how can i talk to a lawyer on a weekend

Full Answer

When is the best time to call a lawyer?

Identify when is the best time to call. If your lawyer is open to telephone conversations, then ask when is the best time to call. Many lawyers are busy all day, especially if they have to go into court often. It can be hard to reach a lawyer unless you get a general sense of their schedule.

How do I communicate with my lawyer?

Much of your communication may be with the lawyer’s staff. You should ask the lawyer who on the staff you will communicate with. Also ask to meet this person. For example, the lawyer may have a case manager who is in charge of most communication. Meet that person, and ask them what their best method of communication is.

What should I expect at my first meeting with a lawyer?

At your first meeting, you need to give your lawyer the background of your dispute. Your lawyer will need to know the “who, what, where, when, how, and why.” You should spend time trying to get this information organized so that you can share it in a clear way.

How do I contact a lawyer for free?

Call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763)! We’ve found that people often have a fear regarding lawyers and what they charge for their services.

Can you call your lawyer on weekends?

It depends. There are several things that you want to consider before you call your attorney on the weekend, especially if you are expecting your attorney to answer or to return your call during the weekend. In most cases, unless it is an emergency, it is probably something that can wait until Monday morning.

Can you call a lawyer to ask a question?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763), you'll be connected with an attorney in your area who's familiar with the laws in your state, who's willing to listen to your concerns, and who can explain the options available to you moving forward. Calls are answered 24 hours a day!

How do you call a lawyer respectfully?

Address an attorney as "Mr." or "Ms." in most contexts. In the salutation for a letter or email, address an attorney the same way you would any other respected professional- using "Mr." or "Ms." followed by their surname. Generally, this is the best way to address an attorney if you've never spoken to them before.

When should you talk to a lawyer?

An incident of driving under the influence or domestic violence; accusations of any kind of criminal behavior, including white collar crime or tax fraud, should send you straight to your lawyer. If you don't have a lawyer, then your first call should be to someone you trust to help you find one.

How can I get a legal question answered for free?

ABA Free Legal Answers is a website on which you can submit your questions about civil (non-criminal) legal issues and receive answers from pro bono lawyers in your state. It's EASY. Legal questions are submitted online – all you need is an internet connection.

What do you say when you call a lawyer?

0:081:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from. And then you can elaborate on your specific.MoreKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from. And then you can elaborate on your specific.

Does my lawyer have to do what I say?

An attorney must always do what they say they will in a prompt and timely manner as unreasonable delay may adversely affect the outcome of your case.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What do you call a female lawyer?

Lady lawyer - definition of Lady lawyer by The Free Dictionary.

How do you know a bad lawyer?

Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.

How do you prepare to talk to a lawyer?

Prepare For Your ConsultationBring all documents. Make copies of all the documents you have collected regarding your case and give these copies to your lawyer.Have notes ready. ... Dress for success. ... Be honest. ... Talk about costs. ... Ask your lawyer questions. ... Understand all documents you sign. ... Keep your own files.More items...

What do you wear to meet a lawyer?

The standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. Nothing too revealing.

What is the number to call an attorney?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763) , you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with the laws in your state, who’s willing to listen to your concerns, and who can explain the options available to you moving forward. Calls are answered 24 hours a day! 24/7 FREE LEGAL ADVICE: 1-800-ATTORNEY.

What is the best phone number to call for a free consultation?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763), you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with ...

Is there legal advice online?

There are many free legal advice services available online as well, but we strongly advise you to take all online advice with a grain of salt. The law varies from state to state, and those giving legal advice will often have differing opinions, and may not even be licensed to practice law.

Why do attorneys not want to be on the clock?

Most attorneys do not want to do this because they then forget to invoice the client for their time. Also, attorneys do not want to be "on the clock" seven days of week. The client should also ask if the matter cannot wait until Monday.

What is the duty of an attorney in North Carolina?

An attorney in most states, including North Carolina, is required to consult reasonably with his or her client. This duty requires the attorney to keep the client informed about the status of a matter, respond to client's requests for information, and provide updates with respect to decisions that have been made with respect to a client's informed consent. In general, communication with clients on the weekend is within the discretion of the attorney. Depending on the urgency, communication with a client on the weekend may be reasonable. However, in most instances, this is not the case.

Do lawyers respond to emails?

Some lawyers may check their emails and respond on weekends, and some may not. It depends on what the matter is, if the person writing the email is an ongoing client, the practices of the lawyer, and whether the lawyer thinks the matter requires immediate attention. Lawyers are required by ethics to communicate as needed with their clients, but not with other people. This can mean many things. If the person emailing is not a client of the lawyer, the lawyer need not respond at all. If you have a lawyer who charges by their time spent, they will charge you to read and respond to your emails, so you better be sure what you are writing is crucial. Lawyers who are technically adept will often reply sooner to emails, and they may be responding while traveling, while in a meeting, or in a court hallway. If you pester your lawyer with emails about details because you are anxious, the lawyer might suggest that you go to counseling to help you deal with the emotional aspects of your legal issue. This is often the case with divorce. The personal preferences and practices of the lawyer, or of their company or firm if they work for one, play a big role in how the lawyer communicates. If a lawyer works for a government agency or corporation, they often communicate only during official business hours. Lawyers who work on their own might respond to emails any day at any time of the day or night, if they feel like the email warrants a response. If you send your lawyer inappropriate emails of any sort, the lawyer might delay in responding, or might not respond at all, if no response is needed for the actual legal work. Inappropriate emails might include anything with sexual content, trying to engage the lawyer in a dating type relationship, threats, abuse, disrespect, niggling about details, emails that show you have not carefully read a previous reply, and such.

What should I ask my lawyer?

You should ask your lawyer if he or she has any expectations for how you will communicate. For example, the lawyer will probably want you to respond to requests for information in a prompt manner. Also your lawyer will probably want you to notify them of any changes in your situation.

How to communicate with a lawyer?

1. Ask your lawyer how he or she communicates. Each lawyer is different. Some might prefer to communicate by email. Others may communicate by telephone. At your first meeting with the lawyer, you should discuss how you will communicate. Try not to demand that the lawyer use your preferred method of communication.

What to do if communication has broken down?

If you feel communication has broken down, address your own shortcomings. For example, you might not get requested information to your lawyer until right before a deadline. This makes it very difficult for a lawyer to represent you. Think about why you are struggling to communicate with your lawyer.

How to tell your attorney what to do if you don't know?

If you don’t, then you won’t know what information to tell your attorney. Take notes if you talk to your lawyer in person or over the telephone. Store your notes in the same place. For example, you might want to keep a special notebook for your case. Always review your notes before contacting your attorney.

How to get a lawyer to agree to a dispute?

1. Organize your thinking. At your first meeting , you need to give your lawyer the background of your dispute. Your lawyer will need to know the “who, what, where, when, how, and why.”. You should spend time trying to get this information organized so that you can share it in a clear way.

How to stay informed about a lawsuit?

Stay informed about your case. You can communicate clearly only when you understand the status of your lawsuit. For this reason, you should commit to staying informed about your case. Try to understand the legal issues in dispute and the important facts.

Should I schedule an appointment with my lawyer?

You should address problems head-on with your lawyer. Remember, you hired them. If you are having a hard time communicating with your lawyer, then you should schedule an appointment to talk about it. Of course, scheduling a meeting can be difficult if your lawyer never returns your calls.