Random thought as I reach the anniversary of three years as an appellate lawyer. The #1 complaint I hear from clients about their experience with trial lawyers (not those coming from Bottos Law Group - we make communication a priority) is lack of communication.

Clients routinely express how they didn't understand what was happening to them, and why lawyers were doing what they were doing. They also complained about how often their lawyers did not return their calls.

I've made it a priority in my own practice to remind myself (regularly) that most clients don't know how things work in the courts & need to have it explained regularly. Whatever step I take is prefaced by a conversation w/ the client about what I'm doing & why.

I don't think this is anything revolutionary or special. But when I speak to a client (like I did yesterday) who is overwhelmed with gratitude about something this basic - not the first time - it reminds me that too many lawyers have forgotten or never learned this lesson.