“Honestly, I think it would have been easier to get the President on the phone,” cracked a businesswoman I met recently at a local networking event, describing the difficulty of getting her family law attorney on the phone during her divorce. She may have been joking, but she hit at one of the most frequent complaints clients have about their attorneys.
There are many paths to the door of a family law office. The signs are varied and infinite, but all point to one sad conclusion–that the magical love connection between partners has gone the way of the dodo.
Enter the family law attorney: one part social worker, one part therapist, one part punching bag, and one part gladiator. It’s easy to understand how an attorney with a large caseload comprised of heart broken and/or angry clients could lose focus of the importance of communication, but failure to communicate could have huge repercussions beyond the outcome of any one court case.
What my new friend may not have known is something everyone should consider: A lack of proper communication between attorney and client is not just a sign of a subpar attorney; it’s also an ethical violation that could subject the attorney to serious repercussions.
Here’s what the California Rules of Professional Conduct have to say on the matter.
“Rule 3-500: A member shall keep a client reasonably informed about significant developments relating to the employment or representation, including promptly complying with reasonable requests for information and copies of significant documents when necessary to keep the client so informed.”
While undoubtedly folks will quibble over what behavior this covers, the message is clear. If you are a client, you deserve to be involved in all stages of your case. Be reasonable in what and when you request information, and keep in mind your attorney’s (probably onerous) caseload. If the response seems unnecessarily delayed, it might be time for a complaint in writing. Set up a time to meet with your attorney to discuss your concerns. Remember that you and your attorney are a team and should work together to find a communication level that keeps both you and your attorney’s stress at a healthy level for the duration of your case.
The line can be hard to find, but I’ll tell you this: If you’re having better luck calling the White House, it’s time to get new attorney!
For more information about support and other family law matters, contact the Reape-Rickett Law Firm at 661-288-1000. They are located at 25152 Springfield Court, Suite 100 in Valencia.