why a lawyer will not talk to me

If, because of overwork or any other reason, a lawyer is unable to spend the required time and energy on a case, the lawyer should refuse from the beginning to take the case. A lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with a client. When a client asks for an explanation, the lawyer must provide it within a reasonable time.

Full Answer

Should I talk to a lawyer about my legal troubles?

Oct 08, 2012 · Car Accident Lawyers in Albuquerque, NM. Reveal number. tel: (505) 404-6489. Private message. Call. Message. Posted on Oct 8, 2012. There is no answer we could give you that would explain or justify why a client would be neglected. It is unethical and the quickest way to get your ticket punched so to speak.

Why do lawyers not respond to their clients?

Jun 28, 2018 · If your lawyer is not responding to emails, this is highly unprofessional and should be reported to the bar if an effort to communicate regularly isn’t made. Communication is necessary to build the attorney-client relationship, so that clients may feel informed and involved, and ultimately trust their lawyers.

Why is my lawyer avoiding me all the time?

Can I talk to my father’s lawyer?

Is it normal for an attorney to not communicating with me?

What if my lawyer doesn't contact me?

Why do lawyers go silent?

Why would a lawyer refuse to represent you?

Why is my attorney not fighting for me?

What should you not say to a lawyer?

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

How often should my attorney update me?

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

Can a lawyer decline a case?

Do lawyers have to defend the guilty?

How do I know if my lawyer is cheating me?

Mark John Caruso

You should contact the attorney IN WRITING. You need documentation to prove that you have made contact. Then if still not response contact your state's attorney disciplinary agency. They will want your written proof. They should contact the attorney, and then problem should be resolved. Good Luck.

Gary A Kester

There is no answer we could give you that would explain or justify why a client would be neglected. It is unethical and the quickest way to get your ticket punched so to speak. It sounds like you have a serious case and regardless of the outcome need to be confident in who is telling you what. Good luck...

Martin W. Judnich

You have the absolute right to be happy with your attorney, and their service. If you are not happy, they may not be the attorney for you. I would at least speak to another attorney personally and see if they can offer you service that is acceptable to you. If you find another attorney you are happy with, you can always change attorneys.

Sidney Weinstein

Ditto to the prior answers. There may be times that your attorney can't speak with you right away, but your calls should be returned within a reasonable period of time.

Bret A. Schnitzer

I return all my clients calls and I would expect the same from any attorney!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR ATTORNEY IGNORES YOU

What can I do if my attorney is not doing his job? There’s nothing more frustrating than when you’re dealing with a lawyer not doing his job.

SIGNS OF A GOOD LAWYER

Hiring the right lawyer is a personal decision, and only you can decide what is right for you.

WHY A GOOD ATTORNEY IS INDISPENSABLE

Why is it so important to hire an experienced attorney over a general attorney?

What to do if your lawyer doesn't respond?

If your lawyer does not respond, or subsequent meetings or conversations are not fruitful, consider suggesting mediation to work out your communication problems if you still want this lawyer to represent you. A bad deskside manner doesn't mean that the lawyer isn't an excellent lawyer, and it can be difficult to find a new one in the middle of a case.

What happens if a lawyer doesn't return phone calls?

A lawyer who doesn't return phone calls or communicate with you for an extended period of time may be guilty of abandoning you -- a violation of attorneys' ethical obligations. But that's for a bar association to determine (if you register a complaint), and it won't do you much good in the short term.

What is the agency responsible for licensing and disciplining lawyers?

Every state has an agency responsible for licensing and disciplining lawyers. In most states, it's the bar association; in others, the state supreme court. The agency is most likely to take action if your lawyer has failed to pay you money that you won in a settlement or lawsuit, made some egregious error such as failing to show up in court, didn't do legal work you paid for, committed a crime, or has a drug or alcohol abuse problem.

What to do if you lost money because of a lawyer?

If you lost money because of the way your lawyer handled your case, consider suing for malpractice. Know, however, that it is not an easy task. You must prove two things:

What is the defense of a lawyer who is sued for malpractice?

A common defense raised by attorneys sued for malpractice is that the client waited too long to sue. And because this area of the law can be surprisingly complicated and confusing, there's often plenty of room for argument. Legal malpractice cases are expensive to pursue, so do some investigating before you dive in.

What to do if your lawyer is unresponsive?

If the lawyer is unresponsive and the matter involves a lawsuit, go to the courthouse and look at your case file, which contains all the papers that have actually been filed with the court. If you've hired a new lawyer, ask her for help in getting your file. Also, ask your state bar association for assistance.

What to do if you can't find out what has been done?

If you can't find out what has (and has not) been done, you need to get hold of your file. You can read it in your lawyer's office or ask your lawyer to send you copies of everything -- all correspondence and everything filed with the court or recorded with a government agency.

