Client Guidance

Frequently asked questions

Compiled by the associates. Reviewed by Margaret. Shortened by Margaret.

Is this legal?

The firm does not practice law and its partners are not attorneys, a distinction our letterhead works hard to preserve. Declining a brunch is not a crime in any jurisdiction we monitor, and we monitor several.

Are the excuses true?

They are corroborated, which is a sturdier quality. A true excuse can be undermined by circumstance. A corroborated one has paperwork.

What if someone checks?

We hope they do. Verification is where the engagement dossier earns its fee. The dental office has a receptionist. The receptionist has a voice. The voice has been rehearsed.

Can you get me out of something I organized?

Yes. These matters are billed at a premium and staffed by our most senior people, several of whom find them the most rewarding work of their careers.

Do you handle funerals?

No. The firm maintains a short list of obligations it considers genuinely mandatory, and it will tell you, gently, when yours is on it. Attendance is occasionally the correct professional advice.

What does the corroborating witness actually do?

They corroborate. Where, when, and to whom is set out in your engagement letter. Retainer clients receive one witness per calendar year; unused witnesses do not roll over, and they would prefer you not think of them as unused.

Can I meet my witness beforehand?

You already have. That is rather the point.

What happens if I decide to attend after all?

Nothing. The dossier is quietly retired, the witness stands down, and the firm bills the matter as concluded. Several clients report that knowing they could leave made staying almost pleasant. The firm makes no promises in this area.

Has an excuse ever failed?

Once, in 2011. The matter is settled, the client has a new book club, and the associate responsible now teaches our ethics module.

Will you confirm that my neighbor is a client?

The firm never confirms nor denies any engagement. Your neighbor asked us the same thing about you.

A question we have not anticipated?

Unlikely, though the intake form accepts all surprises.

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