why won't people talk to you after you retain an attorney

Your attorney is very likely in his or her office, but just don't want to talk to you. That could be because they are working on someone else's case, or maybe because they think you talk too much and keep them on the phone too long.

Full Answer

Why doesn't my attorney want to talk to me?

Oct 25, 2018 · When this occurs, your attorney will most likely not have anything new to report on your case and thus may wait to contact you until they have news. Although there may be situations when you do not hear anything from your attorney over an extended period of time, your law firm should maintain an open line of communication with you.

Should I retain an attorney?

Jan 30, 2015 · Posted on Feb 2, 2015. Lawyers have ethical rules they must follow that can be interpreted as making it inappropriate to talk to a potential client who already has a lawyer. However, it really is impossible for a potential client to know if he should fire his lawyer without speaking to another for a second opinion.

Why is my lawyer avoiding me all the time?

If your father or other relative is the actual client who signed a contingency fee agreement, you can’t talk to the lawyer on their behalf. That’s what attorney-client privilege is all about. You are not taking his advice. Sorry to break this one to you if that’s the case. If you aren’t heeding your attorney’s advice, why did you hire him?

Why do lawyers not respond to their clients?

Dec 06, 2019 · It's a common misconception that you should go with the first attorney or firm that you meet with. Especially if you've never dealt with a lawsuit of this specific nature before, it's important to do your due diligence. Just because someone you trust recommended this firm does not mean that they have the knowledge, expertise, or experience to get you the results you need.

Why do lawyers go silent?

How long should you wait to hear back from an attorney?

What should you not say to an attorney?

What to do when your lawyer stops communicating with you?

What does it mean when your lawyer doesn't call you back?

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Why is my attorney not fighting for me?

How often should I hear from my attorney?

Why do lawyers take so long to get back to you?

How often should my attorney update me?

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

How do you know if your lawyer is selling you out?

Jennifer L. Ellis

Lawyers have ethical rules they must follow that can be interpreted as making it inappropriate to talk to a potential client who already has a lawyer. However, it really is impossible for a potential client to know if he should fire his lawyer without speaking to another for a second opinion.

Anthony Bettencourt Cameron

Maybe it's because you are not being clear that you are seeking a second opinion. There was a long thread on here about second opinions not very long ago. Several decades ago, they were almost taboo but now they are common.

Steven Marc Reiss

The general rule is that an attorney cannot speak with a party they know to be represented. However, for example, in CA, the exceptions to that rule include conversations initiated by the represented party for the purpose of getting a 2nd opinion.

Matthew Scott Berkus

I understand where those attorneys are coming from, but at the same time, I believe they are being too cautious. It is not illegal to speak to a different lawyer if you already have one (2nd opinions are okay and sometimes encouraged and required), the attorneys don't want to be scene as interfering in an existing attorney client relationship.

What is the ethical obligation of a lawyer?

A lawyer has an ethical obligation to communicate with his clients. If he’s holding documents or if his lack of communication is holding up your ability to settle the estate, he’s not meeting his ethical duty to you as a client. You might wish to send a certified letter, as you mentioned.

When are court records open?

August 9, 2019 at 7:24 pm. Court records are generally open to the public. You can go to the court where your case was filed (usually, the county where the accident occurred or where the defendant lives) and request to see the court file (go to the clerk’s office in the courthouse).

1. What's your experience with this specific topic?

Just because you've got the "best" personal injury attorney in the game does not mean they have experience with your specific topic.

2. What are your fees and costs, and how are they billed?

This is obviously a crucial question- because you need to be able to look at the benefits of litigation versus the costs- only then can you decide if a settlement or offering (or accepting) policy limits is a better idea.

4. How often and by which method will we be communicating?

This question is a crucial one that often gets forgotten. Many firms communicate with clients constantly at first, before "getting too busy to call back" once the case starts getting more detailed.

5. What's our strategy here?

This is a heavy question, so you might need to give it time before this one gets a solid answer. But it's a good idea to select an attorney who has a battle plan laid out before even looking at the case. Of course, things will change dramatically as the case unfolds, but you want to be sure you're choosing someone who knows where to start.

Do lawyers have egos?