Why are my attorney's messages so annoying?

“Urgent” messages are likely to result in an annoyed response, since they’re often returned when the attorney is preoccupied with another matter . Remember, you’re just trying to get your attorney’s attention, not to alienate her.

What do lawyers respond to?

Lawyers are trained in logic. They respond to objective, well-reasoned, unemotional statements. If you begin with, “It sounds like you’ve been busy,” or “Is there anything I can do to expedite collection of the fee?” you’ll be encouraging a dialogue, not two monologues.

How to tell if an office is busy?

Some pretty reliable indications of a busy office are things like assistants frantically running around, others working at computers, phones constantly ringing, filing cabinets with trays full of case files nearby waiting to be filed, and at least a few clients waiting out in the reception room.

Can an army of marching attorneys help some clients?

We know that every case is not a winner. An army of marching attorneys can’t help some clients. The key is to be able to focus on the relevant law and facts immediately, so you don’t waste the client’s money and your time. If the attorney isn’t prosecuting your case, this probably wasn’t done. You can help.

Can you dismiss an attorney?

While you can dismiss an attorney whenever you choose, this is obviously the last resort. Time and money can be lost in the transfer, and many lawyers refuse to accept cases that have been handled by others.

Is a lawyer competent?

Even the best lawyers are usually truly competent and proficient in only a few areas of the law.

Do attorneys mind after hours calls?

Just like they don’t mind after-hours calls. Sometimes it’s necessary for you to volunteer. You’ll be surprised how receptive your attorney is to your assistance. Believe it or not, the amount of attorney’s fees is usually not a major complaint.

Why don't you change lawyers?

Don't just change lawyers because you are not getting hand holding. If he is good, he will be busy, and every client deserves 100% care, but just not all on the same day and at the same time. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

How to get out of a contract with a lawyer?

That is a tough question. You can only get out of the contract with the lawyer if you can show just cause for doing so. It may be that not answering your calls and emails will be just cause for your avoiding the contract, but that could become an issue for you. I think you should talk with another lawyer, who can then negotiate with your present lawyer on a fee split between the two lawyers. There will be some risk for you, so I would consult with another lawyer so that he or she can help you end your contract with your current lawyer. I think you will need some evidence that your current lawyer has not been responsive. Do you know the dates you called his office and left messages? Do you have all of your emails with him?

How to fire an attorney in Michigan?

In Michigan you may hire and fire your lawyer as you wish. If your lawyer is not taking care of your case and/or not communicating with you , you may fire your attorney and hire a new one. You may also file a Grievance against your attorney as the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct REQUIRE an attorney to keep their client advised of the progress of their matter, as well as to use reasonable efforts in the matter to keep it moving forward. You may also get a 2nd opinion from another lawyer before deciding what to do. In getting a 2nd opinion, you would contact a new attorney, who would contact your present attorney and make arrangements to go and review your current attorneys file so that the 2nd opinion attorney could advise you of the status of the matter and if it is, or isn't, on track and being handled properly. With the 2nd opinion in hand, you could decide whether you wished to stay with your original attorney or change attorneys, and do so in an informed way. Of course, any Agreement you signed with your original attorney will apply and there may be language in any such Agreement about costs incurred, fees incurred/time spent, etc. So certainly you would want to read any such Agreement before deciding what to do.

Can I change my attorney if things don't change?

Arguably you can. I would send him a letter advising him of the problem and telling him that if things don't change you will be forced to change to another attorney. Even if you do, however, your former attorney will have a claim for cost he has expended and possibly for his time. You should look closely at your contract with him and then try to work out an agreeable solution.

Can you fire a lawyer if your case is good?

If your case is a good case then he ought to be moving. (your case may not be as good as you think it is) you can fire him and get a new lawyer anytime.

Can I terminate my lawyer's representation?

Answered on Jun 18th, 2013 at 10:39 AM. Yes, you can always terminate your lawyer's representation. Before you do, I would recommend making an appointment to see him and let him know of your dissatisfaction and give him a chance to explain what he is doing on the case.

Can you file a complaint with the State Bar Association?

It depends upon the agreement you signed with him. You could fill a complaint with the State Bar Association, he is required to keep you informed on the case.

What does it mean when a defendant calls his attorney?

A defendant who phones his or her attorney with a request for information can indicate a willingness to speak with the lawyer's associate, secretary, or paralegal. The lawyer may be too tied up on other cases to return the call personally, but may have time to pass along information through an assistant.

What is the duty of a lawyer?

As defined by ethical rules, a lawyer's duty to keep clients informed has two primary components: to advise the defendant of case developments (such as a prosecutor's offered plea bargain or locating an important defense witness), and. to respond reasonably promptly to a defendant's request for information.

