Create Extraordinary Relationships Through Client Advisory Meetings

Client advisory meetings can lead the way to insightful conversations about clients’ experience with your firm and create stronger relationships overall.

Law firms we work with are seeing the value in enhancing client relationships and many have incorporated more client touches on their activities calendar. They are finding it takes relatively little effort to take an ordinary client experience and turn it into a transformational experience. One of those touches are client advisory meetings. Firms have reported that through these sounding board meetings, they are learning more about their clients’ needs and connecting on a completely new level with them.

There are several reasons why these meetings can be valuable to the firm as well as to clients. For the firm, it provides a unique opportunity to ask and receive candid feedback about clients’ overall experience with the firm, obtain input on new ideas and best of all, reconnect with them. And for the client, it provides a safe place to voice opinions, share ideas on the types of services they would like to receive and it is an opportunity to meet key team Members at the firm who they can reach out to for help and support.

Are you wanting to take your client experience up a notch with an advisory meeting? Before you plan, be sure to ask yourself what specifically you want to get out of the meetings and just as important, what you want clients to get out of them. By painting a clear picture of exactly what you want the outcome to be, you can create a well-laid plan that will ensure those expectations are met.

Next decide if you want to rotate the clients you invite to receive fresh ideas and opinions or keep the same client groups and meet with them periodically.

Then determine how often you want to meet, monthly or quarterly. Lastly, create an agenda that covers the points you have already outlined in your goals for the meetings. The agenda can include time for the firm to share new services being offered and ideas for future support then allow time for clients to provide feedback on what already works great and which specific areas could work better.

By incorporating a few easy-to-plan client advisory meetings each year and listening to your clients’ wishes and needs, you can easily transform your relationships from good to transformational!

Susan Russel
Director of Member Services
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com