Sept. 10, 2025 – What should you do when a client brings you a legal issue that crosses into an area in which you don’t practice? And how can lawyers build a reliable referral network without duplicating work or confusing clients? Chances are, you’ve had clients come into your office thinking they have “just one legal problem.” But as attorney Chelsea Lee Williamson points out, “It is very rare that a client has a one-focus issue.”

Williamson, a family law attorney at Cordell & Cordell in Milwaukee, recently spoke at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Annual Meeting & Conference about the common pitfalls attorneys face when legal issues overlap across practice areas.

Her insights couldn’t be timelier for solo and small firm lawyers – the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (WSSFC), Oct. 16-18, is just around the corner. WSSFC is built specifically to support Wisconsin’s solo and small firm attorneys who juggle multiple roles, clients, and often, multiple areas of law.

In this conversation, Williamson shared advice that can help you spot trouble early, collaborate wisely, and manage your clients' expectations – without overextending your expertise.

Legal Life Events Don’t Stay in Their Lanes

“Whatever life event is happening,” Williamson said, “it's going to touch on potentially multiple legal areas of practice.” The most common intersections? “Divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, immigration… even criminal law,” she said.

And those intersections don’t always show up at the start of a case.

“Maybe it's not overlapping at the initial time of the action, but five, seven years later something’s coming up where the divorce you did now becomes relevant in the bankruptcy action or in the foreclosure of the marital home.”

The Most Common – and Costly – Attorney Misstep

What’s the No. 1 mistake lawyers make?

“Giving blanket information that makes the client believe 'I don't need to talk to anyone else,'” Williamson said. Even if something seems straightforward, “you still want to tell them to go confirm with someone because you are also operating off of the information they're giving you, which might not always be the entire picture.”

In other words: If you’re not qualified in an overlapping area – say, bankruptcy – don’t try to wing it.

Managing Client Expectations Without Playing Psychic

When asked how attorneys can manage client expectations, especially when outcomes in one area (like family law) affect another (like bankruptcy), Williamson emphasized honesty and clarity.

“The most important thing we can do is let them know if there's things we maybe can't predict,” she said. “We might be making the best outcome right here and right now… but you want to make sure that they know the risk involved if there is any.”

For example, in a divorce: “This says who pays what. But if the other person doesn't pay and then that creditor comes after them, this agreement isn’t binding on the creditor.”

And always follow up in writing. “They might misinterpret what you've said,” she added. “Make sure you are always following up in writing with what they're supposed to be doing and what they're supposed to be taking out of this.”

Referrals and Collaboration: Do It Right

What about collaborating with lawyers in other practice areas without confusing the client – or duplicating work?

Williamson said it starts with a strong network. “You want to contact somebody in a different field that you trust… who is not going to just see this as a business opportunity.”

Yes, there might be some duplicated billable time. “But is that going to save them so much in the long run that it was worth that half hour where all three of you were on the phone discussing their options?”

When you don’t have a trusted referral? “Shoot it out to the list serve,” she said. “Everybody in the state of Wisconsin is so helpful.”

Solo and Small Firm Attorneys: Start Here

For solo and small firm lawyers without a built-in referral system, Williamson recommends:

• Using the State Bar of Wisconsin’s section list serves to find referrals

• Tapping into your local bar association

• Reaching out to peers in other communities and asking for suggestions statewide

“People are not generally going to be upset if you come in going, ‘Where do I even start with this?’” she said. “That’s so much better than just sort of leaving a client high and dry.”

Spotting the Overlap Before It’s Too Late

So how do you spot those overlapping issues in the first place?

“You want to get as much information as possible,” Williamson said. That means building trust and asking the hard questions early – like, “What’s the worst thing the other party would say about you?”

It also means being practical. “Do we need to run a credit report because you don't know what cards are out there? Do we need to go directly to the financial institutions to get statements because you don't know what the balances are?”

And most importantly: Give clients space. “When they start to get overwhelmed, hit pause… give them homework assignments… and always follow up.”

Final Takeaway: Say It with Confidence

If there’s one piece of advice Williamson hopes lawyers take away from the discussion, it’s this:

“Be comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know.’ It does not mean you are not smart. It does not mean you are not capable.”

“You also… want to be the expert in your own field. We don’t want to be the dabblers who kind of do everything.”

Want More Insights Like These?

Join your peers at the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference, where practical guidance, CLE, and connections come together to support your practice – no matter how many hats you wear. Learn more at wisbar.org/wssfc