Your associates come and ask you questions.

One question, then another, then another. Sometimes it feels like it’ll never stop.

What are you to say? What’s the best answer?

More on that in a minute.

Why Are Associates So Inquisitive?

There are lots of reasons they ask questions:

• Some think asking is a good approach. It’s how they roll. It’s how they’ve always found answers.
• Some are in a hurry and know you’re fast.
• Some are too lazy to do the research.
• Some simply don’t really understand the issue, so they’re not sure what they’re looking for and ask you where to start.
• Sometimes they just conclude that they need to know the answer and that you already know the answer, so they’ll ask.

Of course, we encourage the question-asking behavior when we provide answers.

Why Do We Help Them Take the Easy Way Out?

There are lots of reasons you answer:

• It feels good to know the answer.
• It’s cheaper for the client since you probably don’t bill for the internal conversation.
• It’s efficient since your head is filled with this stuff and you’re quick.
• And, of course, you want the client served properly with the right answer.

But answering isn’t really good for anyone involved.

The associate learns to ask instead of doing the research.

You become less efficient because of the interruptions.

The client isn’t well served because in many instances, the answers have changed over time, and a new look at the law wouldn’t hurt. It also doesn’t help when associates fail to fully grasp the law. That’s what happens when they aren’t required to wallow around in the case law because you gave them a quick response. Most importantly, associates need to learn to do the work: that’s their job, and they need to be able to find the answers without asking you or anyone else.

Can we agree that answering all of their questions is a bad idea? I hope so.

Now for some harder questions:

• How do you teach them to figure things out on their own?
• How do you encourage them to research the issues?
• How do you promote the idea that they should do their own thinking and only involve you when all else fails?

It’s tricky. You don’t want to be unpleasant and difficult. You don’t want to alienate them.

Here’s One Solution

What can you say that will redirect them to Westlaw, Lexis, and FastCase? How can you politely refer them back to the books?

I’ve tried being direct and telling them to do the research. I explain that I’m not going to answer the question because it’s not good for them.

That response isn’t well received.

Lately, I’ve been trying an alternative approach. I tell them “I don’t know,” and I give them an idea about how to find the answer.

Yes, that answer frustrates them, but it gets them to do the work. They’re probably beginning to think I’m a complete idiot. That’s okay, because it’s good for them to do the work. They’ll learn much more doing the research on their own.

So that’s my answer for now—I don’t know—and I’m sticking with it for the time being.

Maybe you’ve got a better idea. If so, I’d love for you to share it with us in the comments below.