More True Confessions of a Legal Writing Professor: Response Times Are So Slow These Days, Email is Now Sloth Mail

Abstract

This, at times, irreverent, tongue-in-cheek article is about how email response times have declined and proposes some best practices on responding to email. First, it gives examples of away messages that leave the recipient with the impression that a response will not follow any time soon. Second, it explains that when professionals ignore emails, that conduct is rude and unprofessional. It then, however, turns to some studies indicating that the high volume of email traffic has impacted our mental health and provides information regarding actual average email response times and the best time to send an email if you want a fast response. Finally, it covers why responding promptly to emails may rise to an ethical obligation because the Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to promptly inform clients of certain matters.