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Our cultural view of lawyers is deeply ingrained, dating back to Shakespeare's Henry VI, in which Dick the Butcher says, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

Our response — laughter — seems natural given the highly personal and emotional experiences many of us have had with lawyers in the midst of divorces, business disputes and other disdainful events. During these conflicts, attorneys for each side typically battle to win the best outcome for their respective clients. We are therefore simultaneously intrigued and repulsed by lawyers.

As association executives, we consult lawyers to mitigate our organizations’ exposure to real and perceived risks, to protect our interests and to facilitate complex relationships. During my career, I’ve worked for five law firms, served as executive director for a number of associations and worked as a lobbyist. I’ve therefore worked with many lawyers and learned that clients can work most effectively with them by understanding how law firms are structured, how they bill, and what they expect from themselves and their clients.

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