When you hire an attorney, you do so with the idea that this person, along with their team, will assist you with all aspects of your case. By putting the appropriate amount of time and energy into the search process, you can feel confident in your ability to hire the right person for the job.
Unfortunately, there may come a time when you realize that you need to fire your attorney. There are many reasons for this, such as if they continually miss deadlines or are using deceptive billing practices to scam you.
Regardless of the reason, there are some key steps to take should you need to fire your attorney:
- Find new help: Before you terminate your agreement with your current attorney, find someone who can take over your case. This attorney can then request all the necessary files, allowing them to hit the ground running.
- Review your records: For example, the contract you signed will outline how to terminate your agreement and any costs associated with doing so. Follow the steps outlined in the contract, as this will streamline the process.
- Send your request in a registered letter: This gives you proof of receipt, thus ensuring that your attorney doesn’t argue that they never received your request to terminate. Keep the letter short and simple, sticking only to the facts and your desire to end your relationship.
- Request a refund: If the attorney was paid money for work that was not performed, don’t hesitate to request a refund. They may fight you on this, but you have the right to this money.
You hope that everything goes as planned after hiring an attorney, but you never know what the future will bring. While a simple conversation is often enough to work through any disagreements, this isn’t always the case.
If you need to fire your attorney, it’s critical to take the right steps at the right time. This improves the likelihood of getting what you want in the end. The most important thing to remember is that you have legal rights in Colorado, so you’re not required to work with an attorney if it’s no longer in your best interest.
Visit our website and read our past blog posts for more information on the many types of legal malpractice.