clients and lawyers assume they understand each other without explicit agreement, misunderstandings and unexpected work follow.

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It all comes down to the communication between us and the client. If it's us that we're talking about, same thing for the attorneys, right? They have to have clear communication. They have to have a good engagement letter. You have to spell it out, what is included, what's not included. I mean, those are the things that are so important when you start an engagement with the client, and you're setting the table for the whole relationship with the client. So you have to set clear expectations. And let's face it, we don't speak the same language. I think sometimes we just kind of assume they know, but then all of a sudden you find out they— whoa, they don't know. And then it can cause a world of hurt.