When you hire an attorney in Florida, the success of your case depends on the way he or she communicates with you from the initial consultation through negotiations, settlement or a trial. Legal ethics hold attorneys to a number of duties that they must fulfill, and many of these refer directly to the conversations that the two of you have.
FindLaw explains that one of your attorney’s ethical duties is to protect your privacy. He or she should keep all the information you provide confidential. You should not have to request confidentiality before discussing your case, but you may give consent for your attorney to share some of your communications if he or she believes it may help your case.
You may be hoping that your attorney fees will be covered by the settlement you receive if you win your case. However, from the beginning of your attorney-client relationship, you should know exactly what all those fees are, and how your attorney will be billing you.
Any time there is a new development in your case, your attorney should discuss this with you. You should also be able to contact your attorney and have your questions answered. Failure to return a phone call is not necessarily a breach of the attorney’s duties, but your attorney must contact you regarding any offers that the other party makes to you regarding a settlement. Not only must your attorney present you with this information, he or she must get your consent before accepting the offer on your behalf.
This information may give you an idea of an attorney’s responsibilities to you, and a general overview of how these may be breached. However, it is provided for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as legal advice.