when sending an email, how long do you wait to follow up from attorney

Some attorneys assume that the old five-day rule for responding to business correspondence applies to email. It doesn't. People expect faster responses to an email than a letter sent through the mail. Try to reply within 24 hours.

Full Answer

How long should I wait for my lawyer to respond to email?

 · Posted on Aug 29, 2015. 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. I am licensed in Pennsylvania. Members of my firm are licensed in various states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Should lawyers send follow-up emails to prospects?

 · Posted on Jan 11, 2013. 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.

How often does your attorney get emails?

 · Your attorney’s mind will not be clouded with emotion, and the thing you need most after an accident is clear-eyed judgment and reasoning. At Fitch & Stahle, we encourage …

What if my attorney does not respond within a business day?

 · Some attorneys assume that the old five-day rule for responding to business correspondence applies to email. It doesn't. People expect faster responses to an email than a …

Why do lawyers get anxious about follow up emails?

When sending a series of follow-up emails to prospects, many lawyers get anxious about how well they’re balancing persistence against the risk of being perceived as pushy and turning off the prospect. This is a legitimate concern.

Why does it take so long to say "no"?

Remember that “yes” always comes fast; “no” usually takes much longer because people don’t like saying “no,” so they delay it, hoping that circumstances will make it unnecessary. Negative outcomes aren’t necessarily evidence of error by you, any more than positive ones indicate genius.

What is the May 2 email?

Your May 2 email appears to be in response to a phone conversation. Your June 5 email is in response to her volunteering that she’d have an update around May 15. You gave her two additional weeks of space. Two weeks after that, June 19, you inquired about the update she’d promised a month earlier.

Shelley L Fuller

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. More

Thomas K Coan

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. There are a couple possible reasons...

Jay Bodzin

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.

William A. Jones Jr

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.

An Attorney Does the Talking for You

If you contact an attorney right after your accident, you don’t have to worry about speaking to the people representing the other side’s interest.

An Attorney Can Speak to Witnesses and Record Critical Information

After an accident, you shouldn’t make the mistake of relying on a police report for all the details that led to the event.

An Attorney Has an Objective View of Your Accident

An accident has a way of compromising your reason and decision-making. That’s why you should never do or say anything after an accident until you’ve spoken to an attorney.

How long does it take to respond to an email?

It doesn't. People expect faster responses to an email than a letter sent through the mail. Try to reply within 24 hours . If the matter is complicated, send an acknowledgment and let the person know when to expect a response. Otherwise, the client is left to speculate on whether any response is coming.

How to respond to a lawyer who is rude?

Lawyers, who argue with each other all the time, can be especially at risk. A hair-trigger response to perceived rudeness or hostility could be disastrous. Wait a while and then read the message again. Even if you still perceive rudeness, try responding with politeness. You may find it defuses the situation.

What does "reply all" mean in an email?

Say opposing counsel sends an email to you with a proposal or an assertion of opinion. You forward the email to the other attorneys in your firm who are involved with the case. Soon the "reply all" button is being liberally used, and no one notices that opposing counsel is getting copied on the internal discussion at your firm. It happens. When you hit "reply all," check each email address in the recipient list before pressing Send.

Why is autofill important in email?

The auto-complete function on email systems is a great convenience, but it increases the risk of sending an email to the wrong recipient. This could be no more than a minor embarrassment, but in some cases, it could amount to professional negligence.

Can lawyers email while angry?

Emailing While Angry. Lawyers may be especially at risk to email while angry, although it could happen to anybody. In the old days, lawyers had secretaries type their letters and a long lag before mail pickup. Re-create that cooling-off period for yourself before firing off an email.

Why is my email name cut off?

Worse, part or all of the sender's name is cut off because most email system inboxes don't display sender names that long. Just use your name.

Can lawyers make mistakes in email?

Lawyers are known for their cautious nature, but like everyone else, they can make mistakes when using email. Some become horror stories, while others are just embarrassments. The following are common mistakes that attorneys make in emails.

What to expect when your attorney does not respond?

In general, however, you should be able to expect to get a general overview of your case whenever you request it from your attorney. In addition, you should also expect your attorney to call you back or return your emails in a timely manner. If your attorney does not respond within a business day, he or she should provide you with a reason why they were unable to answer your question (typically, if your lawyer is working on multiple cases, he or she may be tied down in court on some days).

What happens if my attorney doesn't respond to my question?

If your attorney does not respond within a business day, he or she should provide you with a reason why they were unable to answer your question (typically, if your lawyer is working on multiple cases, he or she may be tied down in court on some days).

What is billing at an attorney's rate?

Billing at an attorney's rate for work done by a paralegal or legal secretary. Complaints regarding over-charging for time spent on a case. The first thing that you should do upon finding and hiring the right lawyer for your case is to make sure that you get the fee agreement in writing that you can understand.

What are the most common problems lawyers have with their clients?

Fees. Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common: Complaints about bills being too high. Disagreements over what kinds of fees would be charged to the client.

Do bar associations handle lawyers?

Many bar associations claim that they handle issues regarding the competency of lawyers, but you will often not receive much more than a shrug if you complain about your attorney's work. State bar associations are generally understaffed to investigate whether or not an attorney is working in such a way as to competently represent you.

Can a lawyer be a machine?

You should remember that lawyers are not machines and they are just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else is, meaning that there is never a guarantee that your attorney will perform flawless work. Remember that after your attorney passed your state's bar exam, he or she probably has not had to take a test since. Even truer, passing the bar exam is not guarantee that your lawyer is competent to represent you in court.

What is lawyer communication?

Lawyer communication refers to the correspondence and communication between a client and his/her attorney. If you have a lawyer communication problem, you may be wondering if you have a bad attorney or if he or she is doing a poor job on your case. You should know that many states have laws regarding when and how a lawyer must communicate with clients.

How long does it take for an opponent to respond to a demand letter?

1-2 days = average time it typically takes a given opponent to respond to a demand letter after they receive it.

How long does it take to get a complaint to proceed to next steps?

30-45 days = average time it takes a given complainant to "proceed to next steps" when a resolution is not reached.

Do not let your opponent's representatives waste your time by talking about anything other than a resolution?

One thing that follows from this is that you should therefore also not waste time talking to people who lack the authority to offer your desired resolution . Insofar as your demand letter was clear and complete, there is no additional exchange of information that is necessary for your opponent to decide whether to resolve your dispute as you've requested.

Can you deviate from a demand letter?

Do not deviate from the terms of your demand letter (and this includes not speaking by phone if you have requested only written communication).

Is it good to be flexible in a demand letter?

And insofar as you deviate from a given term of your demand letter, it suggests to your opponent that you are similarly flexible on the letter's other terms. In yoga and in life, being flexible is good; in demand letters and the subsequent demand process...not so much. Stick to your demand so that you keep your credibility.

Why do they ignore my demand letter?

Remember, you requested in your demand letter that they only communicate with you in writing and at a specific address. There is a reason they are ignoring this request and are reaching out to by phone instead. They are trying to train you. They want to find out how committed you are to the terms of your demand. And insofar as you deviate from a given term of your demand letter, it suggests to your opponent that you are similarly flexible on the letter's other terms.

What is deadline in a resolution?

The deadline by which you are demanding that resolution.