I have my first hearing tomorrow via Zoom for temporary orders, and my lawyer mentioned she has another hearing at the same time. She told me not to worry if she’s not there initially because she’ll be back soon. She said the clerk knows which courtroom she’s in and can message her if needed. But I’m kind of worried about whether this is ethical. I mean, if I’m paying her for in-person rates, shouldn’t she be focused on my case? What if she misses something important during my hearing? Anyone else been in a similar situation?
It’s actually pretty normal, but you shouldn’t be billed for the whole wait time, especially if she’s tied up with another matter. The judge won’t be too upset—it’s common for attorneys to juggle hearings.
But isn’t it a bit unfair? You can’t really do that in person, right? Why is it okay for her to jump back and forth? I’d be worried the judge would get annoyed too.
NAL, but I work in social services and it’s super common for multiple people to end up with overlapping hearings. It shouldn’t happen ideally, but it does a lot.
Yeah, this happens all the time here. Just wait until your lawyer arrives. If they call you early, let them know she’s in another courtroom.
If she doesn’t show up, don’t proceed with the hearing. You need her there, especially for temporary orders. If they push it without her, you can report your lawyer for misconduct later.
My lawyer did the same thing and it was totally fine. They usually wait or call you back up once your lawyer returns.