Client Games: Defense Attorney Perspectives on Their Relations With Criminal Clients

• NCJ Number: 107598
• Journal: American Bar Foundation Research Journal Volume: 198 Dated: (Spring 1986) Pages: 253-277
• Author(s): R B Flemming
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 25 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-NI-AX-0062; SES-8309609
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

In this study, relations between criminal defense lawyers and their clients are explored from the attorneys' perspective, using interviews with 155 defense counsel from 9 felony and trial courts.

Abstract

Attorneys claim public clients are more skeptical and less willing to accept their professional authority than private clients and that they need to take extra steps to gain their cooperation. The accountability of attorneys is investigated in relationship to the need to establish 'client control.' The problem is resolved through a gamelike situation leading to the apparent paradox that attorneys share decisionmaking power with public clients contrary to their expectations. (Publisher abstract)