I’m having central air installed in my office.  The contractors originally told me that it will take 1 week to finish the job.  That was 3 weeks ago and now I’m upset even though it’s 55 degrees outside and I have no need for air conditioning.  The reason why I’m upset is because they have seriously failed my expectations.

I get calls for uncontested divorces and I often get asked the question, how long will it take.  I tell them it takes about 5-6 months.  Some people are shocked and tells me that other attorneys they’ve called tells them it’ll be done in a month or two.  That is simply  not possible because the Judgment Nisi period is 4 months alone for a uncontested divorce here in Massachusetts.  What those attorneys are quoting is simply the time it takes from intake to when the clients get to go to court.  But that wasn’t the client’s question.  The question was when would they be divorced.

As an attorney, how do you make sure that you don’t make the mistake of my contractors or some of these attorneys?  Give clients a realistic and overly conservative estimate of cost and time.  If you’re taking a retainer for a case, and you expect the case to cost $4000, tell them that there’s a chance it might be $8000 or $10000 depending on what happens.  If you think that the case will take 4 months to complete, tell them 4 months or better yet, tell them 6 months.  The worst thing you can do is underestimate your price and time from the beginning because your clients will think that you have failed them if you don’t live up to those standards you first set for yourself.  If you quote them realistically and conservatively, you’ll exceed their expectations every time!