The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1(52)

“Today we’re going to discuss drafting client letters. It’s important to be able to do the complex legal analysis like we did in our first assignment, but the mark of a really excellent attorney is to be able to explain in clear, concise language what is going on in the case to a client, who may be completely new to the legal process.”



“As we are getting close to the Thanksgiving holiday, this project will be due next Friday. However, today I will be giving you all of the legal information that you need to write the letter, so you’ll save time on researching the cases.” Keith walked to the board and began writing.

“Your client is Miss Smith. She owns a small house that she’s lived in for the past 90 years. A developer wants to build a mall in the block that she lives and she’s the final holdout on the block. The developer has offered her a million dollars for her house, but she’s refusing to sell. She’s asked you whether she’ll be able to stay in her family home.” Keith smiled. “For those of you who are local, you may remember that there was a similar case in the Ballard neighborhood.”



One of the students raised their hand and Keith called on them. “Don’t we have a duty to suggest that she take the money?”



“That’s something you have to decide. Consider that your client is 90 years old. Money might mean less than living where she wants to live.”



“But what about her younger relatives? They could inherit the money, right?” the student continued.

“True. And these are the decisions that you’ll face as a practicing lawyer. Since you won’t have the benefit of talking to your client, and asking questions, I’ll let you decide how you’d like to approach the letter. I would caution you though, that your client is your concern, not her relatives, not the developer, and not any benefits to the neighborhood. Part of being a good lawyer is focusing on your client’s wishes, while of course, balancing them with the values that you believe in.”



“Our values matter?” someone called out.

“Of course. You, or at least your firm, gets to decide who to represent. If you don’t believe in what the client wants, you have a duty to suggest they find an attorney that does. Otherwise you won’t be able to be a good advocate for them,” Keith replied. “All right, let’s get started.” He turned and continued writing on the whiteboard, while Kelsey prepared to take notes. Tyler raised his hand, and Keith saw him out of the corner of his eye.

“Tyler?”



“Suppose your client is wrong?” Tyler asked.

“Excuse me?” Keith asked.

“Suppose your client is wrong. Suppose they want to do the wrong thing.”



“Wrong according to your values or wrong according to the law?”



“Morally wrong,” Tyler replied.

“Whose morals?” Keith said. “Everyone has a different moral compass.”



“So you shouldn’t try to convince them to take a different route?”



Keith thought for a moment. “I think ultimately Tyler, it depends on the type of lawyer you want to be. Some lawyers will try to change their client’s minds or try to get them to change their goals. Other lawyers will do anything that the client wants them to for the right price. Decide what kind of lawyer you want to be. I’m guessing you already know.” Keith smiled and turned back to the whiteboard.

Kelsey saw Ryan turn and look at Tyler, but Tyler had gone back to typing on his iPad.



After class, Ryan walked up to Tyler. Kelsey busied herself with her backpack so she didn’t have to acknowledge his presence. But Ryan hadn’t come to talk to her.

“Are you OK?” Ryan asked Tyler.

“Yeah,” Tyler sighed.

“Maybe you should go to New York for Thanksgiving,” Ryan said.

“Maybe,” Tyler replied. Ryan sat on the edge of the desk. “I’d never hear the end of it, though,” Tyler continued.

“That’s for sure,” Ryan said. He patted Tyler on the back. “Ah, we’ll have fun over Thanksgiving. We can drive Charlotte’s car into Lake Washington.”



Tyler laughed. “You have a strange idea of fun.”



“Gotta do something in Medina,” Ryan said. He stood up and left.

Tyler looked over at Kelsey, who was pretending that she hadn’t been listening.


“So Kelsey, do you want to work on this over the weekend?” he asked her. Kelsey looked up.

“Sure.”



Tyler stood and picked up his bag.

“I’ll message you,” he said, and left. Kelsey picked up her backpack and wondered what his and Ryan’s conversation had been about.



Tyler sent her a message after lunch on Saturday. She had seen him at the gym this morning, but as usual they didn’t talk.

Work/Dinner off campus tonight? Chicken pot pie is on the menu.

Yes. Meet you at your room at 6? Kelsey replied. She hated chicken pot pie.

See you then, Tyler replied.

At six, Kelsey walked down to Tyler’s room. Zachary opened the door and Kelsey walked in. Ryan was sitting on the bed.