So even though it’s a killer, it’s a sure-fire attention-getter. In fact, it’s so reliable that if the attorney doesn’t respond, you’re probably better off with another.

Is litigation a complicated process?

Litigation is a slow, complicated, unpredictable, expensive process. To the extent your lawyer can expedite, simplify, win, and reduce the fees, he’s the one for you . I hope you don’ t need to get the attention of your attorney. But if you do, this should help. Good luck!

Do you have to write a Gettysburg address?

You don’t have to write the Gettysburg Address. Just confirm the status of the case, fee or whatever else was discussed. State the next step that must be done, who is going to do it, and when it will be completed.

What is Chapter 52 of the Placement Strategy Handbook?

Chapter 52 in The Placement Strategy Handbook is entitled “How to Select an Attorney.” Still, we receive many calls from placers ranging from inquiries to insurrection about the way an attorney is handling a case. This doesn’t mean the clients are right. But it does mean the attorney-client relationship has been damaged.

Can a divorce lawyer tell you that you can come to a full agreement?

"Divorce lawyers won't tell you that you can come to a full agreement in your case at any time," says divorce attorney Russell D. Knight. Instead, they would prefer to engage in the lengthy process of "discovery"—tallying debts and assets—before drawing up the final documents.

Can a judge see your tattoo?

When you walk into his or her office, they probably won't to see your visible tattoo, pink hair, or ironic mustache. But if your divorce is contested, you're going to stand in front of a judge in order to decide outcomes. Attorneys know that while judges are required to remain impartial, they are human and come with their own prejudices, too.

Do divorce lawyers charge by the hour?

Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Is divorce law firm bigger than solo practice?

In any industry, the larger a company is, the bigger volume it's doing. Divorce law firms are no different, prompting many people to seek a solo practitioner who is more invested in the outcome of your case. Paradoxically, however, if the solo practitioner does not have adequate support staff in his or her office, your case may end up not getting the attention and care you were promised.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

Do good lawyers always find every opportunity to keep a case from being decided by a judge?

“In my experience, a good lawyer always finds every opportunity to keep a case from being decided by a judge, and only relents on trying a case before the bench when all alternatives have been exhausted,” attorney, Jason Cruz says. “If a lawyer suggests they want to try the case in front of a judge, you should definitely speak with another lawyer before proceeding,”

Why is it important to approach a lawyer with honesty?

“ Winning cases can be lost because of a client who lies or exaggerates just as easily as because of a lawyer who tells the client what the client wants to hear instead of what is true.” So when dealing with attorneys, don’t just look for honesty—be honest.

Who is Lauren Cahn?

Lauren Cahn is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared regularly on Reader's Digest, The Huffington Post, and a variety of other publications since 2008. She covers life and style, popular culture, law, religion, health, fitness, yoga, entertaining and entertainment.

What is a potential money pit?

When hiring an attorney, a potential money pit is “expenses” outside of the lawyer’s billable hours. Expenses include everything—copying and faxing costs, hiring expert witnesses, and even traveling via private jet, points out attorney Justin C. Roberts. Some lawyers don’t just pass the charges along; instead, they charge an additional percentage fee. Whatever their method, you need to know it up front so there won’t be any surprises when the bill arrives.

How to keep clients informed of a case?

The duty to keep clients informed rests on attorneys, not clients. But on the theory that if the attorney screws up it's the client who usually suffers, here are a couple of steps that defendants can take to try to secure effective communication with their lawyers: 1 Raise the issue early on. Establish, in advance, a clear understanding about case updates. If an attorney's practice is to initiate contact only when a development occurs, the attorney should communicate that to the client at the outset of the representation. If a client wants (and can pay for) regular updates regardless of whether developments have taken place, that too can be spelled out in advance—even included in a written retainer agreement. 2 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. The lawyer may be too tied up on other cases to return the call personally, but may have time to pass along information through an assistant. And because some lawyers have poor communication skills, the defendant may be better off getting information from an assistant than from the lawyer.

What is the duty of a lawyer?

As defined by ethical rules, a lawyer's duty to keep clients informed has two primary components: to advise the defendant of case developments (such as a prosecutor's offered plea bargain or locating an important defense witness), and. to respond reasonably promptly to a defendant's request for information.