Commentary: Thanks, But No Thanks: 10 Clients To Avoid.

Byline: David Mandell

Lawyers always seek new clients. A successful law practice depends on it.

Yet avoiding clients is as important as gaining them. The wrong clients cost time, income, reputation or worse.

Client avoidance is an important but ignored skill. It's rarely taught in law school, CLE classes or at bar conventions. Knowing who to stay away from is an acquired skill learned from experience and colleagues.

Given the recent Superior Court decision of Millennium Equity Holdings, LLC v. Mahlowitz, it is more essential than ever. Millennium allows even the opposing party to file a complaint against a lawyer. Avoiding these clients will make life much easier.

1. The Last-Minute Filer

Procrastinators arrive the day before the statute of limitations expires and expect you to drop everything to file their claim.

If you give them any indication that you accept their matter and don't file it, you'll surely get a malpractice suit. If you rush to file it, you will be entering a case you know …