As a resident of California who is currently in the middle of a legal battle, the last thing you want is an attorney on your side who doesn't seem capable or willing to do their job. However, how can you tell if something is a genuine mistake, or if legal malpractice is involved?
Under what circumstances may a lawyer withdraw services?
When a California lawyer agrees to represent you in a legal matter, it involves a very serious commitment. For this reason, an attorney who believes that he or she cannot complete your case competently, without conflict of interest and/or in a timely manner should not agree to take your case in the first place. Whereas you have the right to discharge your lawyer for any reason, or for no reason, whenever you choose, your lawyer must have a reason to withdraw services.
Are high attorney's fees legal malpractice?
The short answer to the above question is no. If you think your California attorney charged you an excessively high attorney’s fee, this is not a matter for which you can file a legal malpractice suit.
What are the statute of limitations for legal malpractice?
If you are considering filing a legal malpractice case against your attorney, it is crucial to understand the statute of limitations for filing such claims. When you hire an attorney to represent your case, you are retaining the services of an advocate who will act on your case to the best of his or her ability. This means filing the appropriate paperwork, meeting all deadlines, communicating with other officials and gathering the evidence needed to represent your case. If your attorney has failed to do so in some manner and you did not get the ruling you expected as a result of the negligent acts, you may think about filing a legal malpractice case.
Upholding ethical standards
When you choose an attorney to represent your case, you may interview several prospects in order to find one that best fits your needs. Different attorneys appeal to certain people, whether you are interested in representation that is extremely knowledgeable and down to business or one that takes time to understand you and personalizes your case. Regardless of who you choose to act as your advocate in court, you may trust that your attorney has a passion for justice and upholding your rights.
