What To Do When Your Attorney Won't Communicate
Lawyers are essentially professional communicators. The ability to communicate is a major aspect of a successful law practice. When your lawyer agrees to take your case, they are ethically required to remain in communication with you. If your lawyer is not communicating, this can be a warning sign that you may want to file a complaint against your attorney.
The Problem with Bad Communication
If your attorney is not communicating with you, this might lead to you not being informed about important aspects of your case. If you don't know about important findings, you may be unable to act on these findings in a way that will benefit you.
In some cases, there might simply be no new information about your case. However, your attorney will still need to return your phone calls and email. If the relationship between you and your attorney is ending, the attorney should send a termination letter and should not simply stop communicating.
Informed Consent
When a lawyer makes a major decision with your case, they must have informed consent. You must be fully informed about the actions your attorney will take and what effect these actions will have on your case since you are in charge of your case.
Your attorney must consult with you on the best actions you should take to move your case forward. Whenever there is an important development, such as if the other party makes a settlement offer, you must be informed about this.
Requests for Information
If you make a request for information, your attorney will need to respond to the request in a reasonable amount of time. If there are any limitations to what your attorney is able to do for you, they should inform you immediately about these limitations.
When Your Attorney Won't Respond
You will want to write a letter to your attorney and keep a copy for yourself. State that you have attempted to call your attorney and that they have not been available. Make it clear that it's very important that they return your call.
You should also obtain an attorney disciplinary complaint form that you can then file against your attorney. You will be allowed to file a complaint to the State Bar Association. If the Bar Association believes that you have a case, they might conduct an investigation. Then, your attorney may face disciplinary action. This can include your attorney losing their license to practice law.