how much time does attorney need to read my documents

If the firm has files set for permanent retention, review them every 10 years. Study each individual case to decide if destruction can take place. The promise to keep client matter confidential is ongoing.

Full Answer

How long can an attorney keep a copy of a document?

If that is what you are referring to, it depends on the size and number of documents to review. It could be as short as a couple of weeks to obtain a review, or it could take months. Some cases are so obviously malpractice (e.g., surgical instrument left inside a patient) that there would be no need to review documents.

How can I read a legal document?

Typically, state rules that govern the professional conduct of lawyers, as well as state ethics committee opinions, dictate the length of time for which an attorney must keep client records on file. For example, Alabama requires attorneys to maintain client records for six years, whereas Illinois requires a seven-year retention period.

Will my attorney charge me for copying the documents in file?

 · A reasonable time. Unfortunately, what is reasonable is case dependent. If the matter is closed and the case over, 30 days is probably sufficient. If the case is going to trial next week, then 1 day is probably the about as much time as anyone would deem reasonable. Based on the brief information you gave, 1 week does not appear to be unreasonable.

How long do you need to keep legal documents in California?

 · Lawyers fear that if they re-write a standard document they may miss a detail that matters. 3. Negotiated document. Because most contracts are negotiated, they are often the work product of multiple authors with different agendas and styles. Lack of coordination and last minute edits all contribute to hard-to-read documents. 2.

What is a reasonable time for a lawyer to respond?

within 24-48 hoursA: 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.

How often should you hear from your attorney?

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.

How many documents can you review in an hour?

In general, assuming that reviewers are looking at a mix of documents that include some spreadsheets, most reviewers average 40-50 documents per hour.

Why are legal documents so hard to read?

“Using center-embedded clauses is standard writing practice in legal documents, and it makes the text very difficult to understand. It's memory intensive for anyone, including lawyers,” Gibson adds. “This is something you could change and not affect the meaning in any way, but improve the transmission of the meaning.”

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.

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.

How long does a document review take?

Document review can take hours, days, or even weeks to complete. It is typically the most expensive part of the eDiscovery process. Keep the data volume in mind before and during the review to help reduce costs along the way.

What does a document review lawyer do?

Document review attorneys evaluate documents for other lawyers and determine their relevance to a particular case. They play a critical role in the discovery process and ensure they produce all relevant documents in response to a discovery request.

Is Document Review easy?

Document review is tedious work. I said above that 'it is not easy to sit and read documents all day' or 'to make quick, consistent decisions on a given set of documents'. It's not – it's hard work.

How do you read a document like a lawyer?

If you want to save some money on lawyers' fees, here are some tricks and tips to reading these documents like your attorney might.Tip #1: Read EVERYTHING. ... Tip #2: Check Every Reference. ... Tip #3: Question Everything, Especially Things That Don't Make Sense. ... Tip #4: Close Any Open Ended Terms.More items...

Why are legal documents so long?

The reason documents get so long is that over the years attorneys run into circumstances where something went wrong and they add terms to prevent the problem in the future. For instance, the IRS will not accept a durable power of attorney without specific language, which is now included in virtually all forms.

Why do lawyers have to be good writers?

“Practice alone doesn't make perfect. Many lawyers have written for decades, yet their writing is still unclear and uninspiring. So it's crucial that law students and lawyers read and hear about good writing techniques and practice those good techniques.”

How long does it take for a lawyer to make a copy of a case?

The attorney must act expeditiously to avoid jeopardizing your case. Depending on the size of the file, I would say a week to ten days is long enough for the attorney to make a copy, pull his/her work product and get it to you...

How long is a reasonable time?

A reasonable time. Unfortunately, what is reasonable is case dependent. If the matter is closed and the case over, 30 days is probably sufficient. If the case is going to trial next week, then 1 day is probably the about as much time as anyone would deem reasonable.

Why is it important to produce legal documents?

The whole goal is to produce legal documents that communicate effectively and efficiently. Prose is effective when readers understand the message. It is efficient when readers can understand the message the first time they read it without stopping and re-reading.

Is prose effective when reading?

