What is a reasonable response time for an attorney?
Asked by: Dr. Dale Wisozk I | Last update: September 14, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (66 votes)
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.
How long should you wait for your attorney to respond?
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. It might be two business days before your attorney contacts you on rare occasions.
What is a reasonable response time for a lawyer?
A: You should get a response within 24 hours during normal business hours M-F, if you hired a good lawyer. Are you sure the lawyer still has permission to talk to you as the client can take this approval away from the attorney and that may be the reason the attorney is not responding to you.
What do I do if my lawyer is not responding to my emails?
You could start by sending a detailed, certified letter to your lawyer, outlining your concerns and the history of non-communication. In this letter, request a comprehensive update on your case and an explanation for the lack of communication.
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.
Four Red Flags that you hired the wrong attorney. How to know if you hired a bad attorney.
How do you respectfully ask for an update?
State clearly what you need, but avoid being demanding. For example: "Could you kindly provide a quick status update on the project? I'd appreciate to hear any information you can share about the progress so far." Using polite wording like "kindly" or "I'd appreciate" makes your email sound professional and friendly.
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.
Why haven't I heard from my attorney?
Your lawyer may also be at events that are important such as continuing education or events with judges and other attorneys. So, many times your attorney is not ignoring you but simply unavailable. On the other hand, if it's been weeks since you've heard from them, that's a sign of bad communication skills.
How to chase someone for a response politely?
- 1) Reply in the same email thread.
- 2) Keep the message simple with a greeting.
- 3) Use polite words and cover all pointers of your message.
- 4) Use proper formatting and grammar.
- 5) Make an action-driven ending in your email.
- 6) Tracking your email's performance.
How do I know if my lawyer is bad?
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.
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.
Why is my lawyer taking so long to settle my case?
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.
What is a reasonable response rate?
So, what is a good survey response rate? Factors that impact this include, how engaged your customers are with your brand, and whether you're delivering surveys in a way that's easy for them. Nevertheless, a good survey response rate ranges between 5% and 30%. An excellent response rate is 50% or higher.
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.
Can you sue a lawyer for not responding?
Your Lawyer Missed a Deadline
Failing to respond to discovery requests or file complaints on time can be detrimental to the client's case. Mistakes such as these can prevent key evidence from being admitted and alter the outcome of the case, which would create strong grounds for a malpractice case.
Why don't attorneys call back?
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.
How do you politely follow up for a response?
- Be polite and professional. Remember, you're asking for someone's time and attention. ...
- Keep it concise. Your follow-up email should be brief and to the point. ...
- Provide context. ...
- Send timely follow-ups. ...
- Use a clear subject line. ...
- Optimize for mobile.
How to remind someone that you are waiting for their response?
1 Give them a week before sending a reminder. 2 Include a call to action in an email subject line. 3 Send a reminder email in the original thread. 4 Open with a friendly greeting.
How to ask politely for an update?
- Step #1: Open with a polite greeting.
- Step #2: Avoid cliché corporate jargon.
- Step #3: Formulate your update requests clearly.
- Step #4: Ask open-ended questions.
- Step #5: Use a CTA (Call to Action)
- Step #6: Provide enough context information.
- Step #7: Justify your request.
- Step #8: Set a reasonable deadline.
How long should I wait for my attorney to respond?
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.
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.
Why is my lawyer not contacting me?
Something may have come up in the attorney's personal life as well. Much of the time, if your attorney isn't calling you as often as you had hoped, your case may just be at a standstill right now and there's nothing more they can do at the moment.
How to tell if your lawyer is working against you?
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. Review Your Case: Educate yourself about the details of your case and the legal proceedings involved.
How do you know if a lawyer is scamming you?
For example, the State Bar of California has an Attorney Search page where you can insert an individual's name or State Bar Number to see if they really are licensed. You can also call your state Bar directly and verify that an individual has a license.
Can your lawyer turn against you?
The law is clear that a lawyer cannot turn against their client, and any violation of this guideline can invite a stringent investigation from legal authorities. Accusations of treachery are taken seriously and may warrant criminal prosecution to ensure justice is served fairly.