One of the most common complaints people have about working with a lawyer is that it is difficult to get in touch with him or her directly. Let me assure you that our Atlanta personal injury lawyers work hard to be accessible and communicate whenever possible. Here are six tips for communicating with your lawyer that can help us help you in the best, most effective way possible:
Make sure your lawyer has your contact information, and update it if it changes. Make sure your voicemail is set up and you have plenty of storage space for messages. If your lawyer leaves you a message, call back as soon as you are able. Also, check your email daily, including “spam” or “junk” folders.
Be reasonable and sensitive to the fact that lawyers are very busy. Most lawyers also have to spend quite a bit of time outside of their office, be it at court, legal functions, or meeting with clients or other parties. During these occasions, it is generally not appropriate to use cellphones, so the lawyer likely will have to return your call.
Always try to be concise when communicating with your lawyer. It is in your best interests, and your lawyer’s, to get down to the heart of the matter as quickly and succinctly as possible.
Since lawyers often have to return your call, it is very helpful if you can be specific with your message. Rather than simply saying that you need to relay information, state what information you have. You can say something like, “I have the name of the witness, please call me,” or “Please let my lawyer know that the witness’s name is John Doe.” Depending on the information, staff members may be able to return your call or relay the information immediately.
Because lawyers are very busy and often have unusual schedules, please remember to be patient. Leaving multiple messages or emails throughout the day can be confusing and cause communication defects between staff and your lawyer. If you have left one message and are concerned that it was not received, send an email or call one more time with a very specific message.
In addition to calling your lawyer, you may also find it helpful to send him or her an email to follow up. Sometimes email is easier to access, and it provides a digital record of the communication.
The truth is, good lawyers are busy, and great ones are extremely busy. It can be difficult to reach us directly, but we want to help you feel confident that your voice is not going unheard. If you need legal advice, contact our Atlanta personal injury lawyers today. We do our best to offer every client the utmost time and attention they deserve.