Handling Complaints and Dissatisfaction with Your Lawyer
If you are for some reason dissatisfied with the attorney that you have hired, you have the option of changing attorneys. All you have to do is give your current attorney notice so that he or she can formally ask permission from the court to withdraw from your case. In some instances you might need to ask the presiding judge for a reasonable time allowance for finding a new lawyer. This normally isn’t a problem except in extenuating circumstances, such as changing lawyers multiple times as a stall tactic. You might still be responsible for any fees and costs the lawyer incurred on your behalf, but you are entitled to the return of your files and documentation unless there is a valid attorney’s lien on those materials.
What should you do if you have a valid complaint against your lawyer? For example, perhaps your lawyer isn’t retuning your calls in a timely fashion or at all or maybe there are legal issues pertaining to your case that he or she is refusing to address. In some cases, disagreements stem from simple misunderstanding or communication errors, so the first step is to speak directly with your attorney about your complaints. If this approach is ineffective and you believe that your attorney has behaved improperly or unethically, there is recourse in these situations. You can contact your state BAR association to make formal inquiries about the complaint process, the clerk’s office of the Superior Court in your jurisdiction, or consult a different lawyer. In some cases, you might be justified in filing a civil lawsuit against him or her for compensation due to damages.