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My lawyer won't call me or email me back since we met 2 months ago. His associate stays in contact but never has answers.
Anonymous5 views2 answers
This is my 2nd divorce attorney and pre trial date is next week. his office forwarded an email where he proposed things we did not discuss, on a date never discussed, along with an MSA I never reviewed or agreed to before sent over to opposing party. I did point out my concern, in email, about him changing plans without consulting me, and asked for copies of court documents( i was told he tried to get my visitation order changed twice-denied) and told him that I was uncomfortable paying for him to do things without consulting me, the MSA had a lot of errors, and that I want to feel confident in him again. 2 weeks since I sent the email, still nothing from him. I can't afford a new attorney, how can I get him to work with me? If he won't fight for me I'll lose in trial. Please help this dad
Continue to follow up with your case through phone calls and emails. Document your concerns and request copies of your case file. You are entitled to copies of all the court filings and case correspondence. You should review the Statement of Clients' Rights and Responsibilities that should have been provided to you around the time you signed the retainer agreement. See 750 ILCS 5/508(f) for the full text. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=075000050K508.
You should consider attending the pretrial. It may be that your settlement positions are not realistically achievable and that you are putting your attorney in a very difficult position without much negotiating leverage. It may help to hear the judge's opinion on the case -- some judges will give you a summary of their views or a recommendation after they have the pretrial in chambers. Pretrials are performed with slightly different procedures in different court rooms.
I am scouring your narrative for the part where you make an appointment and go in to talk to your lawyer by appointment. These are concerns that require mature, in person discussion. We work on cases while the client is not around. Cases are dynamic. It is difficult to inform the client of every twist and turn in negotiations. Complaint emails do not solve that problem. Go in and settle on a strategy.
BTW, if you're couching everything in terms of "I don't want to pay for anything you don't have pre-cleared with me." You have defined yourself into a relationship where the lawyer can't exercise independent judgment on your behalf and where you have clearly communicated distrust. This relationship won't get fixed without an in person discussion.
I get an inkling that you have chosen to be a victim of your lawyer instead of partner in the presentation of your case. Very common in non-custodial Dads.
Man up and get an appointment.
Every good wish.
