When you are in trouble and need legal representation, you want to feel confident that your attorney is working hard to make sure you get the justice you are looking for. Therefore, it is a double injustice when your lawyer behaves improperly and costs you more money than you expect to pay. Legal malpractice occurs anytime a lawyer you have hired to work for you behaves outside the code of ethics of your State Bar Association. This can be a simple as overbilling you for service, or not rendering service at all. Whatever the case, you should know that you have rights as a client and you can get help when you feel that your lawyer has mistreated you.
Legal clients are in a double jeopardy when an attorney sends out regular bills, and the client does not dispute them if they seem out of line with the work you are receiving. Of course, when the litigation is ongoing and you need representation; when the bills seem ok, though there seems to be a percentage of overbilling, you have to decide what to do. Do you fire the attorney and pay to get new representation? When do you pull the trigger? Is there a middle course? If the problem seems serious, it never hurts to consult with legal malpractice attorneys, they can tell you what is within reason and what goes over the line.
You want to protect yourself so that you don’t lose all around. You need to make sure you are aware of your concerns, and take care of them when they arrive. It’s no good to consult a malpractice attorney after the problem has gone on for too long. You can lose on your original case and on the malpractice case. The amount of headache and legal suffering you stand to undergo in this case is without measure. Save yourself the hassle and stay informed.
