I'm finding it harder and harder to sympathize with clients who make obviously terrible choices, then cry for legal help to clean up the mess. Am I turning into a heartless lawyer, or is a dose of realism necessary?

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At least for the demographic I serve, I find that a lot of behaviors are the result of familial and community trauma. Combined with a lack of education, people make choices with the knowledge that they have, and that sometimes translates into poor decisions. So, I think that education is necessary but in many cases we have to try and assess where they’re coming from. Most people aren’t rational when it comes to children/their families anyway when push really comes to shove. Being honest with clients also does not mean we have to be a-holes about it. We can be honest and kind at the same time.

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