how often should you call your lawyer

Full Answer

How long can a phone call to an attorney last?

Telephone calls and e-mails should not go unanswered for days, assuming you are not contacting your attorney on a daily basis. If you have a question or concern you should have access to your attorney either in person, over the telephone, or via email/snail mail within a reasonable time frame to discuss your questions or concerns.

How often should my personal injury attorney contact me?

Your personal injury attorney should be contacting you at least once every few weeks to remain informed about the status of your medical treatment and whether there are any new issues to address regarding your overall claim.

How often will I hear from my attorney during my trial?

As a general rule, you will hear from your attorney often at the beginning of your case as your attorney will need to gather relevant facts and information from you in order to develop a defense. After that, however, there is usually a lull in the case during the “discovery” stage.

How do I contact a lawyer for legal advice?

The contents of this answer should be considered friendly advice, not legal advice and the answer should not be construed to constitute an attorney-client relationship. If you'd like actual legal advice, call me at 954-567-4100. Also, if you liked this answer did, be sure to click the thumbs-up button

How often should I hear from lawyer?

There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.

Is it normal to not hear from your attorney?

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.

When should you call your 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 long should you give a lawyer to call you back?

Regrettably, even the most discerning clients can hire an attorney who simply will not call them back. It's frustrating. As a general rule, give your lawyer 1-2 days to return your non-urgent phone call; very often, your lawyer may be out of the office for a half-day, whole day, or longer if he/she is in court.

How do you know if your lawyer is working for you?

Check your lawyer on legal sites such as Avvo or nolo, as well as on general sites like Google Places and Yelp! to see what other clients have to say. Search peer-review online databases such as martindale.com to see comments and opinions from other lawyers. 5. Get another lawyer's opinion.

Why do lawyers ignore you?

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.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

Personal injury cases usually take quite some time to settle or resolve. The reasons a case can progress slowly can be summed up into three general points: Your case is slowed down by legal or factual problems. Your case involves a lot of damages and substantial compensation.

Should you always talk to a lawyer first?

It is always best to consult with a lawyer before filing a lawsuit to make sure that the case is one you can bring with some chance of success. Most local bar associations have lawyer referral and information services that can provide you with a limited consultation with a lawyer for a small fee.

Why do lawyers never return phone calls?

This is how the practice of law is supposed to work. So often when a lawyer does not return your call for a few days it may simply mean your lawyer is busy getting some important work done in your case or in another client's case. There is nothing going on with your case.

How do you get a lawyer's attention?

You can complete a complaint form online or download a PDF complaint form from the State Bar's website. You may also call the State Bar at 800-843-9053 (in California) or 213-765-1200 (outside California) to discuss the complaint-filing process.

What should you expect from a good lawyer?

What To Expect From A Good Workers' Compensation Lawyer in...Honesty. Any good relationship, including the relationship between a lawyer and a client, requires a foundation of trust. ... Personal Attention. ... Knowledge. ... Well Put Together Personal Presentation. ... Results.

When do you hear from an attorney?

As a general rule, you will hear from your attorney often at the beginning of your case as your attorney will need to gather relevant facts and information from you in order to develop a defense. After that, however, there is usually a lull in the case during the “discovery” stage.

How to communicate with an attorney?

First and foremost, as a client you should have the ability to communicate with your attorney and/or your attorney’s support staff in a timely manner. Telephone calls and e-mails should not go unanswered for days, assuming you are not contacting your attorney on a daily basis. If you have a question or concern you should have access to your attorney either in person, over the telephone, or via email/snail mail within a reasonable time frame to discuss your questions or concerns.

Why is there no universal answer to attorney-client relationship?

Because every attorney, and every law firm, develops their own set of procedures and methods, particularly where the attorney-client relationship is concerned, there is no universal answer that applies to that question – or to any other similar questions.

How to contact Petersen Criminal Defense Law?

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Nebraska contact Petersen Criminal Defense Law 24 hours a day at 402-509-8070 to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

What to do if you are not handling a contract?

Not handling them properly could open you to personal liability. Call an expert. You are asked to sign a contract. Where long-term commitments and large sums of money are involved, such as buying or selling a house, a business, a book, a screenplay, or an idea, call a lawyer who specializes in that kind of contract.

What to do if you have been fired for no reason?

