Attorney-client trust among convicted criminal defendants: preliminary examination of the attorney-client trust scale

The current study describes the development of the Attorney-Client Trust Scale (ACTS), a measure designed to assess a client's trust in his or her attorney. A sample of 307 male inmates completed the ACTS and provided information about their most recent case and attorney. Low ACTS scores were associated with having a court-appointed attorney, going to trial, and receiving a lengthy prison sentence. High ACTS scores were related to satisfaction with sentences and attorneys. In addition, findings suggest that perceptions about attorneys' interpersonal skills were as important as perceptions about legal skills in forming opinions about overall lawyering ability. It is recommended that attorneys employ a well rounded assortment of interpersonal skills to foster their clients' trust and to make better use of the limited amount of time they have to spend with clients.