Improving Lawyer-Client Relationships (LEG00152)

Overview

Delivery method

Virtual classroom

Duration

1.5 hours

Audience

Legal Professionnals

Description

Please note that this course is open to Justice Canada legal professionals only (lawyers, notaries who are members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and paralegals).

This course provides an overview of the importance for all legal professionals at Justice to effectively communicate issues in an interested-based manner to clients. It was specifically developed for counsel and paralegals providing legal advice directly to client departments and agencies, with a focus on interest-based communication between counsel and clients.

Interest-based communication in lawyer-client relationships emphasizes understanding the client's underlying concerns, needs, and goals when providing legal advice. This also involves recognizing and addressing emotions—what makes us human—since stress, frustration, or other negative emotions can affect communication. Interest-based communication means being firm on legal issues while remaining empathetic to the client’s emotions. While legal counsel cannot change the law or facts to suit the client's preferences, the way legal advice is communicated can significantly impact trust and the client’s decision-making process.

The course includes a toolbox for interest-based communication between counsel and clients, along with practical examples that will assist participants in fostering effective relationships with their clients.

*Lawyers also includes notaries.

Topics covered

• Overview of the course objectives
• What is interest-based lawyer-client communication? An introduction to the "interest-based" or "principled" model inspired by the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation to foster effective lawyer-client relationships
• Key stages of effective lawyer-client communication
• Two types of communicators: the role of a legal advisor vs. a strategic advisor in managing client expectations
• Managing difficult conversations and emotions in legal communication
• Building trust with clients to foster client-centric delivery of legal services

Registration deadline: 5 working days prior to the course date.

Participants are responsible for adding their training activities to their Outlook calendars.

Accommodation measures: The Department of Justice is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free learning environment. If you have any accessibility needs in order to fully participate in the training activity, please contact your manager to discuss your needs. You may also call upon the services of the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness to help identify what type of accommodation measures you require.

For more information: Contact the Centre for Legal Education Services.

For information about the continuing professional development (CPD) hours for this course, please consult the 2025 Accreditation Summary.

Click here for the 2024 Accreditation Summary.

If you have questions concerning the accreditation process, please contact our accreditation team by email (Accreditations@justice.gc.ca).