Speaker
Teo Ernst, Psy.D.
Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Department of Psychiatry
Private Practice, San Francisco
Topics
Unpredictable, irrational, and impulsive behaviors from clients lead to significant practical challenges in legal practice. The consequences often include attorney burnout, increased liability, and hours spent on non-billable client management tasks. This presentation offers psychological explanations for understanding problematic client behaviors, including unrealistic expectations, oscillating between loving and hating one's attorney, difficulty comprehending complex legal issues, and an inability to follow attorney direction at critical moments. By drawing on the psychological literature on personality, trauma, and relationship patterns, it will review well informed strategies to manage challenging client interactions.