United States District Court
Northern District Of Illinois
Local Rules
LR83.51.3. Diligence
A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a
client.
Committee Comment. A lawyer should pursue a matter on behalf of a client despite opposition,
obstruction or personal inconvenience to the lawyer, and may take whatever lawful
and ethical measures are required to vindicate a client’s cause or endeavor. A lawyer should act with commitment and dedication to the
interests of the client and with zeal in advocacy upon the client’s behalf. However, a lawyer is not bound to press for every advantage that
might be realized for a client. A lawyer has professional discretion in
determining the means by which a matter should be pursued. See LR83.51.2. A lawyer’s work load should be controlled so that each matter can be handled adequately.
Perhaps no professional shortcoming is more widely resented than
procrastination. A client’s interests can be adversely affected by the passage of time or the change of
conditions; in extreme instances, as when a lawyer overlooks a statute of
limitations, the client's legal position may be destroyed. Even when the client’s interests are not affected in substance, however, unreasonable delay can
cause a client needless anxiety and undermine confidence in the lawyer’s trustworthiness.
Unless the relationship is terminated as provided in LR83.51.16. a lawyer
should carry through to conclusion all matters undertaken for a client. If a lawyer’s employment is limited to a specific matter, the relationship terminates when
the matter has been resolved. If a lawyer has served a client over a
substantial period in a variety of matters, the client may assume that the lawyer will
continue to serve on a continuing basis unless the lawyer gives notice of
withdrawal. Doubt about whether a client-lawyer relationship still exists should be
clarified by the lawyer, preferably in writing, so that the client will not
mistakenly suppose the lawyer is looking after the client’s affairs when the lawyer has ceased to do so. For example, if a lawyer has
handled a judicial or administrative proceeding that produced a result adverse to
the client but has not been specifically instructed concerning pursuit of an
appeal, the lawyer should advise the client of the possibility of appeal before
relinquishing responsibility for the matter.