How long should it take for your lawyer to respond to you?
Asked by: Greyson Lakin | Last update: October 21, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (40 votes)
You should never feel like you can't contact your attorney to ask a question. If you call or email them, they should get back to you by the next business day.
What is a reasonable time for a lawyer to respond?
An attorney or paralegal may feel that responding to a question within 24 or 48 hours is sufficient, while the client is stressing out about the issue and expecting a response within the hour, or at least by close of business that day.
Is it normal for lawyers to not respond?
While some of these reasons may justify a short delay in responding to you, it is unacceptable for your lawyer to go many days or weeks without returning your calls or giving you any explanation for their absence.
How long should I wait for a lawyer to call me back?
A: You should get a response within 24 hours during normal business hours M-F, if you hired a good lawyer.
How long should it take to hear back from a lawyer?
Your attorney should be communicating with you. I try to respond to my clients within one business day, but I think two or three days is also reasonable. That said, being responsive often means a quick call/email/text telling your client that nothing has happened.
How Long Should it Take for My Attorney to Return My Call?
Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?
At certain points, there may be weeks or months when your attorney is researching and writing or responding to a motion, preparing or responding to discovery requests, or preparing for depositions, and you may not hear any updates from your attorney. The lack of updates does not indicate a lapse in care for your case.
Why is my lawyer taking so long?
It's frustrating when a legal case takes a long time to settle, but there are many reasons why your lawyer might need more time. They could be busy collecting evidence, dealing with complicated legal issues, or negotiating with the other side. Sometimes, waiting a bit longer can even result in a better outcome for you.
How soon should a lawyer respond to you?
You should never feel like you can't contact your attorney to ask a question. If you call or email them, they should get back to you by the next business day.
Why are lawyers not calling me back?
Some of the common reasons include: High caseload: Lawyers often handle multiple cases simultaneously, which can result in a heavy workload and limited availability for immediate responses.
Why do lawyers delay?
What Are the Motivations Behind Prolonged Litigation? Delaying the trial can serve many purposes. If the delay is based on proper reasons, it may allow the defense and the government to adequately prepare for the trial. For example, both sides can have ample time to gather and review evidence in the case.
What to do if your lawyer is ignoring you?
If your lawyer does not return your call, send them a letter and keep a copy. In the letter, describe what is bothering you and what you need. Suggest meeting with the lawyer face-to-face. Your next step would depend on the nature of the problem.
How do you politely ask a lawyer for an update?
If you have not heard from your lawyer in a while, send him a quick email or leave him a voice mail message asking for an update. If your lawyer has requested that you write him a letter, follow his instructions his exactly.
How do you know if your lawyer is working for you?
Communication: Open and clear communication is crucial. If you feel that your lawyer is not keeping you informed about your case, is avoiding your calls or emails, or is not providing satisfactory explanations for their actions, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
Why is my lawyer not communicating with me?
There can be various reasons why your lawyer isn't responding. They may be busy with court appearances or other clients, or there might be delays in your case that they haven't communicated well.
What is a reasonable response time?
A reasonable response time for emails is typically within 24 to 48 hours during business days. Clean Email can help you manage your inbox more effectively to respond within this timeframe.
How do you know if your lawyer is selling you out?
- They Regularly Miss Deadlines and Appointments. ...
- They Show a Lack of Interest in Your Case. ...
- They Are Pushing You Too Quickly or Forcefully to Settle. ...
- They Fail to Return or Answer Your Calls. ...
- They're not Transparent in Billing and Payment Practices.
How do you know you have a bad lawyer?
Any behavior that compromises professionalism, such as rudeness, tardiness, or lack of respect for client confidentiality, should raise concerns about the lawyer's competence. Additionally, ethical misconduct or disciplinary actions by regulatory authorities may indicate a lack of integrity and competence.
Is it good to not hear from your lawyer?
First off, not hearing for that long is a huge red flag and a sign that you hired the wrong law firm. That's just terrible customer service and a sign that they don't care at all about you or your case. If it's not too late you'd want to get a new lawyer in that situation. Fortunately it costs nothing to switch firms.
Do lawyers make cold calls?
Cold calling, the practice of unsolicited phone calls to individuals involved in car crashes, is one of the most controversial and unethical tactics some personal injury lawyers use.
What is the most common complaint lodged against attorneys?
- Neglect.
- Lack of communication.
- Misrepresentation or dishonesty.
- Scope of representation.
- Fee disputes.
How long does it take for a lawyer to contact you?
If the attorney believes there is a good case and that it is within the scope of our practice, then the attorney will contact the potential client usually within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the first consultation to further discuss the facts and legalities of the case.
How long does it take to hear back from a law firm?
Some candidates begin hearing back from firms within a day or two. For others, it may take many months. How long it will take to hear back from firms is determined by numerous factors, including: Your Credentials: Generally, the stronger your academic and firm credentials, the sooner you'll hear back.
Why does my lawyer ignore me?
Depending on the size of the firm, your attorney most likely has a large docket with several active cases. Realistically, your attorney is prioritizing cases with nearer deadlines, meaning they will eventually shift the focus to yours when they have the time.
How fast should your lawyer get back to you?
However, day to day, if the lawyer is in the office or at meetings or court, getting your messages and inquires responded to within 24 hours certainly seems like a reasonable expectation on your part as the consumer/client and on the part of the lawyer, who simply may not be able to keep up with returning every phone ...
Do lawyers drag out cases?
Their goal is to drag the case on and pay out as little as possible. This earns more money for the attorney, who gets paid by the hour, and also can help frustrate the plaintiff into making a better settlement for them out of desperation.