Effectively vetting clients is one of the more important things you can do as a law firm owner, because those bad clients can haunt you for years and years. The best policy is to never take them on.
But, what are the signs you should be looking for?
Here’s a list of potential clients to avoid:
-Potential clients who have worked with more than 1 other lawyer, especially with respect to the matter they want to hire you for.
-Potential clients who ask for discounts, or don’t pay promptly. (Asking a lead to pay for a consultation is a good way to test their bona fides.)
-Potential clients who seem to think they understand the law better than you do.
-Potential clients who ‘overshare’ on the web, including via social channels. (A thoroughly modern problem.)
-Potential clients who contact you incessantly, including outside of work hours, with the expectation of an immediate response.
You’ll likely be able to develop a larger list of ‘red flags’, unique to your own experience – but, this catalogue can become a good starting point for you, in your quest to better vet your leads.