What are the ethical obligations of a lawyer?

Defendants should insist that their lawyers adhere to their ethical obligation to inform them about the progress of their cases. As defined by ethical rules, a lawyer's duty to keep clients informed has two primary components: 1 to advise the defendant of case developments (such as a prosecutor's offered plea bargain or locating an important defense witness), and 2 to respond reasonably promptly to a defendant's request for information.

Do attorneys have to keep clients informed?

The duty to keep clients informed rests on attorneys, not clients. But on the theory that if the attorney screws up it's the client who usually suffers, here are a couple of steps that defendants can take to try to secure effective communication with their lawyers:

What happens if you are not represented in a court case?

If you are not represented you may speak to the other party or their attorney. The attorney must communicate with you unless you are represented then the opposing attorney must not contact you without your counsel's permission.

Can my sister's attorney talk to me?

If you are not represented by an attorney there really is no reason your sister's attorney can't talk with you. I can understand why she won't - family matters such as this often end up in litigation and she does not want to compromise the interests of her client (your sister). You should seek legal help and if you and your attorney determine that you don't need legal assistance you can proceed on y our own. These matters are often more complicated that one may assume.

Do you have to retain an attorney for your sister?

You have no obligation to retain an attorney. Your sister's attorney has an ethical obligation to communicate with you. However, if you choose to represent yourself in this matter, you have an obligation to act like an attorney.

Can an attorney speak to another attorney?

An attorney is not generally permitted to speak and deal directly with another attorney's client. But you are not a represented party. However, I know of no rule that requires either that he refrain from speaking to you or that you hire an attorney if you don't want to. I also know of no rule requiring him to speak with you.

Can an attorney force you to get your own attorney?

The attorney does not need to talk with you, but he/she cannot force you to get your own attorney. Since the attorney has indicated he/she will not communicate with you, that implies that you are free to discuss this with your sister, directly. I do not think the attorney could prevent that, anyway. Report Abuse.

Can you have a lawyer for your sister?

You should be able to communicate in writing with either your sister or her counsel. They cannot require that you hire an attorney. However, the parties can always speak if they choose. I suggest keeping communications written so that there is a clear record of what has occurred.

Can an attorney refuse to talk to you?

The attorney can indeed refuse to talk to you, although it is unusual and may not be the wisest thing for him or her to do. Indeed, your sister could direct your attorney to not talk to you, and the attorney would need to follow this direction.

Why do lawyers have to represent themselves?

These are the people who are ready and willing to pay a lawyer, but are forced to represent themselves because the vast majority of lawyers refuse to litigate cases involving a claim of professional misconduct against another member of the Bar.

Did the judge listen to the conference call recording?

The judge (the same judge who presided over the original hearing) would not listen to the conference call recording or consider any other fresh evidence that proved that I had never received the court order, and that for the lawyers to claim otherwise was perjury. The judge also refused me permission to cross-examine the lawyers and the “private investigator” all of whom provided testimony the court relied upon to convict and send me to prison.

Why does an attorney not care about the client?

If the attorney thinks this, usually it is because the case itself is not worth much to the attorney.

What to do if a lawyer refuses to communicate by phone?

If you have retained a lawyer who refuses to communicate by telephone, you should ask him or her why that is the case.

Why do corporate clients need to communicate by email?

Corporate clients require communications by email because the work is largely transactional, i.e., they're borrowing or lending money, buying things, structuring deals -- documents are drafted and revised and this can only be done by email.

What does it mean when an attorney is overworked?

The Attorney is over worked and does not have the time in a day to return all of her calls. The attorney has more clients than she can handle adequately. The attorney should increase support staff, or decrease the intake of new clients.

Why is a private phone call important?

Conference calls, which are now easier than ever, support collaboration and negotiating. A private phone call to follow up other steps is important.

What to do when you hire a lawyer?

You’re hiring someone who will bring knowledge, education, experience and training that you lack to the game . Unless what they are doing is completely at odds with the overall goals of your litigation, you need to think carefully about why you’re not representing yourself. Let the lawyer do the job you brought them in to do, unless they’re clearly acting against your interests.

Can a lawyer communicate by email?

These days, most clients prefer to communicate by email, and most lawyers prefer this method, as well: it's a win-win situation, as the client can reach the lawyer at any time, and the lawyer can counsel the client at any time, as well, avoiding scheduling conflicts, unnecessary conference calls, etc. But this is a matter of preference: I still have some clients who prefer regularly-scheduled phone calls, or who will pick up the phone any time they have a question. There is also the issue of making a record: 99 percent of the time, email is great, because a client can reference a lawyer's i