A client not understanding a complex legal concept doesn’t mean it wouldn’t benefit them. It simply means they don’t know enough about it to make an informed decision. That’s where lawyers and other legal experts come in. They must clearly communicate the benefits of a particular concept and how it would apply to them and their unique situation. However, relaying legal information in layperson’s terms isn’t every lawyer’s strong point. If you’re struggling with this very problem, you might find the below advice helpful:
Avoid Legal Jargon
Lawyers from reputable law firms like Blake Harris Law have a great deal of knowledge of complex legal terms they use to help their clients in myriad ways. For example, they know the complexities of equity stripping asset protection and its benefits for people trying to protect their assets from creditors.
Mention this term to someone not familiar with it, and they may not think it’s right for them. That’s likely because they don’t understand what it means. However, if you or another law firm were to explain the same idea without using such complex legal jargon, they might be much more willing to hear what you have to say.
Use Analogies and Metaphors
Everyday people may not understand complicated legal analogies, but they tend to understand what’s happening around them. You might be able to explain some of the most complex legal strategies using analogies and metaphors.
Use examples of everyday situations to get your point across in a way anyone, regardless of their profession or intelligence, can understand. Such is the efficacy of this strategy that it’s becoming commonplace in courtrooms. Social cognition researchers have found that lawyers may be able to achieve their goals with judges and juries by using metaphors to change how they interpret situations and new information.
Break Them Down Into Action Steps
Telling your clients you’ll use a particular legal strategy to help them might seem overwhelming to them if they don’t understand it as a whole. However, you might stand a better chance of having your clients appreciate your intentions if you break down that strategy into action steps you’ll take.
Present your information sequentially so they can see the process and understand what will occur. You can also include details of what you’ll take care of and the tasks they’ll need to handle themselves.
Create Visual Aids
You might develop the same legal solutions for your clients every day, but your own awareness doesn’t equal client awareness. Visual aids for complex but standard legal terms can be a straightforward way to streamline your explanations and ensure client understanding.
You can take the most basic information and turn it into infographics, charts, and diagrams to show how easy something is at a fundamental level. You might also print multiple copies for clients to take home so they can learn more independently.
Show Real-World Examples
Clients might not understand how a complex legal term relates to their own situation, but there’s a chance they might have seen it played out in someone else’s public legal situation. If you know of any famous people or celebrities whose legal teams have used a strategy you plan on implementing, share that information with your clients. If they can learn more about it through reading news articles and watching videos, they might form a better understanding of what you plan on doing for them.
Explaining complex legal terms is undoubtedly challenging, especially when you’re so used to speaking in legal jargon with your peers. However, if you take these actions above, you might find it much easier to ensure your clients are well-informed and confident about the strategies you’ll use to help them.
