People seek legal guidance from attorneys, trusting that they will help them improve their legal situation. When a lawyer doesn’t do what they are supposed to and hurt their client, it can be considered legal malpractice. Lawyers have a duty to follow specific standards of ethical and professional conduct. When they fail to do so, they can be sued for legal malpractice. Our Pennsylvania and New Jersey legal malpractice attorneys explain the grounds for legal malpractice.
Suing an Attorney for Legal Malpractice
There are strict guidelines for suing an attorney for legal malpractice. A client can’t simply sue their attorney because they “didn’t work hard enough to win” their case or because they didn’t achieve their desired outcome. You must be able to demonstrate that your attorney didn’t do what they were supposed to do according to their professional rules.
You may be able to bring a legal malpractice lawsuit against your lawyer if they did one of the following:
- Your attorney displayed negligent conduct.
- Your attorney was in breach of a contract.
- Your lawyer’s actions violated the American Bar Association’s rules of professional conduct.
Examples of Legal Malpractice
Being unhappy with your attorney’s work doesn’t necessarily mean that there are grounds for legal malpractice. Even a mistake on your former attorney’s behalf might not be enough to hold them accountable. Since it can be difficult to determine whether you have grounds to sue for legal malpractice, our team has put together a list of clear examples of what constitutes legal malpractice:
- Failing to pursue all available causes of action in your case
- Failing to respond on time to a court-ordered deadline
- Missing the statute of limitations or a deadline to file a client’s claim
- Failing to deliver court-ordered documents before deadlines
Proving Legal Malpractice
Proving legal malpractice can be a difficult process. You will need to demonstrate that your attorney’s actions breached their duty to you or that their actions caused harm to you, and you lost money as a result. It must be clear to the court that you would have prevailed in your case if your attorney would have followed the American Bar Association’s rules of professional conduct.
You will need to gather evidence to show that your attorney was acting negligent and have every document from your previous case to help you with your legal malpractice case. You will need the help of an experienced attorney to prove that you have a legal malpractice case. In some cases, it may be difficult to determine if you have grounds for legal malpractice without an experienced attorney.
Seek Legal Guidance
Placing your trust in another attorney can be difficult after experiencing legal malpractice. However, an experienced and knowledgeable legal malpractice lawyer can help you seek compensation for your former attorney’s negligence. You need an attorney who can guide you through the legal complexities to know how to navigate through a legal malpractice case. Providing strong evidence and arranging your case won’t be easy without legal counsel.
Our team at Weisberg Law has helped thousands of clients with their legal malpractice cases. We have fought for the rights of our clients, and we are committed to helping you. With over 20 years of legal experience, we have been advocating for our clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Not only do we have a team of experienced attorneys, but we also provide you with transparent flat fees that are affordable.
Discover how our team of attorneys can help you seek compensation for your legal malpractice case. Contact our New Jersey legal malpractice lawyers today at (610) 550-8042 to schedule a consultation!