Declined to Meet with a Prospective Client and His Mother

The more you practice you can pinpoint those cases that you will regret taking or the one's that you say "I knew better." When you are new and growing your practice you take on those cases for the challenge, sometimes and most time for the additional income.

Several years ago I would have taken this case but not now. This is my 11th year of law practice, 7 years as solo and I get a "gut feeling" when there is going to be trouble with a representation.

A mother contacted me about representing her son, who is studying for his RN Boards. The son did not disclose a criminal conviction to the Board as required. I agreed to meet with the mother and son asap. The son is an adult in his early twenties. The mother contacted me several times after I spoke with her initially and several times the next day, just a few hours before the consultation.

When I spoke with the mother, she was agitated and asking me for legal advice about how her son should proceed. I indicated we are meeting soon and we can discuss this. The mother became agitated and informed me "I wasn't answering the question asked."

I informed the mother I was not available for the consultation or representation and that she could have the son contact me and I would refer him to another licensure defense attorney. I abruptly ended the conversation with the mother.

I have this issue now in case where a parent wants to be overly involved in the legal representation and I have to remind the parent that I represent the nurse regardless of who pays for my representation.

I declined to meet with the prospective client and his mother. I can imagine this parent calling me two or four times a week for case updates in an administrative law case and second guessing my legal advice and counseling provided to her child. No sir re bob, not me. Been there, done it and not doing it again. Its not worth it!

As a self-employed nurse attorney and small business owner, of course I could use the money generated from the legal consultation and/or representation. But I decline.....