In working through your legal case, you may have noticed that your attorney often includes one or more of his/her assistants and staff in emails, phone conferences, or meetings. There is a reason for this.
In working on your case, the law firm will work together as a team. Even though your attorney is the one making the legal decisions on the case, there are an amazing number of interlocking tasks that must be completed in a specific order to keep the case moving smoothly.
In cases which are filed in court, there are specific, crucial deadlines. Although the attorney will attend your hearing or trial, there are days, weeks, and months of preparation that happen before that date. And even in cases which are not filed in a court, there are still deadlines, letters, phone calls, drafting and negotiations to complete in a timely manner.
In order to serve you best, and to make the most efficient use of the retainer that you have paid, each member of the team needs up-to-the-minute information on your case. This avoids duplicate efforts and helps minimize the time that the team members need to spend informing each other about your latest communications.
There may be times when you have something to discuss that is so private or difficult for you that you must say or write it privately to your attorney. If so, just ask. But for most communications, you are helping your case by including the team and helping them to be better informed. And your communications with your attorney and her/his staff are confidential.
So, when you see an email with a “cc” to staff members, or a paralegal or legal assistant is asked to sit in on a meeting with you and your attorney, rest assured that this is to help YOU. And, if you are asked to “reply all” to email communications with the staff, please do so.
Kalish Law Office -Family, Business and Probate Law. Since 1984
