I am filing for bankruptcy, and my lawyer won't call me back. What can I do?

He said he would be calling me in weeks ago to sign the final papers so he could file. Now he won't answer or return my calls. I have already paid him in full. Who do you go to when your lawyer sucks?

You go to his office and you make yourself known that you are there to see him and that you have all day long to be able to wait for him. It's best to do this about an hour after lunch because in the morning is usually court and most lawyers like to take long lunches.
Don't take something to bide your time. Just go through whatever magazines that they have there. If it looks like you are real comfy then they will figure that you are just that.....real comfy ...and can wait...
Make sure that you know where the back door is and if he/she has access to it. Hopefully your lawyer will have to go through the front door where you are.
Let the receptionist know that you are there to see your lawyer and explain the situation in a nice way. The receptionist is the first wall that you need to get over. And if you have her on your side...then that helps ALOT.
If you see your lawyer going from office to bathroom, or to another office, or wherever, be sure that you make yourself known to him/her, everytime. And don't be shy either. Make a big smile and wave and say something....like, 'How howya doin'?..'We really need to talk today. And I've got the time to wait'.
Chances are more than likely that he won't like seeing you take up residence in the waiting room. And other folks that work there are gonna be wondering why you are there .... for so long.
This will make your lawyer uncomfortable and you can use this to your advantage.
Don't forget to give a nod and a big smile to whoever is running around the office. People like to talk....and you will be the subject. Your lawyer will definately feel the pressure.
Do NOT leave the office unless you have an appt. AND,,make sure that the appt that you do have is within 10 days. (at the very most)!!!!!!!!!
I hope I'm not forgetting anything.
Don't take the kids with you. It will only really bug you worse than it will bother them.
Don't be shy. You've already paid. Now it's time that you get what you've paid for.
And whatever you do ..... DO NOT threaten anyone. I told a lawyer that I had one time that I knew where he lived and I was going to be camped out next to his driveway untill he came through with what he was paid to do.
I really didn't know where he lived...thank goodness he didn't go legally balistic on me....but I did get his attention and got what I paid for.....(he was a cheap lawyer anyway)...ya know what I mean?
I really hope that this helps.
Take a friend with you. It will help pass the time and take up more seats... ~big smile!~

Get another attorney. You don't want someone that unprofessional handling something as serious as bankruptcy.

man i would consolidate my debt if i were u with the new bankrupcy laws u still have to pay off all of your debt any way

I have the same problem with my attorneys. They all want paid but leave you hanging. Sorry Good luck.

Legal Aid, it's FREE

Call another lawyer quickly..

Go to the office and don't leave until he anwsers your questions.

It's summer. Is your lawyer on vacation?

Is he handling an emergent matter (or two or three or four) that may have put him way behind in his other work?

What timeframe or deadlines did he give you? Are you going to miss a filing deadline?

I deal with people all day who feel that their matter is the only thing we all have to do all day, when in fact it is one of hundreds of matters our office is handling. Everyone thinks their matter is our # 1 priority, when in fact it is just one of many.

Many people also have a false sense of urgency ... as in a filing or response deadline is 3 months away, yet they call twice a day to ask about the "status" of their matter.

There are also some clients that we hesitate to call back because they want to tell and retell the story of what happened and give us every little bit of minutia (my landlord looked at me crosseyed! type of nonsense) as if it is some sort of serious update.

Is there a paralegal or other staff member that could help you? Many times clients insist on speaking with the lawyer only because it makes them feel more important or like they are getting their moneys worth, and then they proceed to ask questions that anyone could answer (what is your address? what is your fax number? what time do you close?). It's a huge waste of the lawyer's time, and we deal with it by billing the client for 1/6 hour at $175 (about $30) each time they do it.

If none of the above applies to you, send him a short fax that says:

"Dear Mr. Lawyer,

When I retained you on _____ , you said that you would call me in to sign the necessary documents in a few weeks. It has now been _______ and I am starting to get concerned, especially since I have left ___ messages for you without the courtesy of a return call. If there is a delay, please advise me as to when I can reasonably expect my matter to be handled by.

Thank you,

your nice client"

If you still don't hear from him after that, contact your local bar association and ask who handles disciplinary action and say that you want to file a complaint.

You have every right to have you matter handled in a timely fashion, but your idea of timely may not be the reality of what timely really is.

P.S. If you tried what the next poster suggests (camping out in the waiting room) at many offices, you would find your *** out on the sidewalk and your fee refunded less any time spent on your matter. The only "pressure" being felt would be by you ... to come up with another lawyer who is going to put up with your ****. Law offices are not like fast food joints ... you don't just walk in and get served. You make an appointment, and 99.9% of law offices have no compunction about dropping problem clients. Or about kicking them and their "friends" out of the office using police force if necessary.

Call one more time and see if you can get a partner or any higher up on the phone. If you can not do this then call your states Bar Association and report this. You do not need this lawyer putting you in a tighter spot than you are already in.

Since you already paid him, call his office, make and appointment and see him face to face.

um maybe start paying your bills?

storm into his office.

Going to the bar association is really your best bet. Look at the agreement you signed with him and see what your remedies are for inadequate representation. Then, send him a certified letter stating that you have attempted to reach him x number of times (and list them) with no response. Tell him if you do not receive a response within 5 days from the date of the letter, you will demand a refund of all money that has been paid and your entire file in full for breach of agreement. Short of that, find a legal aid association in your area to stand up for you.

He must have found out you don't have any money for him either !

Truth known, you might need to stop the proceeding in the courts.
Don't ever pay a lawyer in full again ! I'll help you if you contact me, doctorjlong@yahoo.com, no charge !

The bar association. You can file a complaint. If he gets enough complaints, or a serious enough one; he can be disbarred and lose his license to practice law. I'm sure he'd rather finish your job, than have you finish his.

fire him, and hire another one

Goto JERRY SPRINGER LOVEEEEEEEEE from ALABAMA

The local bar association.

Go to his office. Lawyers are notorious for not returning phone calls.

First, never ever pay anybody the full amount in advanced, no matter how trustworthy you think they are. Second, find another lawyer.

go to his/her office to see about signing papers instead of just calling them

I would go to his office and wait for him to meet with you or go to the Board of Trustee's or to the courts itself and notify them that your lawyer is giving you a run around.

i don't think you need a lawyer fo file for bankrupcy. i actually never had so i don't know.

- Call and visit him/her repeatly. Until they tell you to go away.
- If he/she has already taken your money, but has done no work, file a complaint with the Bar association and your state's Attoney General
and/or...
- Find a new lawyer.

Maybe your lawyer went bankrupt, too.

Go directly to his office right away! You might need a new lawyer. There is some kind of state board, your new lawyer can tell you. Oh yeah, state bar assocation!

That does suck. Call the Bar Association in your state and report him.

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