how long do attorney take if they want to represent you

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. The most common complaint that clients have about their attorneys, I've heard, is that we don't communicate quickly enough.

Full Answer

Does it take a lot of time to become a lawyer?

You are likely to be dependant on your lawyer to represent your interests in ongoing matters. If the representation is over, you may feel compelled to pay outstanding bills, even if they are outrageous, since your lawyer is the last person you want as an adversary in litigation.

Do you have to pay a lawyer when the representation ends?

Jan 11, 2013 · 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 …

How do I get my Lawyer to stop representing me?

Mar 16, 2019 · This limit varies by state. Florida's statute specifies two years, for example, while New York allows up to six years for contract actions. Some may be as short as one year. To complicate things further, states differ in how they define the start of that period.

How long does an attorney have to respond to a motion?

Jul 23, 2020 · Having said that, firing your lawyer is a drastic step. It can slow your case, raise your total legal bills, and mean you spend time and energy getting a new person up to speed on the issues. You would be wise to think through the ramifications carefully before acting. . . . like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always ...

How long should I wait to hear from my attorney?

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.Dec 28, 2019

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 take so long to get back to you?

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 attorney?

You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020

Do lawyers tell the truth all the time?

Lawyers must be honest, but they do not have to be truthful. A criminal defence lawyer, for example, in zealously defending a client, has no obligation to actively present the truth. Counsel may not deliberately mislead the court, but has no obligation to tell the defendant's whole story.

Why is my attorney not fighting for me?

For example, in a custody, divorce, criminal, or civil case, your lawyer might not be fighting properly. It might be a sign of incompetence or even a conflict of interest in your client attorney relationship. If you believe that my lawyer is not fighting for me, it may be due to the lawyer's style and mannerisms.Jul 24, 2020

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 do I know if my lawyer is cheating me?

The attorney does not return phone calls in a reasonable amount of time, and; In a meeting with the client, if the lawyer is being very short, taking phone calls, trying to re-schedule, not giving enough time to the client, does not listen, ignores what is asked or is not answering questions.Nov 28, 2015

What is it called when a lawyer doesn't do his job?

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.

Do lawyers lie to their clients?

In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct govern a lawyer's ethical duties. The law prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonesty.Jun 17, 2015

What's the best color to wear to court?

The best color to wear to court is probably navy blue or dark gray. These colors suggest seriousness. At the same time, they do not come with the negative connotations that are often associated with the color black (for instance, some people associate black with evil, coldness, and darkness).

What do you do 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

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.

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Florida?

This limit varies by state. Florida's statute specifies two years, for example, while New York allows up to six years for contract actions. Some may be as short as one year.

What is the next step in a lawsuit?

The next step consists of serving a summons to the lawyer, which must be delivered in person. A summons provides notice to the defendant of a lawsuit that there is an action pending against him. The summons will compel the defendant, in this case the attorney you are suing, to answer the complaint filed against him.

What happens if you get summoned to court?

Once the summons has been served, the attorney will have an opportunity to answer the complaint. This will usually include filing a motion to dismiss the case. This is a common practice and, if you have evaluated your case thoroughly and have grounds for a suit, will likely be denied.

Who is Joel Garrison?

Joel Garrison is a professional writer with a Bachelor of Science in political science from Florida State University. He has served as an editor for the Florida House of Representatives and worked in crash reconstruction. Garrison teaches report writing, communications, physical fitness and health and nutrition to police recruits.

What to do if your lawyer doubts you?

Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.

Why do people hire lawyers?

Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.

What happens if you don't pay your lawyer?

If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.

Why is credibility important in court?

Credibility is one of the most important things in this world - and most important in a courtroom. If you care enough only to wear sweats to the courthouse, then the judge will see that you don't care, and that will be reflected in their desire to help you, listen to you, and decide in your favor. Step it up.

Do juries get it right?

While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.

Can a lawyer take your money?

While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.

What happens if a lawyer doesn't take your case?

Additionally, the cost of developing the testimony to prove up your case has to be factored into the analysis of the attorney. If the cost of the expected depositions exceeds the expected return on the case, an attorney most likely will not accept the case. If a lawyer doesn’t take your case, you can get a second opinion from another lawyer who has ...

