comments from lawyers or other law professionals please.
2007-05-03 06:31:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
There can be reasons.
1. Do you contact him often and how much time has passed since the last time you consulted with him. Perhaps nothing has changed. In this case thats is what he should tell you but it is not necessarily an ethics violation.
2. Have you paid your bill? Probably the single most important consideration to an attorney.
Aside from these it could be an ethical concern. The State bar association and I believe the state attorney general should be able to send you information on the ethical requirements for lawyers in your state. You can also find this info on the web if you look for it. This is the type of complaint your talking about and yes it can be serious. Go to your attorneys office and demand to know the status of your case. Unless he has relocated or fled the state you should be able to find him there.
Paralegal
2007-05-03 06:51:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The American Bar Association is specific about what lawyers must do with respect to client contact and communication. Go to the ABA and look at those guidelines. Also, your state and local bar associations have similar guidelines. Your lawyer must communicate with you on a regular basis. If you are calling your lawyer ten times a day looking for an update, then you are become a nuisance. S/he probably took your calls initially but as time went on realized that you just call to have your hand held when there is nothing to report. If you are the plaintiff, your attorney doesn't get paid everytime he talks to you - his payday comes at the end of the case. If you are a defendant, and you're paying for the attorney yourself (i.e., an insurance company is not paying for your defense attorney), then your attorney will be able to charge you (or the insurance company) for every minute of your phone calls. Not that attorneys for either side are better at returning client's phone calls, mind you. If you are just wanting some hand holding and your lawyer is being unresponsive, try his assistant or his paralegal. They are used to dealing with nervous, skittish clients and will give you the attention you are seeking. If it has been quite some time since your lawyer provided you with an update (60 days or more) then you have a problem that you need to address by writing a letter to your attorney disciplinary board - but only after you've let your current attorney know that his lack of communication is unacceptable. Long and short of it: if you are pestering your attorney every few days because you are obsessed with the smallest details of the progress of your case, stop it - when something important happens, all attorneys will check in with their clients. If you are truly trying to reach him for a major development and not some hand holding, then you have an issue that you can resolve with simple communication (and more forcefully if necessary as described above). Good luck!
2007-05-03 13:41:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Failure to communicate with clients is what gets more attorneys in trouble with both the clients and their disciplinary authorities than almost any other problem.
That being said, I would suggest that you write to the attorney and explain that you need to discuss your case with him. Ask for an appointment, then call and see if his/her secretary or admin asst. can set an appointment for you. If this approach fails, then you need to dismiss him and find another attorney to take your case.
If you dismiss him, then if you have paid him a retainer, you would ask, (in writing) for an accounting of fees earned and a return of any unused retainer. If he doesn't comply, then you need to contact your state's Bar and file a complaint against him. In the meantime, retain another attorney.
If you need another attorney and don't know one, contact your local or state bar association for a referral.
2007-05-03 13:40:17 · answer #3 · answered by Phil R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is very wrong! Your attorney needs to be keeping you informed at all times.
Write him a letter and tell him you are not happy with his service because he won't keep you informed. That should help. If not, tell him you will be contacting the local bar association with a report.
2007-05-03 13:37:16 · answer #4 · answered by Starla_C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your lawyer has an obligation to keep you abreast of what is going on. Absent harassment of the lawyer I see little or no excuse.
2007-05-03 13:35:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is the main complaint of lawyers to the state ethics committee the failure to timely return phone calls of clients
2007-05-03 13:42:56 · answer #6 · answered by goz1111 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very wrong, but all too common.
You may need to contact your county bar commission if it keeps up.
2007-05-03 13:52:21 · answer #7 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
S.O.P for lawyers my friend... this is how he politely tells you that your not paying him enough...
2007-05-03 13:35:08 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