El blog de Maria

Pal Eklund said:
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:27 AM

Maria, this is really a good idea! Many lawyers have for a very long time been hiding behind old class barriers and formalism to protect there personal interests at the expense of their clients. Open debate and sound criticism would change this. Let the clients tell about their experiences!

Maria said:
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:32 AM

Pal:

I fully agree with you. Thanks for your comment!

Maria

Anne said:
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 4:43 PM

Maria,
I tend to think that if you provided clients with details of dates that lawsuits/appeals etc were actually submitted and the dates that rulings were received, together with PDF copies of the rulings for clients to retain for their own records as they are issued, that many of the misunderstandings or vulnerabilites associated with where their cases were up to in the legal process would be minimised. If you provided this evidence as standard practice for all clients then greater transparency would have been achieved.
If you retained this detail on your database (which you may already have) you could also automate the facility to identify those cases that have been subjected to abusive delays (or mistakes!) whereupon you could take action which you may deem appropriate. Just as one example, you could submit a standard note to clients to advise that you are aware of the problem but are taking action to resolve it. For e.g. placing a written complaint to courts/CGPJ etc (with copy to the client), again as standard practice.
Perhaps you are already doing some of this in practice, but without firm evidence, clients have no way of knowing how proactive you are being on their part...
I can't help feeling that given the past history of law firms not looking after the best interests of clients that they need this evidence as reassurance. Many who have come to you as clients may well have done so having fallen foul of previous law firms/developers/banks malpractice etc, so it is understandable why they feel vulnerable and need evidence to act as reassurance!
If these processes could be automated they would relieve you as a law firm from being subjected to clients requesting information over and over again.
Evidence of this nature would not only provide practical reassurance for your clients, but faith in a well organised and transparent law firm.
Also the delays within the justice system have to be addressed, as they are becoming an embarrassment let alone compromising clients, and we see very little action on the part of law firms to address these major problems in any practical and co-ordinated way from within the professional bodies.
It's as though everyone bemoans the situation but nobody takes action in any co-ordinated way to correct it.
I hope this helps in some way and please know that we are grateful for this open debate.

Maria said:
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:15 PM

Anne:
Thanks a lot!!!
Yes, work involved on providing info to clients is so challenging and it is always open to improvements.
I would appreciate if you emailed me with a list of the documents you would like to have available as we are starting to regain again funds and sources for the improvement of clients service.
We could also finally finish the autoupdate system.
Please, send the list over as we are willing to work on this type of things.
Kindest and again thanks,
Maria
PS.- More suggestions??

Ian Brierly said:
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 9:49 AM

Hi Maria, as a client of yours i think the fact that your lack of infomation when we email and ask a question seems to be a problem,as we dont allways(never) understand the spanish legal system,please dont take this the wrong way more as trying to help. Back in the uk we are used to a far more formal way of dealing with solicitors,again please dont take this as criticism. Iam sure you have everybodys best interest in mind being a professional person.

Regards Ian Brierly

Ian Brierly said:
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:03 AM

Hi Maria, as a client of yours i think the fact that your lack of infomation when we email and ask a question seems to be a problem,as we dont allways(never) understand the spanish legal system,please dont take this the wrong way more as trying to help. Back in the uk we are used to a far more formal way of dealing with solicitors,again please dont take this as criticism. Iam sure you have everybodys best interest in mind being a professional person.

Regards Ian Brierly

jeff davies said:
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:22 AM

We have been a client of maria,s for many years,and i have to say the service she has given us (and her team) has been outstanding.Shwmae Maria,from all in wales.

Maria said:
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:58 AM

Dear Ian:
Thanks for your perspective. We would certainly like to answer every question but, it is true that time and financial limits make the need of systematizing and keep you covered with the really relevant ones. Anyhow, thanks again as we would try to review our FAQ document the sooner we can.
Maria
Thanks Jeff

Anne said:
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 @ 1:03 AM

You asked for more suggestions so here are another couple of ideas for the longer term Maria, relating to the enforcement of existing laws and greater accountability of legal professionals. Would it be possible to feedback to the Bar Associations the need for a more adequate and transparent complaint procedure to better identify and monitor the lack of timely law enforcement and legal malpractice? Also would it be useful to suggest that the Bar Associations establish an effective means whereby legal firms can be accredited based upon their knowledge base and proven track records in their specialised fields?

Maria said:
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 @ 8:42 AM

Dear Anne:
Yes, it is possible. We are currently in touch with Bar Association of one province ( possibly we will start with other ones soon) for strong concerns of our clients.
Maria

Ken Foster said:
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 @ 7:25 PM

As a client for several years, I have to back up the comments that just because you don't always get a reply or lengthy email, it doesn't mean that the case is being ignored. There will be updates when anything significant happens,

Maria said:
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 @ 7:29 PM

Thanks Ken. Yes, as a general behaviour we try continuedly and hard. Sometimes to exhaustion

Thanks for your backing!

María

Anne said:
Monday, April 16, 2012 @ 3:39 PM

I have another suggestion Maria!
If you could always make reference to the relevant Procedimiento on your emails to clients together with the developer and /or Bank against whom the lawsuit is being made, then this would no doubt assist transparency and assist your cross reference procedure. You could instruct your clients thereafter to always retain this cross reference within the subject title of their future emails to you, so as to retain a consistent approach between clients correspondence and your law firm. This would hopefully prove equally beneficial to both clients and your law firm.

Maria said:
Monday, April 16, 2012 @ 4:15 PM

Thanks Anne for the advise.
It is actually programmed for the June update to have reference codes.