Crisis Management Questions: Working With Attorneys (Part 2)

Some things to think about:

1. Only one in every 100 cases (civil or criminal) ever gets to trial. That means the odds are very high that a case will be settled, arbitrated, or dropped. Failure to communicate until the attorneys discover that the case is not going to trial can cause serious customer, employee, victim, and senior management problems.
2. In the new world of the citizen journalist, which virtually nowadays includes employees, friends, and self-appointed bloviators and commentators of afflicted companies and organizations, someone is always willing to tell your story when you hesitate to tell it yourself.
3. Techniques such as crisis Web sites can be very effective in managing much of this extraneous information and activity, ultimately mitigating and often scripting outside chatter.
4. If there’s a question, take it to the boss. Lawyers are staff advisors just like communicators. The ultimate decision is made by the boss. If the boss allows the attorneys to turn you down, then move on to other serious issues. Make your case to the boss sensibly, based on what you know is going to happen and what you know needs to be done. Once the boss makes the decision, you need to move ahead on that decision until the next opportunity to challenge it or amend it arises. Avoid taking these decisions personally. Be professional.
5. A trend in legal practice, occurring for some time, involves the addition of lawyers who were formerly communicators to legal teams to preserve the privilege against the vulnerabilities communications can create for litigation. However, from what I’ve seen thus far, there are two problems. First, one is either a lawyer or a communicator. It’s impossible to be both at the same time. Second, I have yet to meet a lawyer-communicator who really worked for the client as much as they worked as a communicator seeking acceptance from fellow attorneys. The vast majority of communications work is not protectable anyway. Having a lawyer-communicator on the legal team involved in non-protectable activities, threatens the privilege for other legal matters, concepts, or ideas that could be protected. I think plaintiffs attorneys, and prosecutors, know this, too.
   
6. Lawyers need retraining in external communication skills because they learn a combative vocabulary and verbal style that flows through into all their communications. The real benefit of sensitive, compassionate, positive thinking communication inside and outside is often lost through imposing a “legalistic” style. Generally, a very different vocabulary and strategy is required for public communication. The aggressive, adversarial, negative approaches used in courtrooms create the exact opposite impressions in the Court of Public Opinion. Frankly, I don’t believe the combative and negative approaches work in the courtroom either, but that’s an argument for another day.

There are specific instructions I give clients about working with attorneys. It is currently in revision, but look here for news of this interesting document once it’s ready for distribution.

If you need this document sooner rather than later, contact me directly at jel@e911.com.

Crisis Questions: Working With Attorneys (Part 1)

Among the most frequent questions I get concern crisis management and legal situations that require working with attorneys. Here’s one example:

What is the best way to handle a crisis when you’re involved in impending litigation? That is, you’re not allowed to speak to the press and they’re writing negative articles about your company, because the other company involved is being interviewed and they talk. I’m actually being told to say, “No comment.”

Answer:

First, tell the boss he or she may need to hire better attorneys. Today’s defense lawyers must know how to operate in an environment of openness and almost constant chatter. The bigger profile a case has, the more people are communicating (especially insiders), and the more quickly one’s reputation and, perhaps, one’s career is defined by silence. Silence is the most toxic strategy in communications. Things happening outside the courtroom can affect what goes on in the courtroom. This is one of the reasons attorneys want so much control. Increasingly, though, these external communications and situational factors must be managed as well. Failure to respond or inform creates a perception of guilt. In this era where, increasingly, everyone is connected, many are journalizing. Failure to speak can be a very toxic strategy indeed.

Second, my attitude with all non practitioners, including lawyers, is that one of my most important responsibilities is to transfer what I know about how communications works in these special circumstances to those who have key roles to play in the scenario. I am teaching constantly. And, of course, the lawyers play an extraordinarily crucial role. What I’m saying is, ditch the attitude. Instead, gain some significant altitude. Look at the value you bring to the entire transaction and all the players, and work to make it work. Attorneys are used to being in control of everything in litigation. It’s pretty hard to challenge that. You have to be pretty good, pretty smart, and ready with some really useful, helpful, new information and approaches to have significant impact.

My goal is that everyone, especially attorneys, learn from what I recommend and talk about. During a recent meeting discussing a complex Web site for a defendant client, as the discussion ended, the lead attorney looked up and somewhat surprised said, “I think I have my opening argument ready now.” My response was, “Before we’re done you’ll have your closing argument, as well.” Arrogance? No, I knew I would help him; and so can you.

More later . . . .