The other day a new client called to cancel an appointment with herself and her mother. They were going to come in to talk about planning because her father is showing signs of dementia and has been running up credit cards buying unnecessary stuff on shopping shows on TV. She cancelled the appointment because her mother wants to get her house in order before she comes in. She’s embarrassed by the credit card debt and her loss of control in general. Unfortunately, some clients, especially older clients, find lawyers intimidating. Of course, some of us can be intimidating. When you get into litigation you want a real fighter in your corner.But elder law attorneys are a different breed. While most of us don’t have any training as social workers, what we do sometimes overlaps with their role as we deal with family issues and public benefit programs.
Clients sometimes feel embarrassed to meet with a lawyer and reveal their “dirty laundry.” They shouldn’t; lawyers have “seen it all before.”
Further, like therapists and priests, lawyers are bound by a duty of confidentiality. We cannot divulge what our clients tell us or other information we gain in the course of representation unless they expressly give us permission to do so. In some ways, the lawyers duty of confidentiality is even stronger than that of therapists, doctors and ministers.
Finally, whatever you’re experiencing, we’ve probably seen before. And while whatever challenges you may be facing — legal, financial, relational — may seem insurmountable to you, our job is to find a way of improving the situation.
So, come on in and let’s talk!
