100 years + of collective legal malpractice experience

Attorney Negligence: What It Is And Why It Can Lead To Malpractice

by | Sep 18, 2018 | Legal Malpractice |

If you are disappointed with the outcome of your legal case, you may or may not have grounds for suing your attorney for legal malpractice. To qualify as malpractice, the attorney’s action or inaction must:

  • Cause harm to or the loss of your case
  • The resulting damage leads to a financial loss

Here are some signs that it is likely that your attorney committed malpractice.

Lack Of Communication

Not answering phone calls promptly is one thing, but a lack of communication via phone, email and written letter after several attempts by a client to reach their attorney is a call for concern.

Missed Deadlines

Filing deadlines and court appearances are a significant part of successfully navigating the legal world. If your attorney has done either of these in your case, it can negatively impact the success of your case.

Failure To Inform Or Properly Investigate

If your lawyer does not let you know about legal options or consequences of specific actions pertaining to your case, it could be grounds for malpractice. Likewise, a failure to thoroughly investigate in the discovery portion of your case may also justify filing a suit against your former representation.

Incorrect Use of The Law

A lawyer is expected to be proficient in the area of the law they are practicing, and know how to apply it in the jurisdiction where they work. Unskilled legal service by an attorney to the point of malpractice can impact the outcome of a case negatively.

There are legal resources to consult if you feel it is a good chance that attorney malpractice affected the outcome of your case, including law firms experienced in legal malpractice litigation. Taking legal action may enable you to recover damages related to the wrongdoing.