Assembly of a litigation team bespoke for each client. 

I am aware many senior members of the bar are experiencing a sudden drop in instructions as a result of COVID related lock downs, generational change, or they have noticed steadily decreasing instructions from solicitors and direct enquiries from clients as time goes by. I have decided to delegate work to senior members of the bar instead of employing or contracting my own legal assistance. My clients also prefer the assembly of an agile team bespoke to their case, provided I remain in a position of oversight as to strategy .

Senior and Kings Counsel will be instructed for one or both of these purposes:
- drafting of core pleadings and/or specialised research 
- strategy  

In light of continuing feedback from my clients between 2020 and 2022, I have made a few changes as to whom and how I will instruct up the bar in 2023 and beyond. 

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Senior Barristers who I will recommend to clients to come on board as part of our team will:
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- remain available for communication with clients after 5pm via text message or messaging apps for urgent or assurance matters

- may have a secretary, but will be able to type and respond to urgent emails from clients

- communicate via messaging apps if the client instructs this is their preferred method of communication 

- be respectful of clients' cultures, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, and ethics 

- be open minded and not 'set in their ways'

- not be conservative in approaches to litigation and legal steps that a client may take 

- understand the importance of diversity and inclusion among a litigation team in relation to race, neurodivergency, and work styles in particular

- be mindful of 'generational change' that is taking place among the independent bar in New Zealand and among legal consumers' approaches to choosing barristers now

- understand the importance of social media to clients in terms of feeling engaged with lawyers and in terms of communicating and getting to know their barrister

My fast paying private clients want professional skills, experience, and knowledge, but they also want personality and to really get to know their barrister these days. Social media presence is very important to clients now.  The market is online. Rightly or wrongly, we are in an 'attention economy'.

The biggest complaints I have received from clients about instructions up the bar relate to a lack of attention to clients personally: bad and/or slow communication; cold demeanour; outdated and old fashioned views being aired publicly by the barrister at meetings or at social occasions;* lack of use of messaging apps or no understanding of DMs (direct messages on social media); no social media presence; generational differences; unwillingness to meet a client on 'their level' in person. These complaints largely relate to communication and the barrister-client relationship. 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to senior counsel and kings counsel I have referred work to in 2021 and 2022 who, at my direction and persistent urging, have altered their practice style after at least 25 years of practice. My clients and I appreciate this change.

I look forward to bringing your wisdom and experience together with my innovative ideas and fresh energy. 

Yours Faithfully
​Jessica Matheson

27 December 2022