http://www.davidhenderson.com/2011/11/28/the-downside-of-attorneys-dictating-communications-plans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-downside-of-attorneys-dictating-communications-plans Writer, communications strategist, Emmy Award winning former CBS News correspondent Tue, 22 May 2012 15:13:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.davidhenderson.com/2011/11/28/the-downside-of-attorneys-dictating-communications-plans/#comment-31928 Eric Mondschein Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:03:36 +0000 http://www.davidhenderson.com/?p=10453#comment-31928 The problem is not lawyers per se, but I submit the "buck stops" with those that employ them, or seek their counsel. The role of a lawyer is protect the interests and assets of his or her client. Unfortunately, many clients have deferred decision making to their attorney out of fear or just ignorance. Lawyers are professionals in the field of law not communications, public relations or just about anything else, but the law. Those who retain legal counsel must understand that it is their responsibility, not the lawyers, to make policy or strategy, and both need to acknowledge that the lawyer represents the client and serves the client, not vice versa. Therefore, it is up to the client to make clear what they wish to achieve and then ask the lawyer to make sure it can be done. Don't ask the lawyer to make your policy or develop your communication strategy, let them know what it is you want and then direct them to make sure it can legally be done and your interests are protected. Policy and/or strategy needs to be made by those with the knowledge and experience to make it. Lawyers are their to make sure your decisions can be defended and your interests protected. The same applies for communication strategies. It is not for your attorney to develop that strategy or game plan, it is for the lawyer to make sure once a client has developed a plan it can be defended and assets protected. Sometimes all parties seem to forget just who works for who. The problem is not lawyers per se, but I submit the “buck stops” with those that employ them, or seek their counsel. The role of a lawyer is protect the interests and assets of his or her client. Unfortunately, many clients have deferred decision making to their attorney out of fear or just ignorance. Lawyers are professionals in the field of law not communications, public relations or just about anything else, but the law. Those who retain legal counsel must understand that it is their responsibility, not the lawyers, to make policy or strategy, and both need to acknowledge that the lawyer represents the client and serves the client, not vice versa. Therefore, it is up to the client to make clear what they wish to achieve and then ask the lawyer to make sure it can be done. Don’t ask the lawyer to make your policy or develop your communication strategy, let them know what it is you want and then direct them to make sure it can legally be done and your interests are protected. Policy and/or strategy needs to be made by those with the knowledge and experience to make it. Lawyers are their to make sure your decisions can be defended and your interests protected. The same applies for communication strategies. It is not for your attorney to develop that strategy or game plan, it is for the lawyer to make sure once a client has developed a plan it can be defended and assets protected. Sometimes all parties seem to forget just who works for who.

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