Attorney communication time?

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Just curious...about how long does it take you to hear back from your attorney whenever you have a question? I guess I got spoiled early on. She got back to me within 24 hours the first few weeks. Now...after I paid a retainer (was essentially "pay as you go" earlier)...the communication is slower.

I requested her to review something on Monday and still haven't heard back from her. Yeah...I'm sure in most cases people wait well over a week to hear back from their attorney. However, she set the precident early on that I would hear back promptly.

Yeah...I likely need to just sit back and take a chill pill. One month down. Five more to go until I can file. Wee.

[KeepingMyKids]

My old attorney was like that - on the ball at first, then communications started to sloowwwww down. I would try to get in touch with her after a month just to touch base and see where we were and it'd be two weeks before I'd get any response. Hopefully my new attorney will be somewhat faster, especially since her new legal assistant is a good friend of mine.

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Yeah...my issue is that as there are no kids of the marriage, the separation period is only six months. I have a few matters (i.e. the house in my name, medical insurance, auto insurance, and the car) that can (or should be) addressed in the next couple of months. It's costing me money and preventing me to make other plans (i.e. look at alternative living arrangements) while I'm keeping the NJ in the house...for free.

There's no reason that I can't get a woman that I was married to less than a year out of my house BEFORE that six month window is up (at least from the research that I've done).

Again...I just happen to think it's convenient that the communication came to a screeching halt the moment they cashed my retainer check.

[Fatheroffour]

Is this a firm or a lawyer flying solo?

Mine was with a firm. Their policy was to return all phone calls by 5pm and if your attorney was uncommunicative you could go up the ladder and get resolution.

Since they bill for it , their supervisor wanted to know why they couldn't break away from their busy schedule to bill out a client call.

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Is this a firm or a lawyer flying solo?

Mine was with a firm. Their policy was to return all phone calls by 5pm and if your attorney was uncommunicative you could go up the ladder and get resolution.

Since they bill for it , their supervisor wanted to know why they couldn't break away from their busy schedule to bill out a client call.

.

A small firm (two attorneys).

Yeah...that's just it. I'd gladly pay for a phone call to receive some sort of confirmation that my concerns were at least received. I'd have been happy with a two minute, "got your email, I'll have something to you next week." Hell...I'd have been happy if she'd have just replied to my initial email with a "got it."

[Fatheroffour]

Two minutes equals .1hr or 6 minutes in lawyer math.


Oddly enough a 30 second email also equals .1hr or 6 minutes in lawyer math also.

But the rest of the math in the billing department is right on.

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Yup. I understand that. They've got to earn a living too. My issue isn't with billing, but with the sudden lack of communication.

There's only so much work that my case requires (I've spoken with multiple attorneys). If it looks like she's trying to draw things out to milk my empty bank account, I'll go elsewhere (yeah...likely leaving my retainer behind).

[Bubba Seal]

I comunicated with mine thru email and she would send something almost instantly unless she was in court or mediation, and set up a time to talk on the phone or in person, she talked to me when she was on vacation a few times, of course I put a couple of her kids thru college, so I guess I paid for it.

I originally paid a retainer, but after that she just billed me by the month after the fact, but she knew who I was, and liked me, tryed to set me up with some lawyer friend when I finally got finished, of course I said no thanks on that, I didnt want to date a lawyer!

Of course start to finish mine lasted almost 6 years, so we did get to know each other real well. But in the end she saved me a chunk over what my ex wanted initially and she got me 50/50, probably could have gotten more, but thats what I wanted from the jump. Plus she said that fight would probably cost another hundred grand, and might not work.

What I liked about mine was that I would ask what are my percentages in getting this or that, and she will give me that, plus she would put some sort of price tag on it ahead of time before we did something. We argued about a lot of stuff, but i would finally just say, Im the customer here, do it like this if it bites me then its my own doing, and she would do it.

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Well...I called them again this morning. When I asked the receptionist if she was in..I got :"what's your name (as if that has any bearing on if she's there)? (pause) Oh yes...she said that she needs to talk to you. She'll give you a call sometime Monday."

So...in a nutshell...their firm requires some sort of communication (even if it's just a quick "yeah...we got it" email) within 48 hours. It's been four full days. Yeah....I think that's confirmation enough for me that they were quick on response when all they had to do is generate a quick letter and collect $300, but now that I'm actually asking them to do something involved (after collecting my retainer)...it's hold your horses.

I went ahead and scheduled a phone consult with another firm (this will be free through my insurance). I didn't go through this place off the bat because it was going to take them a month to get me in. We'll see what they have to say.

I'm only a month into it with my attorney. They've essentially done nothing of substance (only generating a PSA and follow-up to establish a final date for the PSA offer). Not too late to jump ship and go elsewhere.

[Bubba Seal]

All the receptionist at my attorneys firm knew me by my voice, and half the time I called they would cut up with me about stuff, but Im one of those guys that kinda makes an impression when I meet people for some reason.

It never hurts to get on good terms with the first person who answers the phone instead of < female dog > and whining about not being able to get in touch.