firing lawyer

[KJ159]

This is a divorce case and has been dragging on for 20 months. My boyfriend's current lawyer is incredibly unresponsive and does not complete actions as promised. We have already invested a significant amount of money with this lawyer. Question is - if we hire a new lawyer can we sue the current lawyer for the legal fees we'll have to incurr in bringing the new lawyer on board and up to speed on what is happening?

 

[Scooterdog]

This is a divorce case and has been dragging on for 20 months. My boyfriend's current lawyer is incredibly unresponsive and does not complete actions as promised. We have already invested a significant amount of money with this lawyer. Question is - if we hire a new lawyer can we sue the current lawyer for the legal fees we'll have to incurr in bringing the new lawyer on board and up to speed on what is happening?

You can sue for legal malpractice. There aren't a whole lot of such lawyers willing/capable of doing this. This is why it is important to learn how to do it yourself if you want justice.

Before you hire a lawyer:

Ask him/her if they carry malpractice insurance, and to show you a copy of the police. If he/she doesn't or is pertubed that you asked the question, don't hire him/her. Why? Because if there is no insurance to cover his mistakes, you may never get justice if your lawyer makes a mistake, and the chances are not unreasonable that he or she will.

Attorney can be sued for malpractice under consumer protection laws. DEBAKEY V. STAGG, 605 SW 2d 631 (1980)