The Gazette 1988

GAZETTE

MAY 1 988

His final topic was "St a ff and Service to Clients" and he had stressed that these are obviously inter-dependent. He said that the profession in most jurisdictions spends a pitiful amount on training staff and that generally it shows! Today's solicitor needs not only to be a good lawyer but to be able to convey this to the client — training is a vital part of that. Under "Service to Clients" he quoted a very old joke that solicitors used to tell at Law Society dinners — " I t would be a super job if it wasn't for the clients!" He said that many firms would have that wish fulfilled unless they took a very close look at both the quality of their work and the degree of care they took in communicating with the clients. Robert Parsons came on to close the day and showed us how to ensure that we never again lost a telephone quote for costs. In short, he told us never to quote on the telephone. If we did, it was impossible to win — we simply gave the client a figure which somebody else would knock five pounds off! He said that it was

necessary to get the client into the office and to win the battle on service. He urged us not to descend to be merely " j o b b i ng con- veyancers" but to stress that we are independent advisers who actually save people money — far more than the fifty pounds or so that they are trying to save by getting a low quote. He said that getting the client into the office was only half the battle — the other half was actually "clinching the business". It was a matter of convincing clients that you were the very best person to help them. He urged solicitors to get involved in negotiating the purchase price, arranging the mortgage, and obtaining competitive insurance quotes — in short, to stand out from the competition. He said " I t is difficult to be one hundred per cent better than the competition — thank goodness we don't have to be — we only have to be one per cent better in a hundred areas!" He told us that, when he finishes a quote for costs in the office, he a lways gives clients the opportunity of going to a cheaper

ROCHES LAW SEARCHERS

ST. BRENDANS 13 ARRAN ROAD DUBL IN 9

Tel. 3 7 2 6 38 Fax. 3 7 2 2 53

Specialist s in Title Enquiries .

solicitor along the road and promised us that without fail they say, "No thanks, we'll stay with you !" "Wh i ch way did I ought to go from here?" said Alice. "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat.

Set in o n e of the City's most pleasant sites on the banks of the River Lee, only 5 mi nu t es walk from the main s h o p p i ng area. • 200 Ro oms, all w i th bath and shower, multi-channel, T V., Radio and direct dial telephone. • The intimate Fastnet Restaurant — offers the finest international cuisine. • The all-day Glandore Restaurant provides good food, from coffee to a full meal — fast service at moderate prices. • Relax in the Pavilion Bar where the amb i e n ce is warm and friendly. • S amp le the 'local' atmosphere of the Co r ks Bar. • Gu e s ts at Jurys enjoy indoor/outdoor heated pool. Sauna, G y mn a s i um, Squ a sh Court and g ames rooms. • Co n f e r e n ce and Banqueting facilities.

p I J u r u s Ho t el C o r k j \ W e s t e rn R o a d , Co r k. J Te l: ( 0 2 1 ) 2 7 6 6 2 2 . T l x: 76073.

105