Here’s a look at some of the more common reasons why your lawyer isn’t answering your calls. 1. They Are With Another Client Or In Court – Even if the lawyer wanted to take your call, they may not be able to because other duties call.
But give him a chance. Leave your office number and an after-hours number. Almost half of those who call either don’t leave a message or say something like, “He has my number.” The best attorneys are always busy. We’re in court, in depositions, meeting with clients and witnesses, or otherwise unable to call back.
You have to understand that there is not much an attorney can do on your case until you are finished with your medical treatment. I do not know how long ago you finished or if you are finished. You say the attorney is slow to return your calls. If it is usually the same week, then that is pretty normal.
Your attorney spends most of his or her time out of the office going from event to event, from court hearing to court hearing, from trial to arbitration, from arbitration to mediation, etc. and that person is generally not in the office if you call and try and get him or her on the phone.
If your present attorney causes problem, tell they that you will go to the State Bar for assistance unless the dispute with the attorney is quickly resolved. * This will flag comments for moderators to take action.
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.
Lawyers have an ethical duty to represent their client's best interests and promptly answer messages. While most attorneys are not available 24/7, they still should respond to clients in a reasonable time frame.
If you believe that your attorney acted unethically, you should consider filing a complaint with the State Bar. You can complete a complaint form online or download a PDF complaint form from the State Bar's website.
A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.
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.
If you think your attorney is ignoring you, send a certified letter to his office questioning the silence and that you are prepared to find a new lawyer if necessary. This will jolt him into action. He will respond either by saying the two of you aren't a good fit, or he will start being much more communicative.
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.
Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.
Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.
Sometimes, lawyers take a bit longer than usual to respond because they are away from their office or traveling for business. If you have not heard back from your lawyer within 48 hours of sending them an important email, you should send another email just asking if there is any news or status about your case.
If you have already met with your attorney, you may want to write them to ask for another meeting. You can email them, or call them, but you may choose to write a letter. If you do so, keep it brief, formal, and clear. Format it like any business correspondence, and keep a copy for your files.
A lawyer will consider the possible damages that may be awarded in the best case scenario. If these damages are less than the fee that he or she would likely collect, the lawyer will likely not take the case and recommend that the client not pursue it.
You may try writing him a letter and "serving" it on him. Express your genuine concerns. Sorry for your issue.
My colleague, Mr. Glass, provides some excellent advice and guidance. I particularly agree with the certified, return receipt letter suggestion. I would add that daily phone messages, perhaps a few each day, often gets someone's attention.
Sorry this is happening to you. It's hard to imagine how an attorney, in this day and age, can operate a personal injury practice and be a true solo. as these type of claims have only gotten more and more complex over time.
Lawyers: A Client’s Manual by Joseph McGinn tells the steps to use if you’ve reached the point of no return: Tell your lawyer directly and give your reasons.
Litigation is a slow, complicated, unpredictable, expensive process. To the extent your lawyer can expedite, simplify, win, and reduce the fees, he’s the one for you . I hope you don’ t need to get the attention of your attorney. But if you do, this should help. Good luck!
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.
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.
So even though it’s a killer, it’s a sure-fire attention-getter. In fact, it’s so reliable that if the attorney doesn’t respond, you’re probably better off with another.