When you initially contacted your former attorney there’s a good chance that you were dealing with what felt like an insurmountable issue. Or at least one that made you want to return to your normal life. You reached out to a legal professional because you needed their advocacy and experience on your side.
But, as sometimes happens, the case did not turn out the way you expected. Your lawyer may have assured you they were staying on top of all the moving parts involved in putting together your case, so why did it feel like it all went so wrong? Well, unfortunately, you may have been the victim of legal malpractice, an issue that is far too common among those seeking justice.
3 typical forms of legal malpractice
Inadequate investigation
According to an article on the American Bar Association, inadequate investigations are a common reason why cases fall apart. If an attorney does not take the time and care to thoroughly vet a case and look for the different angles it can be approached and attacked from, there is a better chance of the case falling flat when it comes to trial.
Missing deadlines
Just because a case seems to have a lengthy timeline does not mean there aren’t plenty of moving parts to keep track of. If a lawyer misses a deadline to submit paperwork it can make the foundation of a case all the shakier.
A failure to double-check
While we’ve now covered a few ways that your former lawyer may have been directly involved in malpractice, we also want to touch on the secondary involvement. At law firms, there are often secondary personnel who complete administrative work related to a case. As much trust as a lawyer may have for their office workers, double-checking can be imperative. Sloppy work gone unnoticed could affect a case.
These are just a few ways that a lawyer can commit an error that can cripple a case, which was likely very important to you. Speaking out is okay to do, and in fact, we recommend it. While your other case may be over, you can still bring your former attorney’s negligence forward and hold them accountable for that.
