how early do you need to contact lawyer

Generally, the best time to call is first thing in the morning early in the week. Avoid calling at lunchtime or in the afternoon, when the attorney might not be in their office. Typically you'll talk to a receptionist or legal assistant before you talk to the attorney.

Full Answer

When should you contact a lawyer?

The old adage is that the best time to talk to a lawyer is when you don’t actually need one. Some of the reasons why you may want to speak to a lawyer include: 1. You Want to Get the Facts A licensed lawyer that practices in the area of law in which you have questions can tell you about the applicable laws that apply to your case.

How to make the first call to a prospective lawyer?

Once you have found a trusted lawyer, follow her advice, which is what you hired her for. (See " 8 Hand-Holding Tips If Your Child Gets In Trouble With The Law .") You have suffered bodily harm ...

How often should I meet with my lawyer?

5. Don’t wait until the last minute to call the attorney. It often takes longer to handle a legal matter than you might think, and the attorney you seek might be busy. Also, calling at the last minute is a sign of being unsophisticated, which can scare off some lawyers. 6. Ask how the attorney charges for his services.

Do I need a lawyer?

There are 3 reasons that people delay calling a lawyer for help: They think they don't need to and will be able to resolve it without doing so. They are embarrassed and are very reluctant to tell a stranger about their problem. They are afraid of the cost, including a possible consultation fee. Let's address each issue in turn.

When should you call your lawyer?

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

How quickly should my lawyer respond?

What do you say when you first call a lawyer?

What should you not say to a lawyer?

How often should I hear from my attorney?

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Why do lawyers ignore you?

Why do attorneys take so long to respond?

How do you approach a lawyer for the first time?

Should I email or call lawyer?

How do you interact with a lawyer?

Do It Yourself

While the internet is an extremely valuable tool, providing resources for numerous daily matters, it cannot take the place of experienced professional advice. It is too easy for anyone to add anything on the internet and clients often follow erroneous advice in an effort to solve the problem on their own.

Privacy Concerns or Embarassment

All consultations with an attorney are confidential. Embarrassment and reluctance are understandable, but should be easily overcome by the right professional who treats clients the way he wants to be treated. Lawyers are similar to doctors in that they diagnose the problem and help find the cure.

Cost for Consultation

Many attorneys charge for an initial consultation. Perhaps they subscribe to Lincoln's wisdom that advice is a lawyer's stock in trade. While I agree that advice on a regular basis can be a service warranting fees, it shouldn't cost you something just to find out your options.

What is a good lawyer?

A good lawyer works with you, helps you understand the situation, and guides you to the best possible result. To do that, they need a client they can work with. Here's how to be just that. Advertisement.

What does "tell me everything" mean?

Rule number one, says Unrath, is to be honest and truthful. Your conversations with them are legally protected, which means now's not the time to hold back. When your lawyer says "tell me everything," they mean it:

How to communicate with a lawyer?

Lawyer communication, competency, ethics, and fees are important aspects of an attorney-client relationship. As a summary you can expect your lawyer to do the following: 1 Give you advice about your legal situation 2 Keep you informed about your case 3 Tell you what he or she thinks will happen in your case 4 Allow you to make the important decisions regarding your case 5 Give you an estimate about what your case should cost 6 Assist you in any cost-benefit analyses that you may need 7 Keep in communication with you 8 Inform you of any changes, delays or setbacks 9 Give you the information you need to make good decisions, and 10 Prepare you for your case, including deposition and trial preparation.

How to hire a lawyer?

Hiring a lawyer also creates a few responsibilities for you as a client. As a client, your lawyer can expect you to the do the following: 1 Abide by the agreements that both of you sign 2 Gather all useful evidence and prepare any timelines that are requested 3 Keep your lawyer informed as to any new evidence that may come to light 4 Keep in mind that your lawyer may have other clients that need his or her time 5 Reply to requests from your attorney in a timely manner 6 Inform your lawyer, in advance, when you will not be able to attend certain hearings or other proceedings 7 Pay your bills on time 8 Not to lie to your attorney, and 9 Keep your relationship with your attorney as a business relationship.

What are the ethical rules of an attorney?

Although each state has their own set of ethical rules by which attorneys are expected to conduct their business, there are some common themes that run throughout all of them. These ethics rules generally require attorneys to: 1 Maintain the attorney-client privilege 2 Perform their duties to the degree of a reasonably competent attorney 3 Represent their client's interest loyally 4 Work within the bounds of the law 5 Maintain separate bank accounts for client money 6 Not engage in any criminal activities, and 7 Put their client's interests ahead of their own

What are the issues with lawyers?

Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common: 1 Complaints about bills being too high 2 Disagreements over what kinds of fees would be charged to the client 3 Disagreements over whether an itemized bill would be given 4 Concerns that a lawyer spent too long on a task that should have been relatively easy 5 Argument that because an attorney did a bad job, the bill should be reduced 6 Billing at an attorney's rate for work done by a paralegal or legal secretary 7 Complaints regarding over-charging for time spent on a case.

What is lawyer communication?

Lawyer communication refers to the correspondence and communication between a client and his/her attorney. If you have a lawyer communication problem, you may be wondering if you have a bad attorney or if he or she is doing a poor job on your case. You should know that many states have laws regarding when and how a lawyer must communicate with clients.

What is the most common problem with lawyers?

Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common:

What is competency in law?

In addition to lawyer communication problems, you may also have problems with the competency of your lawyer's work. Competency relates to the core knowledge and expertise of an attorney in handling a client's legal issue. You should remember that lawyers are not machines and they are just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else ...

What do you need to know when you are being sued?

If you are being sued and the consequences of a loss may result in the loss of a good deal of money or property, you need a lawyer. Again, the other side has a lawyer, so you need to get one too. Most of these things are settled out of court, but you want an experienced negotiator on your side.

Is a public defender better than a private attorney?

Defendants who have personally hired attorneys always fare better than those who do not or those who take a public defender. Remember, a public defender is on case overload, and will usually recommend a plea bargain that will be worse than what a private attorney could get you. If you qualify financially for a public defender, still try to find a friend or relative willing to pony up the money for a lawyer.

What are the two legal categories?

Two Legal Categories – A Short Explanation 1 Civil Law: This area of law covers all legal issues that do not involve criminal activity or breaking the law. Generally, one party sues another because they have been “wronged” in some way and want some type of compensation for that “wrong.” Civil law also covers legal agreements, real estate transactions, divorces, child custody, and other matters where legal paperwork is necessary to protect all parties involved. 2 Criminal Law: This area of law relates to offenses that break the laws of a local, state, or federal governments. The prosecution is handled by lawyers employed by the governmental entity, and the defense is handled by either a publicly appointed defender or a private defense attorney whom the defendant pays. In criminal law, there are misdemeanors (small offenses) and felonies (more serious crimes).

Is a traffic ticket a legal matter?

A traffic ticket is a legal matter. So is armed robbery. Obviously, the “accused” in both of these instances have very different situations and only one will need a lawyer to hand their defense. In between these two extremes, however, are a myriad of legal matters which may or may not require legal representation.

What is civil law?

Civil law also covers legal agreements, real estate transactions, divorces, child custody, and other matters where legal paperwork is necessary to protect all parties involved. Criminal Law: This area of law relates to offenses that break the laws of a local, state, or federal governments.

Who handles the prosecution of a crime?

The prosecution is handled by lawyers employed by the governmental entity, and the defense is handled by either a publicly appointed defender or a private defense attorney whom the defendant pays. In criminal law, there are misdemeanors (small offenses) and felonies (more serious crimes).

What is a complex divorce?

1. A Complex or Nasty Divorce. When couples mutually agree on all of the details of a split, there is no real need for a lawyer. When, however, there are issues of property, investments, savings, support, debt, and child custody arrangements, only a fool neglects getting legal representation.

What to do after initial consultation with attorney?

After you have an initial consultation with the attorney, take some time to look over your notes and reflect on your experience. If you have consultations scheduled with other attorneys, have those before you make a final decision (unless you know after that first meeting that you don't want to hire that attorney).

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

Kathryn Mary Holton

Boy do i understand! I have the reverse problem trying to get my criminal clients to communicate with me.#N#You are always free to hire another lawyer.

Jennifer L. Ellis

It really depends on how long you are talking about and also, what you want to talk about. Sometimes there isn't much going on, and so there isn't a lot to talk about. But that doesn't mean your lawyer should ignore you for weeks on end. You cannot talk to the judge on your own or file a motion when you have a lawyer.

Dwaine Morris Massey

How often should your lawyer communicate with you? It really depends on what is going on in your case. That you want to "talk to the judge and file a motion" suggests that maybe you think you are co-counsel rather than the client. If you are not confident letting the attorney you hired to represent you, maybe you should get another.