There are four areas of legal malpractice that you may file a claim for. These include negligence in the client-attorney relationship, negligent errors, claims filed by a nonclient against an attorney and fee disputes.
When it comes to the law, attorneys have a responsibility to act in good faith. That means they must possess the correct skills and knowledge to take on a case as expected by others in the field. Very interestingly, even after you end a relationship with your attorney, your attorney can’t take on any interests that could be adverse to you. If he or she does, then the attorney may be breaching attorney-client privilege.
How can you tell if you’ve been a victim of malpractice?
The main sign is if the attorney has not been reasonable in representing you. If he or she missed filing dates or showed up disheveled to court, didn’t know the laws surrounding the case or acted in other ways that any reasonable attorney would not have acted, then it’s possible malpractice took place.
What can you do to make sure you win your case?
To succeed in your case, you’ll need to show that you had an attorney-client relationship, that your attorney failed to do or did something that didn’t reasonably represent you, that your attorney caused you damages or injury due to his or her actions and that you did suffer an actual loss.
Your attorney can help you file a claim against an attorney who was negligent in your case. You deserve the chance to receive compensation for your wasted time and effort.
Source: TBO.com, “How to determine if you’re a victim of legal malpractice,” Jason Whittemore, accessed Feb. 24, 2017