If a lawyer settles or attempts to settle your case without speaking with you, the problem may boil down to a communication issue. If that is the case, have a face-to-face conversation with your lawyer and frankly explain your concerns about the poor communication between you and the office. If you feel that they will handle your case with care going forward after your conversation, then there may not be any other actions that you need to take. However, you can escalate your complaint to the appropriate agency in more grievous circumstances. The courts and regulatory ethics boards regulate lawyers. Each state has a bar association and ethics board that will have its process for filing complaints. The procedure may include filing a form or sending a letter that explains your complaint. The agency will investigate your complaint by informing the lawyer that you submitted a complaint and giving them a chance to respond in writing. In rare cases, the matter will go to a hearing where both sides present their cases before a court or the board. You may want to hire an attorney for the hearing. In extreme cases, you may want to pursue a legal malpractice case. Like any other lawsuit, you must file a complaint in the appropriate civil court within the applicable statute of limitations.