Lawyers are, by definition, the defendants in disputes over legal mistakes in California, but insurance companies also bear part of the risk in these situations. While the defendant attorney in your case might handle the negotiation and litigation personally, his or her insurance provider could also take an investigative, representative or support role for the defense. This involvement of a third party increases the variety of potential outcomes for your legal malpractice claim.
Mistakes lawyers make
No one imagines that attorneys are incapable of error. For this reason, there is a process for claiming professional malpractice when their performance dips below an expected standard.
Professional standards lawyers must meet
One of the reasons why a lawyer in California may face a malpractice suit is failing to meet professional standards. All attorneys should be aware of the standard of service they need to provide. They need to make sure they are providing the level of service clients expect.
Understanding legal conflicts of interest
When you hire an attorney in California, you probably feel confident that he or she will prioritize your needs, and yours alone. Regrettably, however, this is not always the case, as many legal malpractice cases arise from attorneys who take on clients despite having existing conflicts of interest. At the Lange Law Corporation, we have a firm understanding of what constitutes a legal conflict of interest, and we have assisted many clients who hired lawyers and later found out they were breaking ethical boundaries.
Did your attorney ask you for informed written consent?
You expect your California attorney to represent your interests when you hire him or her. According to The State Bar of California, your attorney is bound to rules of professional conduct that dictate when he or she must inform you of potentially conflicting interests.
