The cleanest way to ask your lawyer for a case update is a single, specific email: put your name and case number in the subject line, list the exact questions you want answered, mention any deadline or new fact on your end, and send it once instead of in pieces throughout the week. That approach gets you a faster, more useful reply and, if you’re paying hourly, costs less. You are not being rude by asking. Keeping you reasonably informed is part of your lawyer’s job.
You Have a Right to Know What’s Happening
Before worrying about whether you’re bothering your attorney, know where you stand. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which every state’s ethics rules are built on, require lawyers to “keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter” and to “promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.” The rules also require your lawyer to explain things clearly enough for you to make informed decisions.1American Bar Association. Rule 1.4: Communications If an update comes back full of jargon, asking for it in plain English is exactly what the rule contemplates.
One area where the duty is especially strict: settlement offers and plea bargains must be communicated promptly, and the decision to accept or reject them is yours.2American Bar Association. Rule 1.4 Communication – Comment If you have reason to think an offer came in and you haven’t been told, ask directly.
How Asking for an Update Can Show Up on Your Bill
If your lawyer charges hourly, every email and call is billable. Most firms bill in six-minute increments, so a two-minute email that takes your lawyer three minutes to answer still logs as 0.1 hours on your invoice. At a national average of roughly $300 an hour, that quick exchange costs about $30. A 20-minute call could run $100 or more.
The fix isn’t to stop communicating. It’s to batch. One message with five questions gets billed once; five messages with one question each get billed five times, and your lawyer has to context-switch back to your file every time. Compile everything into a single clear email and you’ll get a single focused response.
On a contingency arrangement, where the lawyer gets paid only if you win, routine communication time generally isn’t billed separately. Some contingency agreements still make you responsible for certain costs and expenses regardless of outcome, so check your fee agreement.
There’s another way to save money on hourly cases: ask whether the paralegal or legal assistant on your case can handle routine status questions. Paralegals bill at a lower rate and often know the answer to procedural questions immediately. Save the attorney’s time for legal strategy.
What to Put in the Request
Email is usually the most efficient channel. Start with a subject line that identifies you and the purpose: “Case Update Request – [Your Name] – [Case Number].” Lawyers get dozens of emails a day, and something like “Quick question” gets buried.
In the body, get to the point. State what you want to know, mention any deadline you’re aware of, and flag anything new on your end. Something like:
“Hi [Attorney Name], I wanted to check in on the status of my case. Specifically, I’d like to know: (1) whether you’ve received a response to the demand letter sent on [date], and (2) what the next steps are from here. I also wanted to let you know that [new relevant fact]. Please let me know when you have a chance. Thank you.”
That gives your lawyer everything they need in one pass. Compare it to a vague “Any news?” that forces a follow-up before you get any real answer.
Phone
Save the phone for complex or sensitive topics that would take several rounds of email to resolve. Write your questions down first so nothing gets forgotten, and try to schedule a short call rather than leaving a voicemail that starts phone tag. Most legal assistants can put a 15-minute slot on the attorney’s calendar. Scheduled calls are more productive and, on hourly billing, cheaper.
Through the Paralegal
For purely procedural questions (“Has the motion been filed?” “When is the next court date?”), contact the paralegal or legal assistant assigned to your case. They handle logistics daily and can usually answer right away.
Prepare Before You Send
A little prep changes the quality of the answer. Pull up your last communication and skim it. Lawyers respond faster when clients reference specifics: “In your email on March 12, you mentioned we were waiting for the other side’s response to discovery requests. Has that come in?” That tells your lawyer exactly where you are and exactly what you need.
Ask yourself whether the question is time-sensitive. If a deadline is approaching or you just received a document from the opposing party, say so. If you’re generally curious, that’s fine too, but framing urgency helps your lawyer prioritize.
Gather anything new that might affect the case. A medical bill, a job offer during a contract dispute, contact from the other party. Sometimes lawyers go quiet because they’re waiting on something specific, and the update they need is sitting in your inbox.
What Counts as a Normal Wait
Lawyers are often in court, in depositions, or working against hard deadlines on other matters. A gap of 48 to 72 hours between your message and their response is normal and doesn’t mean your case is being neglected. Don’t send a follow-up the next morning.
If a full week goes by with nothing, send a short follow-up: “Hi [Attorney Name], I’m following up on my email from [date] regarding [topic]. I’d appreciate an update when you have a moment.” Keep it brief and professional. Most of the time that’s all it takes.
When the response arrives, read it carefully and ask for clarification right away if anything is unclear. Don’t sit on confusion for weeks and raise it later. Keep a personal log of your communications too: dates, what was discussed, any commitments made. That record matters if there’s ever a dispute about who said what.
If Your Lawyer Has Actually Gone Silent
Slow responses and total silence are different problems. If you’ve sent two or three follow-ups over several weeks and gotten nothing back, escalate in order.
Send a formal written letter to the attorney’s office, not another email. State that you’ve been unable to reach them, that you need a case update, and that you expect a response within ten business days. Keep a copy. A letter on paper signals a level of seriousness that email sometimes doesn’t.
If the attorney works at a firm, contact the managing partner or office administrator. They have a direct interest in keeping clients from being ignored and can often get you a response quickly.
If none of that works, you have two options that can be used separately or together:
- File a disciplinary complaint. Every state has a lawyer disciplinary agency that investigates ethics violations, including failure to communicate. The ABA doesn’t handle complaints directly but maintains a directory of state agencies that do. Filing doesn’t guarantee discipline, but it creates a record and often prompts a response.3American Bar Association. Resources for the Public
- Fire your lawyer and hire a new one. You can end the attorney-client relationship at any time. Under the professional conduct rules, your lawyer must then take reasonable steps to protect your interests, including giving reasonable notice, turning over your file and papers, and refunding any unearned fees paid in advance. Send a written notice stating that you are ending the representation and asking that your file be transferred to you or your new attorney.4American Bar Association. Rule 1.16: Declining or Terminating Representation
Don’t let the hassle of starting over keep you tied to a lawyer who won’t talk to you. A non-responsive attorney can cause real damage: missed deadlines, expired statutes of limitations, lost settlement opportunities. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to fix. If court dates are coming up, prioritize replacement counsel and let your new lawyer notify the court if needed.