Why the legal profession is both "trusted" and "hated"—and what it means for your practice

Legal services consistently rank among the least trusted professions.

We have a collective branding problem that's destroying individual success. The issue isn't competence—it's communication.

Clients often struggle to understand what makes a good lawyer because they haven't been taught about the qualities that define a good lawyer. Instead, they choose lawyers based on who seems "nice," who has the lowest price, and/or who “Joe” at the neighbourhood cookout recommended last week over lukewarm beer.

Wild when you think about it! Would you choose a heart surgeon based on their bedside manner over the surgical outcomes? Didn’t think so. Yet, that's precisely how legal services are typically purchased. The value gap is real because lawyers think expertise matters most, clients think personality and price matter most, and neither side communicates (effectively) about actual results.

This disconnect is why client loyalty is often nonexistent in the legal space. Clients don't understand our value proposition because we've never properly articulated it. We need radical transparency about:

⚖️ What specific problems do we solve?

⚖️ How we measure success.

⚖️ Why our approach delivers better outcomes.

⚖️ What clients should expect from the process.

At Outsiders Law, we're done playing the "trust us, we're lawyers" game. We're showcasing our work, explaining our value, and letting our results speak louder than our credentials.

The legal profession needs to grow up and start marketing based on outcomes, not mystique. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!