I am a lawyer who is overwhelmed with the duty to communicate. I can’t keep up with it anymore. Am I doing something wrong?
Samuel C. Stretton.
One of the biggest changes and burdensome obligations of lawyers that has rapidly increased over the last 20 years is communication. The current Rules of Professional Conduct were written in 1987. Rule 1.4 concerning the duty to communicate has had additions, but is still pretty much the same. In essence, that rule requires a lawyer to promptly inform the client of any decisions or circumstances where the client’s consent is needed. The rule requires the lawyer to reasonably consult with the client about how to achieve what the client wants. The rule requires the lawyer to keep the client reasonably informed about the status. The rule requires the lawyer to promptly reply with reasonable requests for information from the client. The rule requires the lawyer to consult with a client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct. See Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4.