Why won't a lawyer take my case?

Here are the top 7 reasons why a lawyer won’t take your case: 1. There is No Money to be Made in Your Case. There is a real cost associated with trying a case. For a lawyer to take a case, the case needs to have the potential to recover more money than the lawyer will have to invest to try the case.

What is statute of limitations?

The Statute of Limitations has expired. A statute of limitations is a law which sets the maximum time you have to initiate legal proceedings from the date of an alleged offense, whether civil or criminal.

Is a lawyer obligated to take your case?

A lawyer is never obligated to take your case. Taking on a new client means starting a new working relationship – and relationships are a two-way street. If you’re perceived to be difficult to work with, obnoxious, or abrasive, then they may choose to pass on your case.

What happens if you are dropped from another law firm?

If your case has been repeatedly “released” or “dropped” from another law firm, subsequent attorneys will think twice about taking your case from either a liability perspective or an unreasonable expectation perspective.

How long do you have to sue for a personal injury?

For example, in some states, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years, so that means you have two years to sue for a personal injury case.

Is there a conflict of interests?

There is a conflict of interests. Lawyers have an ethical duty to not represent clients who may have adverse interests. Conversely, if a lawyer is related (professionally or by blood) to a party in your case, that can also be seen as a conflict of interests. 6. They don’t specialize in that type of case. Say you’ve been injured in ...

How to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever. Common problems that clients report with attorneys include: 1 Poor results. The lawyer is simply not achieving the results you were led to believe he or she could achieve. 2 Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. 3 Lack of professionalism. The lawyer perhaps arrives late to meetings, doesn't remember key facts about the case, cannot find documents already provided by the client, and even forgets to submit documents by key deadlines.

Why is it important to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever.

What are the bad things about lawyers?

Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. Lack of professionalism.

What does it mean to withdraw from a lawyer?

On the other hand, a withdrawal necessarily signals that it is the attorney who desires to end the representation. A withdrawal, further, must be permitted by a judge, who will want to know generally why the attorney is seeking to withdraw.

What is the duty of an attorney in a court case?

The attorney has a duty to respond to the court’s inquiries as to the reason for any conflict, at least in general terms without compromising the attorney-client privilege. Id. at 592-593. Typically this means a minimum of a few weeks delay until the attorney can get a hearing on the motion.

What is the law regarding withdrawal?

Laws About Withdrawal. Later Recovery In A Contingency Case. When an attorney who is on contingency is mandated to withdraw, and the case later settles or wins at trial, she is entitled to recover whatever she is owed for her services prior to the withdrawal.

Why is my lawyer not returning my calls?

Reason #1: Your lawyer isn’t returning your calls. Lack of communication is a big problem for some law firm clients. Yes, legal practices are very busy. They have lots of clients — not just you. However, before a lawyer signs on to take your case, they need to know if the firm has the capacity to handle it. There’s no excuse for not returning phone ...

What do you need to know before hiring a personal injury lawyer?

Before you hire an attorney, you’ll sign a contract that sets forth the lawyer’s fees. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they get paid a percentage of the damages you receive. However, they’re also going to charge you for additional expenses that come up while the case is in process.

How to terminate a contract?

Hire a new lawyer first, and then fire the old one. Write a termination letter. Any time you modify or terminate a contract, it must be in writing.

What is zealous representation?

Your lawyer has a duty to pursue your legal action with zealous representation. That’s legal-speak for the concept that the lawyer should do everything that’s reasonably feasible to advocate for, or represent, their client. Almost every law student is taught about zealous representation in law school, but some might forget or become less motivated as the years go by.

Can a lawyer lie?

Your lawyer is also bound by the laws in your state and their code of ethics. You can’t expect them to lie, nor can you expect them to cover up evidence (or fabricate evidence). Doing so would put them in a position that could jeopardize their career, license, and reputation.

Can you return a phone call?

There’s no excuse for not returning phone calls or emails within a reasonable amount of time. Be aware that your calls might be returned by an assistant or paralegal — you might not always be able to get your lawyer on the phone.