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Yes. Most law firms still keep a working fax line, and many prefer faxed documents over email attachments because the confirmation page proves exactly when the document arrived. Call the office to confirm the fax number first, then ask whether the document should go to a named attorney or paralegal rather than the firm's general machine.
Deadlines. Legal work runs on filing dates, notice periods, and statutes of limitation, and a fax confirmation shows the date, time, and recipient number in a single page. Email read receipts are optional and easily disputed; a fax confirmation is not. Courts and opposing counsel also still accept fax service for some filings and correspondence, so firms keep the lines active out of necessity. The result: when your lawyer says "fax it over," they are asking for the one channel that gives both of you a timestamp neither side can argue with later.
| Document | Fax fit |
|---|---|
| Signed retainer or engagement letter | Good: the confirmation proves when the relationship started |
| Contracts for review | Good for drafts; send clean scans so their notes and edits stay readable |
| Correspondence to opposing counsel | Common practice: the confirmation is your proof of service |
| Court filings (where rules allow) | Depends on the court: check local rules, since many courts now require e-filing |
| Evidence and exhibits | Useful for drafts and discussion, but keep originals: courts want the real thing |
Fax is not encrypted, and the receiving machine may sit in a shared office area. Three precautions matter. First, confirm the fax number before sending anything privileged: a transposed digit sends your documents to a stranger, and while that does not automatically waive privilege, it creates a problem you never needed. Second, put a confidentiality notice on your cover sheet ("intended solely for the named recipient"). Third, if the firm has a dedicated line for your attorney's department, use it instead of the general office fax. For truly sensitive material, ask your lawyer whether a secure portal or encrypted upload is preferable: many firms now run client portals alongside their fax lines.
Use the portal for bulk document sharing and sensitive originals; use fax when timing matters or when the other side asks for it. Portals are better archives and cleaner for large files, but they have no universal read receipt, and "I uploaded it" is weaker evidence than a fax confirmation with a timestamp. When a deadline is involved, fax the critical document to create the record, then upload the full set to the portal. Your lawyer's office can tell you their house preference in ten seconds: ask.
Call them. The confirmation page proves transmission, not human eyes, so a same-day follow-up call ("did the ten pages come through cleanly?") closes the loop. Ask the paralegal or receptionist to confirm legibility too, especially for dense or small-print pages. Note the name of the person who confirmed and the time, and keep that note with your confirmation. If the document is deadline-sensitive, that thirty-second call is the cheapest insurance in the whole process.
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