Your lawyer isn't returning your calls

Silence from your own lawyer is one of the most common complaints in personal injury work, and one of the hardest to read. Sometimes it means the case is just slow. Sometimes it means the lawyer has lost interest in it. This page helps you tell the difference and push for an answer.

What the lawyer owes you

A lawyer has to keep you reasonably informed about the case and respond to your reasonable requests for information within a reasonable time. That does not mean an instant call back on every message, but it does mean you are entitled to know what stage the case is in and what happens next.

Sources: Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4 (communication); Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6068(m) (duty to respond to client inquiries and keep the client informed of significant developments).

What is normal and what isn't

Normal:

• Weeks with no news while you are still treating.
• A gap while the firm waits on records or a report.
• Long stretches between court dates once a lawsuit is filed.

Not normal:

• No response to a direct question for weeks.
• Not knowing whether a demand has been sent or a lawsuit filed.
• Only ever reaching an assistant who cannot tell you anything.
• A missed or near-missed deadline.

How to escalate

1. Put it in writing. Email or letter, dated, with your specific questions and a reasonable date to respond by.
2. Ask for the lawyer directly, not the intake line or a paralegal, and ask for a scheduled call.
3. Request a status letter — a written summary of where the case stands and the next three steps.
4. If nothing comes back, consider a second opinion and a State Bar complaint.

When silence is the real problem

If a firm cannot manage communication, it is worth asking whether it is managing the case. Non-response often travels with other issues: a case that has stalled, or a firm steering you toward a fast settlement so it can close the file. Those have their own pages — your case has been pending for years and being pressured to settle.

Common questions

How long is too long to wait for a call back?

There is no fixed rule, but a lawyer must respond to reasonable client inquiries and keep you informed about significant developments (Rules of Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4; Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6068(m)). Weeks of silence on a direct question is not normal.

Is it normal for a case to go quiet for months?

Parts of a case are genuinely slow — waiting for you to finish treatment, waiting on records, waiting for a court date. What is not normal is being unable to get an answer about what stage the case is in.

What should I put in writing?

A short, dated message listing your specific questions, the last time you heard from the firm, and a reasonable deadline for a response. Keep a copy. It creates a record and often gets a reply.

Can I report my lawyer to the State Bar?

Yes. The State Bar of California takes complaints about lawyers, including failure to communicate. A complaint is separate from your claim and does not resolve it, so keep the filing deadline in view.