Prose is effective when readers understand the message. It is efficient when readers can understand the message the first time they read it without stopping and re-reading. Efficient writing may sometimes take up more space on the page than less efficient writing.

What is the number one cause of unreadable documents?

1. Unit of Truth Problem. The number one cause (in my opinion) of unreadable documents is, as legal drafting Guru Bryan Garner put it, “. . . the fear of qualifying a proposition in a separate sentence, as if an entire idea and all its qualifications had to be fitted into a single sentence.”.

What is a Rule 506 example?

Minimize definitions, avoid nesting them, and don’t define things away from their common meaning. (Classic example – Rule 506 says you can only sell to 35 “purchasers”. Rule 501 (e) excludes “accredited investors,” usually the only purchasers, from the computation of the number of purchasers.)

Can you file a claim for more than $4000?

Filers who have reached their 75th birthday may not file a claim for more than $4000. If you are like me you had to read the first example twice to get its full meaning. Here are some other ways to attack the Unit of Truth Problem: Condition readers early with sentences qualified by a following sentence.

Is it easy to read legal documents?

Get Help with The Confusing Parts. Legal documents generally aren't easy to read, thanks to their archaic style and specialized wording. For whatever specific document you're trying to make sense of, however, there's help. Advertisement.

Is there a time limit for responding to a letter?

There may be time limits for responding to a letter or payment deadlines. Where: Where the contract is upheld and which states preside over arbitration are usually less important than the other points for the average person, but governing locality can be important for businesses.

Is Nolo easy to read?

Legal documents generally aren't easy to read, thanks to their archaic style and specialized wording. For whatever specific document you're trying to make sense of, however, there's help. Nolo is a great resource for finding information—written in plan English—on all sorts of legal documents.

Nicholas Howie

You are entitled to your file, the lawyer you are having review your case can certainly get a copy. Worst case scenario you can get a copy of all filings from the court and all discovery from the DA.

Henry Lebensbaum

You should always be able to get copies of documents from your lawyer.

Alex R. Hess

Your attorney is required to hand-over your files at your request. This is very reasonable, and since you spent 5 months in jail, it sounds like a good idea to have someone look at it for a potential appeal or further legal action. Additionally, You can always go to the court and ask for copies of the court's file. It...

Ilir Kavaja

Generally speaking, your attorney is obligated to give you any and all documents and evidence that s/he possesses and that is related to your case. You can also go to the courthouse and ask for a copy of the docket and everything inside of it. You may have to pay for those copies.

Anthony Rao

This certainly is a reasonable request, and quite common. Put the request in writing, and the lawyer is obligated to get to you the entirety of your file. I wish you luck! Anthony Rao

Terri D. Leary

You can obtain the entire file from your lawyer. You have put him on notice that you want them, so go to his office and ask. It is your property, and he can and should retain a copy.

Do you have to hand over documents to an attorney?

Upon request, an attorney is required to promptly hand over the contents of your case files. Under the American Bar Association's Model Rule 1.16 (d) (which has been adopted by most U.S. states), an attorney must, to comply with ethical and professional standards, " [surrender] papers and property to which the client is entitled and [refund] any advance payment of fee or expense that has not been earned or incurred" as soon as the representation is terminated.

Do old lawyers deserve more money?

You may feel that your old lawyer doesn't deserve any more money. But you need to weigh these costs against the harm that could be done to your legal interests if your old lawyer acts in bad faith and holds documents hostage. It might be better to pay your bill in order to facilitate a clean break of the relationship.

Matthew G Koyle

Demand the file and originals. Tell him that you will file a complaint if he doesn't give them to you. Then do it. Good luck!

Gary Ralph Ilmanen

Formal letter to your former attorney demanding he turn over the file. Contact the state bar for assistance. The actions you are alleging are likely a violation of the rules of professional responsibility. There are all sorts of ethics red flags from what you've described.

Matthew Ace Johnson

1. You are entitled to your file. There are a few reasons he may not want to return it. You may owe him money or maybe it demonstrates he made some huge mistakes like missing deadlines or overbilling you for work not done, or he lost it. You may have to pay for copies of the file. 2.