Building strong and transparent relationships with clients should always be a priority. However, occasionally, it’s necessary to end a client relationship, not due to legal merit, but because of professional breakdowns that make effective representation impossible.
Firing a client is never a first choice. But when the integrity of the case, the interests of the firm, or the ability to deliver results are compromised, it is necessary to act decisively. Here’s why it happens—and how to avoid it.
1. Lack of Honesty or Withholding Information
Why Honesty is Non-Negotiable in Your Case
Legal strategy is only as strong as the facts it’s built on. When clients conceal documents or facts, downplay critical details or wait too long to share bad news, they risk undermining their own case. Worse, intentional omissions can create ethical conflicts for the attorney, especially in court or discovery. Trust is the cornerstone of effective advocacy.
2. Unrealistic Expectations or Demands
Managing Expectations in Business Litigation
Ambition is always welcomed, but parting ways is necessary when clients insist on outcomes that are legally or factually unattainable, reject all advice unless it matches a preconceived narrative, or expect immediate responses 24/7 regardless of urgency.
Business litigation is rarely fast or tidy. Clients who can’t accept risk, cost, or time reality may not be a fit.
3. Failure to Pay Legal Fees
The Impact of Unpaid Legal Fees on Representation
Nonpayment of fees, or consistent payment delays can strain the relationship. Working with clients to manage costs and communicate proactively is important, but representation requires sustainability. If a client refuses to honor the engagement agreement, the attorney will need to withdraw.
4. Conflict of Interest or Ethical Barriers
Navigating Ethical Barriers and Conflicts of Interest
Sometimes, new facts emerge that create a conflict of interest—especially in partnership disputes or shareholder litigation. Other times, a client requests conduct that cannot be supported. If continuing representation compromises the ethical standards, the engagement needs to end.
4. Micromanagement or Repeated Disregard for Advice
Trusting Your Legal Counsel: Avoiding Micromanagement
Informed clients are valuable, but sometimes, engagements are undermined by clients trying to rewrite legal briefs or overriding strategy, demanding a new direction after every setback or ignoring advice and then blaming the firm for consequences.
Attorneys must be considered strategic legal partners. Clients must respect the experience, just as attorneys respect their business goals.
When the attorney-client relationship breaks down, ending it can protect both sides from wasted time, reputational risk, and avoidable litigation failures.
At Patterson Law Firm, we hold ourselves—and our clients—to a high standard. That’s how we win cases and build long-term trust in the Chicago business community.
Upholding High Standards for Success in Chicago
When the attorney-client relationship breaks down, ending it can protect both sides from wasted time, reputational risk, and avoidable litigation failures.
At Patterson Law Firm, we hold ourselves—and our clients—to a high standard. That’s how we win cases and build long-term trust in the Chicago business community.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common reasons include a client's lack of honesty or withholding of critical information, failure to pay agreed-upon legal fees, persistent unrealistic expectations about the case outcome, the emergence of an ethical conflict of interest, and a client's refusal to follow legal advice.
While a lawyer can withdraw from a case, they must do so according to the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. If the case is already in court, the attorney must typically get permission from the judge to withdraw. The court's primary concern is ensuring the client is not unfairly disadvantaged by the timing of the withdrawal.
If your attorney terminates the relationship, you should immediately request a complete copy of your case file. Carefully review their reasons for withdrawal and promptly begin searching for a new attorney to avoid missing any deadlines. Be transparent with your new legal counsel about the circumstances of the previous representation.
To build a strong and effective relationship, prioritize open and honest communication, pay your legal bills promptly, have realistic expectations about the timeline and potential outcomes of litigation, and trust the strategic advice provided by your legal team. A collaborative partnership is key to success.
