Mr. Goodwin is everything you want in an attorney: professional, honest, thorough, and genuinely caring. He always explains things clearly, so I understood exactly what was happening and what to expect next. His attention to detail and persistence really stood out. Looking back, I feel lucky to have found him. He guided me through the whole process expertly, and I deeply appreciate all his hard work. Would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.
When your lawyer stops communicating with you, you must be patient. Give the lawyer a reasonable time to reply because his schedule may be busy or there may have been an emergency. If a reasonable time has lapsed without any answer, you may consider the following steps to ensure your case is not neglected.
Contact the Lawyer Through All Means
Call the lawyer through his mobile phone or telephone. Send an email. Write a letter and mail it to his registered address. Personally visit him in his office. Document your efforts and maintain a written record of all attempts to contact the lawyer. This will be important in case you need to elevate your concern to a higher body.
Contact the Law Firm
If the lawyer is part of a bigger law firm, you can reach out to other lawyers in the firm or to the managing partner. They may have an update on what happened to the lawyer.
Request an Update from the Court
If you are worried about what happened to your court case, you should go to the court where the case is filed and request for an update. It is important that you comply with any deadlines to answer or respond, as directed by the court. You may need to hire a new lawyer to appear for you in the court case.
If you are able to finally contact your lawyer, request for an update to see whether you need to file anything with your court case. Remember that you can terminate your relationship with your lawyer at any time because it is a relationship of trust and confidence.
Get a New Lawyer
If your lawyer still has not responded, it may be time to get a new lawyer who can advise you on your remedies, both on your case and against the negligent lawyer.
File a Complaint
If you have been damaged in any way due to the negligence of your lawyer, you can check the state’s legal ethics rules to know your rights and remedies. If the act constitutes ethical misconduct, you could file a complaint for violation of ethical rules with the appropriate legal authorities or bar association.
Mediation or Arbitration
Some states provide for mediation or arbitration procedures for resolving attorney-client relationships. This could be a more affordable solution than going to court to resolve your dispute with the attorney.
A relationship between an attorney and a client is based on trust, confidence, and effective communication. When one aspect is lacking, it is hard to rebuild the trust back. You may need to get a new lawyer to know your rights and remedies. Should you need assistance, we at the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin are here for you. We have offices in New York City, Brooklyn, NY and Queens, NY. You can call us at 212-233-1233 or send us an email at [email protected].
About the Author
Albert Goodwin Esq. is a licenced New York attorney with over 17 years of courtroom experience. His extensive knowledge and expertise make him well-qualified to write authoritative articles on a wide range of legal topics. He can be reached at 212-233-1233 or [email protected].
