My Lawyer Is Not Fighting for Me, What Can I Do?

What can I do if my lawyer is not fighting for me? This is a quite common question asked by many unsatisfied clients. When you hire a lawyer, you expect that he will defend you in court. But if reality does not meet expectations, you might be frustrated and start asking if there is something wrong.

A lawyer has a code of ethics that must be followed, one of which is performing professional responsibility. But if your attorney seems not interested to provide service or they do not put their best effort into your case, it can be a red flag. Learn more about the signs and solutions here.

How to Tell If Your Lawyer Is Not Fighting for You

Failing to recognize your lawyer is not fighting for you early can cost you an arm and a leg. Not to mention it can cause loss in your case and you have to pay charges. This is why it is crucial to know the signs that an attorney is not standing by your side.

1. Avoiding Phone Calls

Establishing good communication is essential to keep each other informed. But if your lawyer avoids communication, it can be a sign that he is not fighting for you. It becomes difficult to ask questions because your lawyer makes himself unavailable.

2. Not Interested in Your Condition

An attorney is responsible to make sure you are comfortable during the whole process. If your lawyer is not committed to keeping your interest, it can be a bad sign that he is not fighting for your case. You may start to consider a new attorney who is more responsible with his job.

3. Doesn’t Inform You

What is the other sign that my lawyer is not fighting for me? Check how often your lawyer informs you about anything related to the case ranging from new evidence, settlement offers, or any relevant events.

Keeping the client informed is one of the main responsibilities of a lawyer. So, if they do not inform you, it can be a strong sign that they are not fighting for you. The sign can be stronger if your lawyer has agreed to your expectations.

4. Ignore Explicit Instructions

As your representative, a lawyer should understand what you want. You can tell your attorney does not meet your expectation when he ignores your explicit instructions. For instance, you want a house during the divorce but your attorney only asks for a car.

5. Give Bad Service

When a lawyer provides a bad legal service like giving bad advice, not showing up for a hearing, forgetting the appointment, or not being prepared, it is enough to say that he is not a good lawyer. You can fire him and find another professional and responsible attorney.

6. Poor Bargaining

Another sign my lawyer is not fighting for me is he is just soft balling with the opponent instead of bargaining hard. In a legal case, it can be a big issue that leads you to criminal charges or being lost. And when it happens, it is too late to hire a new attorney.

What to Do If Your Lawyer Is Not Fighting for You

As soon as you notice that your lawyer is not fighting hard enough, you have several options. Consider these solutions to make sure you get a favorable outcome in your legal case.

Set realistic Expectations

Is your lawyer not fighting for you or is it you that set unrealistic expectations? To make it clear, take your time to set your expectations and communicate with your attorney. You can also sign a contract that defines the payment and the availability of the lawyer.

For example, the contract specifies that you expect a weekly update about your case. Or, you can expect the lawyer’s availability in every appointment and hearing.

Contact Your Attorney

Contacting your lawyer is another soft solution to get attention. You can send an email or make a call and get an explanation of why you don’t get updates about the legal case or why you don’t meet the expectation. A good lawyer should reply to your email with an explanation.

But if you still do not get a reply, you can also write a formal letter that specifies the date you expect the lawyer to fulfill your expectation. Your attorney should not ignore this letter unless they are not interested to fight for you.

File Complaints

What should I do if I find that my lawyer is not fighting for me? There is always a chance to file complaints to the regulatory board. Do this as the last resort if your attorney does not show up or does not contact you for a long time or he seems to be unethical.

The regulatory board which governs the license will investigate the attorney and examine their ethics. They also evaluate the work of the lawyer and determine if he still deserves the license.

Fire Your Lawyer

As a client, you always have the right to fire your lawyer. If you have tried several methods but none of them works to resolve the conflicts, it can be a sign to hire a new attorney. It can be the best solution if you deal with an incompetent lawyer, unethical lawyer, or ignorant one.

However, finding a new layer always comes with consequences. It may cost you a lot of money as the new lawyer has to speed up with the case quickly so he can keep up with the legal process. But if you do not have other options, this is the only choice at your disposal.

Sue Your Lawyer

Suing your lawyer may be the most extreme resolution to your conflict. If your attorney has been proven to commit legal malpractice, you can potentially sue the attorney. Legal malpractice may include not fighting for you or violating the lawyer’s professional conduct.

What can I do if my lawyer is not fighting for me? As soon as you notice a sign that your lawyer is not fighting for you or not doing his job professionally, you have several choices at your disposal. Start from contacting the lawyer to suing that attorney, it is always possible to get your legal rights.

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