Lead with the main purpose of your letter and then explain the reasons for your question or request. Be specific when referencing relevant information including names, dates and places. The more information you include, the better your attorney will be able to assist you.
The greeting, or salutation, is the opening of a legal letter and is located two lines below the reference or subject line. Because legal letters are professional documents, the greetings you write should be professional. If you don't know the name of person to whom you're writing, make an ef- fort to find it.
Be Clear: Be direct and get straight to the point. Clearly state that you are terminating the attorney and briefly state the reasons why. Additionally, the termination letter should state that the attorney should immediately stop working on any pending matters.
RE: Termination of Legal Services Dear Mr. Lawyer, I have decided to terminate our current legal relationship immediately and have accepted legal counsel elsewhere. I am terminating this relationship because I have been calling your office for three months and have received no updates on my case status.
Typically, you should send the attorney written notice of termination of services unless the contract requires other types of notice. If the attorney has entered an appearance in a Court action, the attorney will be required to file a formal withdrawal as well.
In California, this form is typically called a Substitution of Attorney (Form MC-050) and can be obtained from the court's website or clerk's office. You will need to complete the form, sign it, and file it with the court, ensuring that all parties involved in your case are notified of the change in representation.
But if you decide to fire your lawyer, it is best to do it in writing. That can be in an email, in a letter, or in a text message. It can be simple. You might as well be polite (because being rude won't accomplish anything).
Using the term 'Esq. ', a courtesy title often employed as a post-nominal suffix, is a widely accepted and respectful way to address an attorney. While framing a salutation or writing to a lawyer, the full name followed by 'Esq. ' is generally used.
A Legal Professional By Any Other Name ... Finally, you do not need to address an attorney by any specific honorific. You do not need to start an email with "Dear Attorney Smith," for example. It is customary to simply use Mr. or Mrs.
Lead with the main purpose of your letter and then explain the reasons for your question or request. Be specific when referencing relevant information including names, dates and places. The more information you include, the better your attorney will be able to assist you.