Status Checks

flyingfox said:
Any type of case, I'm just trying to come up with a general idea of how frequently clients have to call their attorneys for any type of status check.
Click to expand...

The type of case or matter that the attorney is doing for the client makes a difference, as does the details of that particular matter. It also makes a difference in how the lawyer communicates to the client. I generally keep my clients informed of what is happening in the work I do and what to expect next and when it will likely happen. That way they don't need to keep calling for a status check, which is a waste of time for both me and the client. For example, if the next thing in a litigation case is a ruling on a motion, I'll let the client the know when the ruling is likely to be issued and then when that time comes around, I'll provide an update on it. If a client knows what is coming up next and that is weeks or months away, the client should not be calling weekly or whatever in the interim to ask for updates since the answer will always be the same: we are waiting until that next event to come up. If your lawyer is not letting you know what is going on and when to expect things to occur such that you have to often call or e-mail the lawyer to get updates then maybe you need a different lawyer. The best lawyers won't leave clients wondering what is going on with their case or other matter.
 
flyingfox said:
How often do you call your attorney for statuses on your case?
Click to expand...

I don't currently have an attorney. The only time I had an attorney was in connection with a couple family members' estates more than a decade ago, and I don't recall ever calling her for status because (1) she did a good job keeping me updated without me having to nag her, and (2) most of our communication was by email.

Why do you ask?

Or maybe the question you asked isn't the question you intended to ask. And maybe your question would make more sense if put into some factual context.

flyingfox said:
I'm just trying to come up with a general idea of how frequently clients have to call their attorneys for any type of status check.
Click to expand...

"[H]ow frequently clients have to call their attorneys"? No client ever has to call his/her attorney.

If I remove the words "have to" from that sentence, the answer depends on the nature of each case, the relevant facts, the expectations, and about two dozen other factors.

Why are you asking this?
 
Tax Counsel said:
The type of case or matter that the attorney is doing for the client makes a difference, as does the details of that particular matter. It also makes a difference in how the lawyer communicates to the client.
Click to expand...

That's right.

I was injured in an auto accident when I was 20. I hired a lawyer, went through all the initial paperwork and stuff. Then he told me he would call me when there was a settlement. OK, wasn't a big case so I put it out of my mind. A year and a half later, he called me about the settlement. I went in, signed the papers and got my check.

That's an extreme example but it illustrates that there is no need to call for status if there is no status.
 
Tax Counsel said:
The type of case or matter that the attorney is doing for the client makes a difference, as does the details of that particular matter. It also makes a difference in how the lawyer communicates to the client. I generally keep my clients informed of what is happening in the work I do and what to expect next and when it will likely happen. That way they don't need to keep calling for a status check, which is a waste of time for both me and the client. For example, if the next thing in a litigation case is a ruling on a motion, I'll let the client the know when the ruling is likely to be issued and then when that time comes around, I'll provide an update on it. If a client knows what is coming up next and that is weeks or months away, the client should not be calling weekly or whatever in the interim to ask for updates since the answer will always be the same: we are waiting until that next event to come up. If your lawyer is not letting you know what is going on and when to expect things to occur such that you have to often call or e-mail the lawyer to get updates then maybe you need a different lawyer. The best lawyers won't leave clients wondering what is going on with their case or other matter.
Click to expand...
Very valid points, thank you. Where I get stuck is not hearing anything for months and that's what's driving the majority of my inquiries. I was just curious if that was normal to not hear anything for extended periods like a month or so but seems like you're saying the attorney needs to do a better job of communicating updates.
 
flyingfox said:
Very valid points, thank you. Where I get stuck is not hearing anything for months and that's what's driving the majority of my inquiries. I was just curious if that was normal to not hear anything for extended periods like a month or so but seems like you're saying the attorney needs to do a better job of communicating updates.
Click to expand...

If you aren't comfortable with no hearing from your lawyer I'd suggest you give him a call.
 
zddoodah said:
I don't currently have an attorney. The only time I had an attorney was in connection with a couple family members' estates more than a decade ago, and I don't recall ever calling her for status because (1) she did a good job keeping me updated without me having to nag her, and (2) most of our communication was by email.

Why do you ask?

Or maybe the question you asked isn't the question you intended to ask. And maybe your question would make more sense if put into some factual context.



"[H]ow frequently clients have to call their attorneys"? No client ever has to call his/her attorney.

If I remove the words "have to" from that sentence, the answer depends on the nature of each case, the relevant facts, the expectations, and about two dozen other factors.

Why are you asking this?
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response. I was just curious to know the level of back and forth communication between clients and attorneys just based on cases that some of my friends are involved in, along with how prevalent this is in the legal industry.
 
adjusterjack said:
That's right.

I was injured in an auto accident when I was 20. I hired a lawyer, went through all the initial paperwork and stuff. Then he told me he would call me when there was a settlement. OK, wasn't a big case so I put it out of my mind. A year and a half later, he called me about the settlement. I went in, signed the papers and got my check.

That's an extreme example but it illustrates that there is no need to call for status if there is no status.
Click to expand...
Very true in your case. But there are examples where the clients tend to call their attorneys frequently, for example in the immigration-type cases, based on what I've heard from those going through similar cases.
 
flyingfox said:
Where I get stuck is not hearing anything for months and that's what's driving the majority of my inquiries. I was just curious if that was normal to not hear anything for extended periods like a month or so
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as "normal" (unless you're a regular client of a lawyer and regularly assign similar types of cases to that lawyer and have, as a result, have developed a normal practice of dealing with each other). "[N]ot hearing anything for months" could be really bad or it could be no big deal. "[N]ot hear[ing] anything for . . . a month or so" wouldn't be at all unusual. On the other hand, there might be times in a given case where not hearing from the attorney for more than a day would be problematic. Again, it depends on the details.

flyingfox said:
but seems like you're saying the attorney needs to do a better job of communicating updates.
Click to expand...

What attorney? No one here has attempted to assess any attorney's performance. The reason for that is that you've provided no information that would allow for an intelligent assessment.
 

Share this page

Get a free case review from a lawyer
Back
Top