Why Direct Communication Between Attorney and Client Matters in Family Law
Don’t settle for silence—your attorney should speak with you, not around you.
When someone hires a family law attorney, they aren’t just looking for legal guidance—they are often going through one of the most difficult and emotional times of their life. Divorce, custody disputes, adoptions, or termination of parental rights are not just “cases.” They are deeply personal matters with lasting effects on families and children.
That’s why I believe one of the most important aspects of practicing family law is direct communication between the attorney and the client—not just through support staff or paralegals. While a strong legal team is valuable, clients deserve to hear directly from the person advocating for them.
Here’s why making sure my clients hear directly from me on a consistent basis matters:
Open communication allows clients to feel heard, supported, and reassured. Trust is built when clients know their attorney is invested in their case, not just passing along updates through staff. Your attorney should remember that this is your real life, that when the attorney goes home at the end of the day, the client is still going through a very tough transition in their life.
That is why I make it a priority for my client to hear from me on a consistent basis. So the person I represent truly feels supported by the attorney they hired to help them. I treat my client like a person, not billable time or money.
Family law involves tough choices. By speaking directly with clients, attorneys can explain the reasoning behind strategies, answer questions thoroughly, and ensure clients truly understand the next steps. Tired of hearing from paralegals and other support staff that they cannot answer that question because it must come from the attorney? Well, there you are waiting to hear back from the attorney you hired. Although that can be frustrating, legal information must come from the attorney and only the attorney. That is why a strong, communicative relationship between the attorney and client is so important. So your questions can be answered and answered in a timely manner.
My clients have multiple ways to contact me; their client portal, email or my direct work line — because majority of the time questions arise when you least expect it or when real life throws a curve ball at you and you need guidance.
No paralegal or assistant can replace the compassion a client feels when their attorney takes the time to call, listen, and acknowledge their emotions. Sometimes, a client doesn’t need legal jargon—they need to know their advocate is walking this road with them.
Clients are people first and that is what remains at the forefront at Balbach & Davenport Legal. Each person deserves an attorney who is willing to put the time in, not just in court. Now this can be a fine line for some attorneys to walk because we are not licensed therapist. However, it is not impossible to show empathy and support while also advocating for someone!
Direct conversations keep clients informed and confident in the process. It shows clients that their attorney is actively engaged, responsive, and accountable for the case outcome. From beginning to end, clients want reassurance that their attorney has not forgotten about them. Maintaining communication between the attorney and client helps the person feel seen, heard, and have a peace of mind. It provides accountability and confidence for the client.
At the end of the day, clients hire attorneys—not law firms, not staff. While having a support team is essential to making law firms run smoothly, I believe it’s my responsibility to personally communicate with my clients, answer their concerns, and make sure they know they are never just a case file. Each person deserves an attorney who is willing to communicate with them directly, as family law is about people, not paperwork, and people deserve to be heard by the person they’ve trusted to fight for them.
