The American Bar Association states that there is a 4% to 17% chance for attorneys to be sued for malpractice. Legal malpractice is caused by negligence that is grave enough to lead to harm to a client. While it’s unlikely that your current attorney is committing legal malpractice, it’s possible that they are not as good at their job as they should be.
Whether you need an auto accident lawyer to defend you or a divorce attorney to help you settle things, you should be confident that you are getting someone reliable and good. To make sure you won’t hire someone that you’d be unhappy with, here are some signs of a bad lawyer that you should remember so you can avoid them:
Signs That You Should Look for a Better Lawyer
Poor Communication Skills
Communication is essential when you have a legal case. Your attorney should be able to communicate well to let you know the current status of your case.
Moreover, they should show willingness in answering any queries you might have. If you feel like you’re struggling to reach your lawyer or you don’t feel satisfied with the way they explain things to you, it may be a sign you’re better off with another lawyer.
Not Upfront About Billing
Attorneys bill for their services. And while they don’t need to disclose their overhead, they should be clear about their billing practices. By your first legal consultation, the attorney should let you know what to expect from getting their services, as well as any additional charges that may add to the cost. If the lawyer you’re considering hiring refuses to tell you about their billing practices, you should think about going elsewhere, or there’s a chance you’d be surprised by what you have to pay for later on.
Overconfidence
You want an attorney that can deliver a favorable outcome but not one who promises specific results. Any lawyer worth their salt knows they should be realistic and that they cannot predict the outcome of a case no matter how good they feel about it. That said, a lawyer should still be confident enough to represent and fight for your case.
Unprofessionalism
The first three red flags we mentioned are characteristics of a bad attorney, but this one could lead to unethical actions or even malpractice. As you know, the actions of your lawyer can significantly impact your case. No matter how much you want to win your case, you wouldn’t want a lawyer who resorts to unprofessional behavior or breaking the law to secure the win for you.
Some signs of unprofessionalism include:
- Constantly arriving late to meetings or missing court dates
- Missing deadlines for filing paperwork or doing it incorrectly
- Failing to return your calls within an acceptable timeframe for no important reason
- Making decisions without discussing with you first
- Knowing that there’s a conflict of interest but proceeding despite ethical issues
Conclusion
If you see any of these signs in your attorney, it may be time to look for a different one. Whether you need a divorce attorney or an auto accident lawyer, you want to make sure that you are working with someone that you can trust to provide you with services that you need and who you can be comfortable with at the same time.
Ronemus and Vilensky provide you the expert services of a malpractice and accident lawyer in New York who can help you deal with such cases as auto accidents, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, environmental accidents, and more. Contact us today to set an appointment.