How Will You Communicate With Me About My Case?
- Burdon Legal Team
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Being charged with a criminal offence is an isolating and frightening experience. Your mind is racing, and the legal system feels like an overwhelmingly complex maze. Amid this stress, one of the biggest anxieties we hear from new clients is born from past experiences or horror stories:
"Am I going to be left in the dark?" "Will I have to chase my lawyer for updates?" "Will I even be able to speak to the actual lawyer handling my case?"
At Burdon Legal, we don't just see this as a client concern; we see it as a fundamental failure of the legal profession. A lawyer's job isn't just to appear in court. It's to guide, advise, and support you through every single step of the process.
Our commitment is simple: We will never leave you guessing.
Clear, consistent, and proactive communication is the cornerstone of our practice. This article outlines exactly how we communicate with you, what you can expect, and why we believe it's essential to achieving the best possible outcome.
Table of Contents
The 'Black Hole' Problem: Why Bad Communication Is Unacceptable
Our Communication Policy: Your Case, Your Control
Your Communication Channels: How We Stay in Touch
Key Milestones: When You Will Always Hear From Us
Our No-Jargon Promise: We Speak Plain English
Why the Best Criminal Lawyers are Great Communicators
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Start the Conversation: Contact Us Today
The 'Black Hole' Problem: Why Bad Communication Is Unacceptable
Many people feel intimidated by the legal process and the people who work within it. Too many criminal lawyers operate from an old-fashioned playbook, failing to return calls promptly, using complex jargon, and leaving clients feeling like a case number instead of a person.
This isn't just bad service; it's dangerous.When you are left in the dark, you can't make informed decisions. Anxiety builds, and the trust between you and your legal team breaks down. In a situation where your future is on the line, this is simply not good enough. We built our firm differently. We operate on a foundation of complete transparency.
Our Communication Policy: Your Case, Your Control
When you engage Burdon Legal, you are not just hiring a lawyer; you are engaging a dedicated advocate. Our communication policy is built on three pillars:
Access:Â You will have direct access to the lawyer responsible for your case.
Clarity:Â We will explain every development in plain English, ensuring you understand your options and our strategy.
Proactivity:Â We will contact you with updates. You should never have to chase us to find out what is happening with your file.
This isn't just a case; it's your life. You deserve to be in control, and that control comes from being fully informed.
Your Communication Channels: How We Stay in Touch
We use a multi-channel approach to ensure you get the information you need in the most efficient way.
Direct Phone Calls:Â For urgent matters, strategic discussions, or when you simply need to speak to your lawyer. If your lawyer is in court, we guarantee a prompt call-back. You will not be passed from assistant to assistant.
Email:Â This is our primary tool for sending you copies of documents, providing detailed written updates, and confirming instructions. We commit to responding to all client emails within one business day.
In-Person Conferences:Â For critical stages of your case, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. We will schedule these to review the evidence (the "brief"), prepare for a plea, or plan a trial strategy.
Video Calls (Zoom/Teams):Â For your convenience, we can hold scheduled conferences via video call, saving you the time and stress of travelling into the city for every update.
Key Milestones: When You Will Always Hear From Us
A legal case can feel like "hurry up and wait." There will be periods of intense activity and periods where we are waiting on the police or the courts. To manage this, we commit to proactively contacting you at every significant milestone.
You are guaranteed to hear from us when:
We Are Engaged:Â The moment you formally engage us, we will confirm in writing, outline the immediate next steps, and schedule our first proper conference.
The Evidence Arrives: As soon as we receive the police brief of evidence, we will contact you. This is the most critical document, and our next step is always to arrange a time to go through it with you, page by page.
We Communicate with Prosecutors:Â After we have reviewed the evidence and discussed it with you, we will negotiate with the police or prosecution. We will update you immediately on the outcome of those discussions.
Before Every Court Date: We will contact you in the days leading up to any court appearance to confirm the time, location, and purpose of the hearing. We ensure you know what to wear, what to expect, and what our goal for that day is.
After Every Court Date: Your lawyer will debrief with you immediately after the hearing—either at court or by phone—to explain exactly what happened, what the new dates are, and what the next steps are.
Any Significant Development:Â If a new charge is filed, a witness statement comes in, or the prosecution makes an offer, you will be the first to know.
Our No-Jargon Promise: We Speak Plain English
The legal system is filled with confusing and archaic language—"mentions," "committals," "adjournments," "submissions."It is not your job to understand this language. It is our job to translate it for you.
We make a firm promise to speak in plain, simple English. We will patiently explain what every document means and what the real-world consequence of every legal decision is. You will never be asked to sign a document or make a decision without fully understanding it first.
Why the Best Criminal Lawyers are Great Communicators
When you are searching for the best criminal lawyers in Melbourne, you are looking for more than just technical skill. The best lawyers are almost always the best communicators.
Why?
Better Instructions:Â A lawyer who listens and communicates clearly understands your side of the story in detail, allowing them to build a stronger defence.
Better Strategy:Â When you are fully informed, you become part of the strategic team. Your input is vital.
Reduced Stress:Â Knowing you have an advocate you can trust and who is keeping you informed drastically reduces the immense anxiety of the legal process.
No Surprises:Â A well-informed client is a prepared client. There will be no last-minute shocks or scrambling on the day of court.
Your Melbourne criminal lawyer is your voice in the legal system. You need to be confident that they understand you and that you understand them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What if I have an urgent question outside of business hours? We understand that emergencies happen. If you are arrested or police are at your door, you need help immediately. As an established client, you will have a clear after-hours contact method for genuine emergencies. For all non-urgent matters, we will respond on the next business day.
Q: Will I be speaking directly to my lawyer or just their paralegal? You will be speaking directly to your lawyer. While our incredible support staff assist with administrative matters (like scheduling), all legal advice, strategic discussions, and case updates come directly from the qualified criminal lawyer with full responsibility for your file.
Q: How often will I get an update if nothing is "happening" in my case? We will establish a clear check-in schedule with you. Even if we are simply waiting for a court date, we will provide regular "no-news" updates to confirm your file is being actively monitored and that everything is on track. You will never be left to wonder.
Start the Conversation
You should never have to guess what is happening with your own legal case.
When you engage Burdon Legal, you are engaging a partner who will stand with you, advise you, and keep you informed at every step. Your peace of mind is as important to us as the result in court.
If you are facing a criminal charge and are worried about the process, start by having a conversation with a team that puts communication first.
Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation discussion about your matter.Â