Lawyers are held to a high standard of care in their professional lives. When they make mistakes, it can have serious consequences for their clients.
What are some examples of legal malpractice, and what can you do if you think your attorney failed you?
Should you sue your attorney?
Legal malpractice occurs when a lawyer breaches their duty of care to a client, causing the client to suffer damages. While legal malpractice can take many different forms, there are some common reasons why claims are filed, such as:
- A failure to disclose a conflict of interest. If a lawyer has a personal or financial interest in the outcome of a case, they must disclose this to the client and obtain the client’s consent before proceeding. Otherwise, the lawyer may be accused of acting in their own self-interest rather than the client.
- Failure to meet deadlines. This can damage a client’s case, particularly if it results in a vital piece of evidence being excluded from consideration. Lawyers must therefore be diligent in ensuring they meet all deadlines.
- Not communicating with the client occurs when a lawyer fails to keep the client informed about the status of their case or important deadlines or when the lawyer does not return the client’s phone calls or emails promptly.
If you believe your lawyer has committed malpractice, you may be wondering how to file a claim. The first step is getting in touch with someone specializing in legal malpractice cases. They may be able to recover damages for the harm that was caused by your lawyer’s malpractice.