When you hire a lawyer, you’ll expect that they’ll be competent, professional and most of all that they’ll get you the results that you deserve. It’s likely that you spent a lot of money hiring a lawyer, and a lot may have been at stake either for your business or for your personal life.
If your lawyer did not act in the way that you hoped they would or didn’t get you the outcome that you believed you were entitled to, you may be able to take action against them to gain back damages. However, you will only be able to do this if you can prove that they engaged in legal malpractice. The following is a brief overview of the legal definition of legal malpractice along with some examples.
The definition of legal malpractice
Legal malpractice occurs when a lawyer’s actions fall short of the competence expected of them. Lawyers have a professional duty to act in the best interests of their clients, to act competently and act within the law. Therefore, if a lawyer was lazy, did not use their legal knowledge in a competent manner or misled you in some way, they may have engaged in legal malpractice.
What are some examples of legal malpractice?
One example of legal malpractice is a situation in which a large law firm is representing both the prosecution and defense. This can create a conflict of interest. If, for example, your lawyer is supposed to defend you, but they are under pressure by the firm to act in the best interests of the prosecution, a conflict of interest will occur, and this will likely constitute medical malpractice.
Another example is a situation where your lawyer is negligent. They may not have explored all of the possible defense options available to you and, therefore, did not get you the outcome that you deserved.
Legal malpractice can lead to undue suffering. Your lawyer can be held accountable. Consider making a legal malpractice claim.