More effective communication between attorneys and clients often begins with an acknowledgment that legal professionals typically possess far more knowledge than the people they serve. Legal education trains students to “think like a lawyer,” but it also conditions them to write and speak in a manner that is highly technical, formal, and often outdated. As a result, many lawyers continue to communicate in ways that are difficult for non-lawyers to understand, creating unnecessary barriers between attorneys and their clients.
Historically, legal writing has favored complexity over clarity. Early legal opinions, such as the 1803 decision in Marbury v. Madison, were written in long, dense sentences filled with archaic language. While judicial writing evolved over time, even mid-20th-century opinions, such as Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, retained a level of abstraction and formality that felt disconnected from how people spoke in everyday life. This tendency persisted despite broader cultural shifts toward clearer and more direct communication.
A key reason for this disconnect is what psychologists refer to as the “curse of knowledge.” When individuals become experts in a subject, they often forget what it is like to lack that expertise. Lawyers, immersed in legal concepts and terminology, may assume that foundational ideas are universally understood. Even when attempting to explain matters in simpler terms, they may rely on jargon, abbreviations, or assumptions that leave clients confused. Because many clients feel intimidated or embarrassed, they may hesitate to ask for clarification, instead pretending to understand.
This communication gap can have serious consequences. Clients often care deeply about practical concerns that may seem minor or irrelevant to an attorney focused on legal strategy. When those concerns are dismissed or overlooked, clients may feel unheard or undervalued, potentially leading them to seek representation elsewhere.
Effective communication requires lawyers to consciously adopt clearer, more relatable language. Using everyday words, focusing on concrete explanations, and addressing emotional as well as legal concerns can significantly improve client understanding and trust. Clients hire attorneys not only for legal knowledge, but for guidance and results. When lawyers meet clients at their level of understanding and progress together from the same starting point, they are far more likely to reach successful outcomes together.