When I was a young lawyer, my first mentor gave me a great deal of advice about clients. Among the many things he told me:

• Clients want to work with lawyers who have confidence inspiring personalities

• Clients do not want lawyers to talk down to them and tell them (before being asked) what they should do

• Clients do not want to work with lawyers who are either needy or greedy

Sometimes lawyers do not think about the words they use when speaking to clients. I recently read an American Express Open Forum blog: The 8 Things You Should Never Say to a Client. It is really on point. Before you read it, think about what you would put on that list.