Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Matrimonial StrategistKickerFeaturesSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

A Client's Cultural Background Makes a Difference

By Karen Meislik and Mathias Hagovsky

Typically, each family law attorney's client base is dominated by individuals of a small number of cultural backgrounds. One consequence of having a relatively homogeneous client base is that the attorney, without even giving thought to this, approaches all clients as if they were from those same cultures. Even when recognizing that a particular client comes from a diverse cultural background, the attorney interacts with that client and his or her situation as if that client was like the attorney's “typical” client. Unwittingly, this can lead to a biased handling of that particular client's matter. This kind of “bias,” though devoid of any negative judgments, interferes with the attorney-client personal dynamic and, more critically, can lead to “solutions” that are less satisfactory than those that could have been achieved if the client's own cultural background had been better understood.

To reach an optimal solution to a particular client's set of problems, his or her attorney has to be able to “step into the client's shoes; see through the client's eyes; and hear through the client's ears.” Otherwise, the “solution” can be a generic one, and sometimes that is not good enough. An attorney who “walks through a problem” from a cultural perspective of his or her own, rather than that of the client, is likely to fail to solve the problem for that client. The bottom line is that one must understand a client's particular culture because people with different cultural experiences may deal with things in very different ways.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.