how long should you expect to wait for a respose from your attorney

by Lynn Schinner 7 min read

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

Full Answer

Why do attorneys take so long to respond?

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.

When should I follow up with my attorney?

Even if your attorney is on vacation, ill, dealing with personal matters, or just really busy with other cases, they should have someone respond to your calls or emails within a few days. If you have not received a response to your call or email within three days, you should call or email again.

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.

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.

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...•

Why do lawyers drag out cases?

Their goal is to drag the case on and pay out as little as possible. This earns more money for the attorney, who gets paid by the hour, and also can help frustrate the plaintiff into making a better settlement for them out of desperation.

Why do lawyers not return calls?

Returning a client's phone call is not an efficient use of their time. Often, if you get a return call at all it is a paralegal assigned to the case, and often this paralegal cannot answer many of the legal questions you may have.

How do you follow up with a lawyer?

Ask to meet again. Cordially make your request for the followup meeting. Include your phone numbers and email address, even though your attorney already has them from the previous meeting. If there is a best time or manner to contact you, let them know what it is.

What's the best color to wear to court?

Darker, more serious colors are preferable, and bright colors should be avoided. The best colors to wear to court are “conservative” colors (white, blue, navy, gray, and the like) and to steer clear of crazy patterns and shocking fashion statements.

Is no news good news from your lawyer?

The bottom line is that this is generally one of those cases where “no news is good news” because it means your attorney is working on your case. The only time you should get concerned is if you need to speak to your attorney and you cannot get through nor have you received a return call.

How often can I call my lawyer?

Regular communication between a lawyer and their client is key, but there is no exact number of times you should be calling your attorney during an active case. A simple rule of thumb is to speak with your personal injury attorney when it's necessary.

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.

How do I ask my lawyer for an update?

AnswerRaise the issue early on. Establish, in advance, a clear understanding about case updates. ... Be reasonable. 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.

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.

How long does the state attorney have to file charges in Florida?

The defendant has the right to a speedy trial, within 180 days (six months) of the time he/she is arrested and/or charged by information or indictment.

How do I file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General?

Citizens with general inquiries, or who want to file a consumer complaint, should contact the Office of Citizens Services by calling (866) 966-7226, (850) 414-3990 or filing out an online form here.

How long does it take to respond to a lawyer?

2 weeks is a while. Most lawyers try to respond much more quickly. I would say that you should follow up with an email and or a phone call, sometimes phone calls are better.

Is it urgent to follow up on a judgment call?

This is a judgment call, and depends very much on your situation and its urgency. If you've got a hearing or a deadline coming up and you're trying to make a decision, then your situation may be very urgent, and that might justify following up more quickly, and more insistently, than otherwise...

At what point do you stop staring at your phone and realize that you probably won't be hearing back? It might be sooner than you think

At what point do you stop staring at your phone and realize that you probably won't be hearing back? It might be sooner than you think.

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Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more.

Over Eagerness vs Slow Responses

Your response time tells a lot about you. A common mistake among single men is that they respond too early, because they think this is the polite thing to do – not to mention they want to capture and keep a woman’s attention. However, overeagerness might make you look like creepy or crazy in the eye of the other.

Timing, Instead of Delaying

In reality, the aspect of responding is more about guessing the other’s status, and not about the action of contact itself. Instead of counting the hours for the perfect reply, try to time it well.

What does "waiting for reply" mean?

This is necessary in case you need to specifically reply-email, such as sending documents or feedback, reports, etc. from the recipient. It also means “I’m waiting for your reply,” but more specifically.

Why does it increase time between responses?

It is likely to increase the time between responses because you’ve allowed the receiver to respond when it’s most convenient for them.

What does "I expect to hear from you soon" mean?

Saying “I expect to hear from you soon” demonstrates a touch of solicitude: because it is. You’re likely to find yourself using this as a sign-off last-resort when you’re sure the receiver will probably not respond at all.

What does it mean when you say "I expect to hear you soon"?

Saying “I expect to hear you early/ I expect to hear from you soon” means you ‘re probably disappointed if you don’t get the answer and it’s the person who didn’t return your correspondence.

What does it mean to say "looking forward to hearing from you"?

“I’m looking forward to hearing from you” or “I look forward to hearing from you” is the most regular and common phrase to let others know that you are waiting for a reply.

What to say when deadlines are flexible?

If your deadlines are flexible, you can add: “Does this timeline meet your expectations?”

When to use "as quickly as possible"?

You can use this phrase when you want the answer as quickly as possible, but you have no time limit. It gives the recipient a little more nudge.