Firing the attorney is an option but this may put the accused in a position where he is without counsel - unless you have additional fudns available to retain new counsel while trying to get the retainer back from the old one.
An attorney has an ethical duty to vigorously represent his client - you may want ot remind the attorney of this. And the attorney does have a duty to keep his client informed. However, constant contact is not necessary and contact is usually limited to the time preceeding hearings or if there have been offers of compromise from the prosecution. Unfortunately, in any litigation, there is much down time! None-the-less, the attorney should be keping some contact with the client on a regular basis, even if nothing is happening in the case.
Before terminating the current attorney, spend the time to locate a new one that can step in immediately and that you can afford! Do that first - firing the current attorney, getting the retainer and filing complaints should come after counsel is secured to step in and not leave the accused wihtout an attorney.
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Please note that these comments do not constitute legal advice. It is always recommended that you consult with a local attorney, who can explore all the facts and issues of your specific situation and then advise you of any legal rights and remedies you may have under the current laws of your jurisdiction.
