How long should I wait for my attorney to return my calls before looking for a new attorney?

August 22nd, 2010 | by admin |
attorney
Erin S asked:


My husband and I have had problems getting in contact with our attorney. It has taken him up to three weeks to return a phone call or any other type of communciation. I feel like he’s constantly leaving us hanging. I understand that we are not his only client but an email with a scheduled time and date that he will call would be wonderful. Is it normal to wait 3 weeks for a call back?

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    1. No Responses to “How long should I wait for my attorney to return my calls before looking for a new attorney?”

    2. By chslaw on Aug 23, 2010 | Reply

      I personally try to return calls clients within 24 hours and your attorney should be updating you on the status of your case regularly. If it takes 3 weeks to get a return call, either the attorney is too busy or too inattentive to handle your case. I would look for new counsel soon.

    3. By paul_foster44 on Aug 24, 2010 | Reply

      If you have hired him as your attorney then you can’t call another attorney.

      However, you can go to the Bar Association in your state and file a complaint with them. I would send an E-mail first informing the attorney that you are going to file a complaint, I would bet that would get him to contact you.

      My current girlfriend is going through a divorce and hired an attorney. Her attorney would not respond to her. So she attempted to hire another attorney to write a letter to her current attorney just to get her to respond. The second Attorney she attempted to hire informed her that he would not represent her against another attorney.

      It may be leagal but finding an attorney to go through with burning bridges on a small case are highly unlikely. The complaint with the Bar association is free and the only person you piss off the attorney who is jacking you around anyway.

    4. By sgt_k on Aug 26, 2010 | Reply

      paul_foster44 is soooooo wrong. You can ALWAYS hire more than one attorney if you can afford it. Remember the Dream Team?

      Bottom line is this: If you are not comfortable with the attorney, if you think he should be returning your calls and is not doing so in a timely manner, you owe it to yourself to get a new attorney. You owe yourself the best legal counsel you can afford. I am sure chslaw would back me up on this.

    5. By xquester on Aug 29, 2010 | Reply

      An attorney shouldn’t take longer than 24 hours to return your call if the attorney is worth his or her salt. It is true that an attorney can be disciplined by a local bar association for failing to keep a client apprised of the case. However, it is probably easier to get a new attorney and request your existing attorney to withdraw from the case.

      All documents, files, memoranda, etc. in your current attorney’s possession are more than likely your property. The attorney must in all likelihood turn them over to whoever you hire.

      (These are just suggestions for areas to explore and not legal advice.)

    Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.