Hi Lynnea -- when I have been on jury duty(I was never called to serve until I worked in real estate) there have been quite a few opportunities to respond to emails, phone calls and texts during breaks.  Change your voicemail and have a back up person for "emergencies" that can't wait...but really most things can wait.  

Lynnea I find that unless I am in Escrow most of the emails can wait, my understanding is Jury duty gives you lunch break time to return calls and emails and usually they quit around 4pm so you are only 3 hr gaps at a time, Endre

Delegate or make them wait.

Lynnea Miller - make sure you have the voice message stating the same.

I would find someone else to refer people to if needed, depending on the question, but also change your voice mail to let people know and apologize for not being immediately available. Life happens! Good luck!

I change my vm telling people I'm unavailable and to call my husband (or someone else in the office), set an auto-reply on email explaining you are out and who to contact. People understand that jury duty is out of your control, as long as they can contact someone else, no problem.

P.S. I served on a jury about 10 years ago for a man accused of local bank robberies.  It was very interesting and entertaining (he represented himself and was just an outlandish liar it was crazy).  Since then I've actually welcomed my calls for jury duty, but I've never gotten on another jury.  

Good luck!

-Kasey

That's too long to be without pay so to speak. 

I change my email to auto respond and update my voice  mail message.

At the end of the day, most anything can wait. In Charlotte unless you are actually sitting on a jury listening to testimony, we have rooms where you can work on your computer, cell phone, etc. So really, very little delay in responding if questions do come in. As for any active clients, once I know I have jury duty I send them out an email or text letting them know this and that I might be somewhat delayed in responding. Then again, where is it written that we need to respond to everything the minute a query comes in?

And if calls come in, change your voice mail to say you are doing your civic duty serving on a jury and giving information as to whom else to call or that you will return the call at end of day.

I was called to jury duty once.  I approached the bench made  statement and was excused.  Hmm, never been called again

Find someone or some service that can cover for you. Let people know to text or email you only during that time.

The last time I had to go to Jury Duty, it just entailed watching a short video, hearing a short presentation, and then waiting for about 4 hours for someone to tell us if we were actually going to be needed on a trial. I still texted and answered emails!

If I was actually on a trial, I'd just have to answer during breaks, which I'm sure there would be quite a few!

Timely means different things to different people.  To me, timely means in alignment with what my voicemail says I will be doing that day.  So if I had jury duty, I'd be saying that in my voicemail everyday and also letting folks know what times I will be calling back.

There are very few real estate "emergencies."  Most things really can wait for longer than most of us are typically willing to let happen.

It is not a big deal. Unless someone is on life support ... most matters can wait. It is not like you will be in lock-down for days ... like Michael Jacobs and Endre Barath, Jr. said ... you have breaks and have time to return calls.  If you are that concerned ... forward your calls to another agent. It will be fine. 

Lynnea,

One of us would answer for the other.  And there are breaks during the day.  A

Change your voice mail to say you're unavailable until mid afternoon.

Endre Barath, Jr. nailed this one!

Bummer, it never is a good time when they send that notice!  

Put on yur voice mail that you are on jury duty but will call at breaks or have someone cover for you.

I'd change my voicemail and have another agent to back you up w/ that phone # on your vm.  If you can accept/respond text, let them know in vm.

Our courts allow cell phones if you are not on a jury in the jury waiting room... otherwise no contact

Put a message on your phone that says you are serving on jury duty and to please leave a message and you will check messages at your first available break.

I change my answering machine to explain when I may be around

Leave message on email and voice mail that advise people you are busy with civic jury duty and they can either leave a message and you will get back "x time" or advise them who to call, if emergency.  When they hear jury duty they will know you do not have access to phone. 

Hopefully, one of your agents can accept forwarded calls from your phone. If not, an updated voicemail on your phone. Anyone who has a problem with that needs to have a reality check

Serving on a jury?  Unless you're sequestered you'll have time to work.  Even then, you get monitored phone calls usually.  If you're just in the selection room twiddling your thumbs all day, you can still work.  In my county they have wifi and power outlets for you to work.

I served on jury duty once....and have been called to serve three times.... enjoyed the one time I served....

after 70, you no longer need to serve.... another benefit of being 'old'....

Change the message, ask for texts and try to have an assistant handle inquiries.

      I have served jury duty on both County Court and Federal Court. 

     Since any cell phones have to be left in the car or put in a locker, I gave my personal cell phone (which is my office phone) to my wife so that she could answer my calls.   (I took her phone with me).  During breaks and lunch I checked in with Wife to see who had called.

Lynnea Miller Good suggestions here for changing your voice mail message.

I have an answering service and a team to help out

I either have someone cover me or adjust my message to let people know what's going on.

Leave a message "duty calls, sorry for the inconvenience"!

I have someone cover for me;  I change the outgoing message on my voice mail to indicate I am unavailable and if necessary, reach out to alt agent.  I put the same message on my out of office notification on my email. 

I like to tell my clients where i will be and change my voice mail. I also begged teh judge to be let off but no go. Intead of the standard 3 weeks, he siad i had to serve on 1 jury, yet the guy who stould up and said he hated everyone acused of a crime got dismissed

When I was on Jury Duty I found that I was mostly on "down time" so I used my phone to send & receive email & text. 

Plead the 5th ?

Have your assistant or an associate cover for you.

Presumably the judge or someone else in authority will tell you the implications if you do not answer questions asked during the jury process on a timely basis.

leave a message on phone you will be returning calls at certain times throughout the day

Change your voicemail and set up an email reply advising all to anticipate a delayed reply. Tax day AND jury duty!   WOW!!  ;)

Some very good answers here,. Great support.

Update my vm to reflect availability

I appologize but as I am very late to this post I'll just say looks like you have enough answers to work from.