People who hire a lawyer expect that they will be able to communicate with that lawyer as necessary. Unfortunately, there are times when people don’t get the communication they need from their attorney.
It’s nearly impossible to create an effective legal strategy when you can’t get in touch with your attorney. This can have a negative impact on your case. If you’re unable to get in contact with them, consider these points.
Leave a detailed message
Leave your attorney a detailed message that includes your contact information and the reason for the call. Your message should be professional and clear. It’s important to only mark messages as urgent if that’s truly the case. Lawyers sometimes have to answer calls based on the urgency level, so always accurately represent the reason for the call.
Keep a record of your efforts
Write down your contact attempts. Keep track of the date and time you leave the message. If your call is answered by a person who takes a message, write that information down. Also, denote when your call is returned, if it eventually is.
Send a letter
If you don’t hear back from your attorney, write out a letter to them and send it via certified mail. It may behoove you to let them know that you’re going to seek out alternative counsel.
There’s a chance that a lack of communication from your attorney can constitute legal malpractice. Determine what options you have for handling this matter, because you shouldn’t have to pay for lax legal representation. You should do this quickly because there are time limits that apply for these cases. Work with someone familiar with these matters so you can reduce your stress while continuing to push for justice.