what if a client refuses to cooperate or communicate with attorney

by Gerhard Sanford 10 min read

Our question is whether we may ethically withdraw at this point because our client refuses to cooperate with us or follow our advice.” ANSWER: You may ethically withdraw from representation of your client at this point due to your client’s refusal to cooperate with you or follow your advice.

Full Answer

Can my attorney refuse to talk to me?

You may ethically withdraw from representation of your client at this point due to your client’s refusal to cooperate with you or follow your advice. DISCUSSION: The applicable ethical principle concerning your fact situation is found at Rule 1.16, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct (ARPC), specifically, subsection (b) (3), which states as follows:

Can my sister's attorney refuse to talk to me?

Dec 15, 2012 · 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.

Can the opposing attorney contact me without my counsel’s permission?

The real estate business embraces the concept of ownership using the term “bundle of rights.” Real estate agents view full, unaffected ownership of a real property as complete (ie, undivided) and, when ownership is shared, talk about percentages of that bundle. The same principle can be applied to guardianship.

Can my attorney force me to get my own attorney?

I. Terminating the Client-Attorney Relationship A. Mandatory Withdrawal (1) The General Rule. An attorney is required to withdraw from representation in four situations: if continuing the representation will result in a violation of the law or rules, if the attorney is unable to represent the client due to a physical or

What are common sanctions for violating ethical practices for attorneys?

The most common penalties for violating ethical rules are disbarment, suspension, and public or private censure. Disbarment is the revocation of an attorney's state license, permanently rendering the attorney unqualified to practice law.

Why are communications between a lawyer and the client subject to the attorney client privilege?

The purpose underlying this privilege is to ensure that clients receive accurate and competent legal advice by encouraging full disclosure to their lawyer without fear that the information will be revealed to others. ... In addition, the communication must be for the purpose of requesting or receiving legal advice.

What does it mean when opposing counsel won't respond?

In a nutshell, if opposing counsel isn't responding: ... If that's not possible, and you intend to make direct contact with the adverse party, make sure you tell them to refer the communication to their attorney if they are still represented, and ask for documentation of termination if they say they aren't.Jun 22, 2018

Do you have to respond to a lawyer letter?

No, you should not ignore the letter. It is unlikely that the lawyer is going to be rejected by the company's failure to respond to a lawyer letter. Most likely, the company will either get a second letter – or a formal law suit.Dec 5, 2019

When can privileged communication be broken?

Some relationships that provide the protection of privileged communication include attorney-client, doctor-patient, priest-parishioner, two spouses, and (in some states) reporter-source. If harm—or the threat of harm—to people is involved, the privileged communication protection disappears.

What communications are covered by the attorney-client privilege?

1. Relationship of attorney and client; 2. Communication made by the client to the attorney, or advice given by the latter to the former; 3. Communication or advice must have been made confidentially; 4.

What happens when a lawyer doesn't respond to another lawyer?

If your lawyer still does not respond, you can send him or her a letter explaining the communication problems. ... A knowledgeable legal malpractice attorney can review the circumstances of a case and attempt to communicate with your unresponsive lawyer.Sep 27, 2018

How would you deal with a difficult opposing counsel?

8 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Opposing CounselPoint out Common Ground. ... Don't be Afraid to Ask Why. ... Separate the Person from the Problem. ... Focus on your Interests. ... Don't Fall for your Assumptions. ... Take a Calculated Approach. ... Control the Conversation by Reframing. ... Pick up the Phone.

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

Can an attorney ignore a letter?

It is never advisable to ignore a letter from a solicitor as ignoring correspondence can result in unnecessary proceedings being issued or an Order being made by the Court. ... Even if Court proceedings are issued, parties are still able to reach an agreement.

What happens if you ignore lawyers letters?

Ignore the letter Ignoring the letter forces the opposing party's lawyer to do one thing – recommend that his or her client proceed to Court. ... The reality is that if communication is ignored, the party who received the letter can be fairly certain that they will end up in court.Oct 18, 2016

How do you respond to a threat of legal action?

Responding to Correspondence Threatening Legal ActionLook carefully at the letter's contents. ... Check to see who sent the letter. ... Review the substance of the letter or email. ... Review the situation and the facts. ... Determine how best to proceed.More items...

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 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 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.

Can I work with my sister?

You can work with your sister directly, or obtain legal counsel. I strongly advise you obtain legal counsel as your sister's interest in the estate is adverse to your interest. Don't be short sighted and obtain probate legal counsel.

How to know if mediation is not working?

When one spouse is overly vindictive, purposefully intimidating or making any types of thinly veiled threats, it is generally a sign that the mediation process is not going to work. You should never allow yourself to be bullied into accepting a divorce agreement that simply does not work for you, and especially not one that you believe is not in the best interest of your children. Don’t feel like the responsibility is solely on you to keep the peace—this is not a time to concede simply to avoid angering your spouse.

Why won't mediation work?

This could be because he or she is stalling in hopes you will change your mind, or perhaps he or she is just simply unreliable. In this case, going to court could be the better option, as there are much harsher consequences for failing to attend a court hearing than there are for failing to attend a mediation session.

What is divorce mediator?

Divorce mediators are highly skilled at creating a positive environment for constructive discussions and guiding people toward agreements, even in difficult situations. You should do everything you can to make a good faith effort at communicating with your spouse.

How does mediation work in divorce?

Divorce mediation works best if both parties are . equally invested in achieving an agreement outside of the courtroom. This requires some degree of cooperation on the part of each spouse. However, in some cases, this cooperation is hard to come by, especially if there has been a significant breakdown in communication and one spouse simply refuses ...

What is a beneficiary lawyer?

A beneficiary lawyer can assist estate beneficiaries with obtaining the information they need from executors if the executor is failing to cooperate.

What can a probate lawyer do?

An experienced probate lawyer can help beneficiaries bring a claim to try to compel an executor who is withholding information or documents to provide the information or documents requested. If problems with the executor are beyond fixing, a probate lawyer can also assist beneficiaries with petitioning the court to try to have ...

Why is it frustrating to have an executor withholding information?

It can be frustrating for beneficiaries when the executor is withholding information. An executor failing to operate transparently not only raises suspicion of misconduct, but it can render beneficiaries powerless to enforce their rights. Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to remedy the problem of an executor not communicating ...

Can a beneficiary get a copy of a will?

Beneficiaries are entitled to a copy of the will. If the executor fails to provide a copy, beneficiaries can obtain a copy from the appropriate probate court, since a decedent’s will must be lodged with the court by the executor. If the executor never lodged the will, the beneficiary may have to contact the executor directly to demand a copy.

What is the role of executor in a court case?

Executors generally serve as a beneficiary’s only conduit of information. As a result, executors have a responsibility to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed about the estate and administration. If an executor is not communicating with beneficiaries, beneficiaries have a right to petition the court to try to compel the executor ...

What is estate inventory?

An inventory of estate assets and their value at the time of the decedent’s death. Assets that have entered or left the estate during administration. Any change in value of estate assets. Liabilities and taxes paid from the estate.

What to do if a person dies without a will?

Where the decedent died without a will, a lawyer should start by examining the Surrogate’s Court file on the estate to ascertain the rightful heirs and other relevant information. If you are not a beneficiary or an heir of an estate, do not expect the executor or administrator to provide you with any information.

What is an executor in a will?

An executor is a personal representative of an estate who was selected by the decedent in his or her Last Will and Testament to ensure that the wishes of the decedent are accomplished. To simplify this a bit more, here is an example: Before Alex passed away, he created a last will and testament. The will appointed an executor ...