As part of my job, I regularly provide consultations to prospective clients. It is an opportunity for us to meet each other, for me to hear about their current circumstances, provide some advice, and ultimately, for the prospective client to decide whether or not they want to hire me.
In many cases, the prospective client and I speak on the telephone first. I gather some initial information, and then we schedule a time for the prospective client to come to my office to continue the conversation.
However, I experience a high rate of no-shows. I estimate that 1 in 4 people who schedule an appointment with me will never show up. This always confounds me. I could understand a high rate of no-shows if I were cold-calling people to come in for a divorce consultation. But that’s not what happens. People proactively call me, spend time telling me about their divorce case, schedule an appointment on my calendar, and then just never show up.
In reality, I do know why this happens. No one wants to meet with a divorce lawyer. It is stressful. It is nerve-wracking. The prospective client is afraid of what I might have to say. And, more than anything, it is an acknowledgement that their marriage is over. No one wants to admit that.
I recently had a consultation that reminded me of this. The emotion in this person’s voice and face was palpable. I talk with people about divorce all the time. It’s my job. It’s what I do. For me, it was just another day at the office. But for this person, sitting in my conference room and explaining to me that they had just been served with divorce papers was probably one of the most stressful things they have ever had to do.
It’s easy for me to forget that. But, it explains why so many people schedule appointments and then don’t show up. It’s just too difficult. So, if you find yourself sitting in your car in the parking lot of a lawyer’s office, and you can’t get up the strength to go inside, just know that you are not alone.
Meet Marc Beyer
Marc Beyer practices in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, and property division. Marc’s philosophy is to negotiate the best settlement possible, but he is prepared to go to trial when necessary. Recognizing that every situation is unique, Marc takes pride in listening to his client’s concerns, and creates goals, expectations, and case strategy for the client accordingly.
Contact Beyer & Simonson
If you are facing divorce and any of the divorce-related issues such as spousal maintenance, child support, child custody, property division, or domestic abuse matters, you need our experienced Minneapolis divorce attorneys to help you. Contact Beyer & Simonson in Edina, Minnesota today at (952) 303-6007.
