how long does it take after you contact a lawyer

by Maryjane Skiles Sr. 3 min read

Is 2 weeks a long time for a lawyer to respond?

Nov 11, 2010 · Three weeks is a bit hasty. Do you know who is named in the will as the executor? THAT is the person you should be contacting, as the 'timing' of this is in that person's hands primarily. They have to hire the attorney, and unless and until an attorney is hired, they aren't going to be able to take any action to get the estate started.

How long after an accident should you call a lawyer?

Jan 04, 2022 · In addition, you should also expect your attorney to call you back or return your emails promptly. If your attorney does not respond within one business day, they should tell you why they could not answer your question (this can include a heavy caseload or your lawyer being in court for a trial).

What should I expect from my lawyer?

Apr 03, 2014 · First of all, you hire this lawyer because this lawyer is successful. That means the lawyer is busy. You’re not the only client. There are 20 or more other clients who are also sending in lots of voicemails and emails. Be aware of that. Don’t forget that. Secondly, the lawyer you have hired is someone who is in and out of the office a lot.

What if my attorney does not respond within a business day?

Sep 26, 2011 · Certainly you should be contacted within a few days and if you're not, that may be a sign that the firm is too busy to handle your case. In this economy, there are many good lawyers who have time and interest to take new cases. Call your county or state bar association and ask if they have a lawyer referral service. That can be an excellent resource.

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Why do lawyers take so long to reply?

Once a case gets filed in court, things can really slow down. Common reasons why a case will take longer than one would hope can include: Trouble getting the defendant or respondent served. The case cannot proceed until the defendant on the case has been formally served with the court papers.May 28, 2020

How often should I hear from my lawyer?

Once a month is a good rule of thumb if things are slow, but if you are preparing for trial or in my case an administrative benefits hearing, the contact with you and your attorney should be more frequent and specifically scheduled.

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.Oct 25, 2018

How long does it take for a lawyer to review a case?

Question: Why is it taking so long for your lawyer to make a decision whether to accept your case? Answer: It should rarely take more than 4-6 weeks for a malpractice lawyer to make a decision about your case.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

Why do lawyers ignore you?

There's bad news your attorney doesn't want to deliver. If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.Mar 29, 2021

What happens when a lawyer doesn't respond?

If your lawyer still does not respond, you can send him or her a letter explaining the communication problems. If at this point you do not hear anything from your lawyer, you should consult with a legal malpractice attorney.Sep 27, 2018

How do you tell your lawyer what you want?

Practice telling your attorney exactly what you want, and don't be afraid to ask questions....Your lawyer should be happy to answer all of your questions.If you don't understand something your lawyer has said, ask for clarification. ... Ask your lawyer to explain the reasoning behind their advice.More items...

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 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 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 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:

Mark Weaver

In the criminal defense world (I've been a prosecutor, not a criminal defense attorney but I know their world somewhat) "asap" has real meaning. In some cases, someone's liberty may be at stake.#N#Having said that, attorneys are busy and expecting an immediate call back based...

Erik Anderson

I agree with the my fellow attorneys who have answered your question. Your best bet is to call the attorney. If he or she is unavailable, ask to speak to his secretary and advise that you have an urgent matter and need to meet as soon as possible. Due to the prospective attorney's schedule, he may not even check his messages for a day or two.

Cynthia Russell Henley

You should call rather than email when possible. Some lawyers permit their secretaries to make appointments for them and also some firm e-mail is not checked by the lawyer but by the secretary and if they do not get emails often (which most of us get phone calls), then they may not make a good habit of checking.

Florian Eqrem Tabaku

Normally attorneys will get back to you as soon as possible. If you state in your message that it is an emergency then they should get back to you sooner. It also depends on the time of day the message is sent and their schedule for the day. It is best to simply call the attorney by phone.

You Should Contact an Attorney as Soon as Possible

In law, it is not often there is a simple, unequivocal answer to a question, but when it comes to how long after an accident you should wait to call an attorney, there is no gray area: Find a lawyer as soon as you can. There are many reasons this is the case, including:

Call Page Law to Retain a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney Today

Any delay in contacting a lawyer can have a detrimental effect on your personal injury case, so you should contact a lawyer as soon as you can after an accident. To schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis car accident lawyer, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515 or contact us online.

Shelley L Fuller

You know it can really vary as to when an attorney gets back to you at times. Its very frustrating for client to have to wait because it is your life and freedom on the line. This is by far the most common complaint that is lodged against attorney is that we don't communicate enough or quick enough...

Thomas K Coan

Unless there are extenuating circumstances such as your attorney being in trial or be out of town on an emergency, eight days is, in my opinion, too long to wait for an answer. I would, however, follow up with your attorney to make sure your understanding of the law is accurate.#N#More

Jay Bodzin

Eight days is probably pushing it for a 'reasonable' response time; but that really depends on a few things, including how urgently a response is required for action.#N#The most common complaint that clients have about their attorneys, I've heard, is that we don't communicate quickly enough. There are a couple possible reasons...

William A. Jones Jr

When you do talk with your attorney your stated concerns need to be addressed satisfactorily. If your are not satisfied after a fair and open conversation, then you may well want to consider changing counsel. I would give your attorney a fair opportunity to respond to and address your concerns. Good luck.

Frank Mascagni III

There is no absolute time line response to this question. I will assume you have retained a private criminal defense attorney to represent you in criminal court.

An Attorney Does the Talking for You

If you contact an attorney right after your accident, you don’t have to worry about speaking to the people representing the other side’s interest.

An Attorney Can Speak to Witnesses and Record Critical Information

After an accident, you shouldn’t make the mistake of relying on a police report for all the details that led to the event.

An Attorney Has an Objective View of Your Accident

An accident has a way of compromising your reason and decision-making. That’s why you should never do or say anything after an accident until you’ve spoken to an attorney.

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