If you have been accused of wrongdoing or were fired right before your stock options or other benefits would have vested, by all means, call an employment lawyer with expertise in representing employees--not employers. (See “ How To Hire A Lawyer When You’ve Been Fired .”) Otherwise, the Internet has made the world as big as Mayberry RFD when it comes to job hunting. You might be able to explain away a short time at a job. It is hard to hide a lawsuit and employers are skittish about hiring someone who has sued a former employer, lest they be next. It’s best to chalk up a brief job stint as a life experience and move on. (See " What To Say On LinkedIn When You’ve Been Laid Off .")

Should I call a lawyer early?

You might assume that because I am a lawyer, I would recommend calling one early and often. On the contrary, I am the first to recognize that there are times when the legal fees you might incur would be better spent on a vacation or a few sessions with a therapist to sort through your feelings (as valid as they may be). You might even be better off indulging in a great pair of shoes or a new gold golf club – something that makes you smile.

How long should a lawyer ignore you?

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. It is up to the lawyer to decide what motions are appropriate and when to speak to the judge. It...

Can a lawyer ignore you for weeks?

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.

1. When Seeking Compensation for Personal Injury

If you’re injured due to the negligence of another party, you’re entitled to receive compensation. You want to get money to cover medical bills and other damages you suffer. The problem is negotiating with the liable party to make a fair settlement offer.

2. When Facing Contract Problems

You may need to get into contracts with various service providers, such as your house remodeling contractor. The problem is when these parties breach the contract terms or accuse you of doing so. It’ll be a nightmare for you to handle this conflict, given you don’t understand the contract law.

3. When Arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious allegation, and it’s a mistake to take it lightly. If the court finds you guilty, you risk your license being revoked or serving a jail term. Besides, it’s stressful to deal with the court hearing process alone.

4. When Considering a Divorce

You should also call a lawyer if you feel that things aren’t working in your marriage and you’re considering a divorce. The attorney will guide you to know how the divorce process works. Also, he’ll advise you on how to ensure you get a fair divorce settlement.

How Often Should I Call My Personal Injury Attorney?

If you or a loved one are injured due to someone’s negligence, it’s vital that you speak with a legal professional about your case as soon as possible. You may not end up needing an attorney, but without speaking to an expert, you could allow an insurance company to shortchange you by thousands of dollars.

Personal Injury Attorney Contact During Recovery

As a general rule of thumb, you might not need to contact your attorney very often while you are still early on in your healing process. Your attorney will want to check in on you while you recover and ensure you are receiving proper treatment, but there isn’t much they can do from a legal perspective until your recovery is further along.

Finding the Right Personal Injury Attorney for Your Case

After suffering an injury caused by someone’s carelessness, you should seek a legal representative who has extensive experience with California law. They should also have examples of case success easily found on his or her website.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Southern California Victims

Choosing a skilled personal injury attorney greatly affects the care and attention you receive. It may also make an enormous difference in the support that you ultimately receive for your accident case.

Is a lawyer's consultation confidential?

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. Just as there is not always a medical cure, maybe the same is true for your legal problem. But you would never avoid speaking to a doctor if your physical health was in question. Well, your financial health is also important and, on many occasions, can directly effect your physical health. I have had numerous clients be on the bring of nervous breakdowns before coming to me for help and ending up with peace of mind that allowed them to live happy and productive lives.

Do attorneys charge for initial consultations?

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. That is why I don't charge for an initial consultation so there is literally no reason not to seek my advice or any attorney who has the same practice.

How often should I contact my attorney?

I would say once every few weeks is about right. If course the attorney should contact you anything any event of significance occurs.

How often should I check in with my personal injury client?

I make sure I check in with my personal injury clients at least once a month while their case is open in my office. I want to keep up with what is going on with them, how often they are seeing the doctor and how their injuries are impacting their lives.

What are the most common problems lawyers have with their clients?

Fees. 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: Complaints about bills being too high. Disagreements over what kinds of fees would be charged to the client.

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.

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 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 to expect when your attorney does not respond?

In general, however, you should be able to expect to get a general overview of your case whenever you request it from your attorney. In addition, you should also expect your attorney to call you back or return your emails in a timely manner. If your attorney does not respond within a business day, he or she should provide you with a reason why they were unable to answer your question (typically, if your lawyer is working on multiple cases, he or she may be tied down in court on some days).

What happens if my attorney doesn't respond to my question?

If your attorney does not respond within a business day, he or she should provide you with a reason why they were unable to answer your question (typically, if your lawyer is working on multiple cases, he or she may be tied down in court on some days).

What are the aspects of an attorney-client relationship?

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: