Red Flags and Warning Signs of a Bad Lawyer
If you are in need of a lawyer for a legal problem, a family issue, or for anything that has to do with finances or an estate, you want to be sure that you are working with a lawyer who is competent, caring, and able to handle your case. If you are working with a new lawyer, it is important that you are able to recognize the red flags and warning signs of a bad lawyer. If you find this out early on so that you can find new representation before your case is damaged.
Unreturned Phone Calls
It is your lawyer’s responsibility to return your phone calls in a timely manner. If they don’t, it is a reason to be worried. Your lawyer may have too many clients and they cannot give you the attention that you need. They could be uncertain about what to do with your case, or they could be avoiding it altogether. This is not the type of lawyer that you want to be working with.
Missed Deadlines
Meeting deadlines has a lot to do with the success of your case. If your lawyer is often missing deadlines, such as court filing deadlines, it can be very damaging to your case. If something like this happens just once, you should find new representation.
Poor Attitude
It is your lawyer’s job to listen to what you have to say and give the best advice possible. If your lawyer is dismissive, rude, impatient, or condescending, you should find a new lawyer. The best way for you to win your case is to work with a lawyer who makes it possible to have a great attorney-client relationship.
A Promise of Victory
Any good lawyer will tell you that there are no guarantees. Your lawyer can say that your chances are good, however, a good lawyer will never promise victory. Qualified, professional lawyers, such a Prime Lawyers Sydney, understand that surprises can arise and anything can happen during a court case. If your lawyer promises that you will have a successful outcome during your consultation, you should move on and talk to another lawyer.
Red Flags Around the Office
When meeting potential lawyers for consultations, you should know what red flags to look for around the office. A few of these include:
• If there are things in the office that are broken or falling apart, the lawyer may not have the finances to make the repairs. This is a bad sign.
• If there are plenty of empty offices, it is a good sign that employees have either quit or been let go due to financial issues.
• If the office is incredibly disorganized, it is a bad sign. Disorganization is a symptom of inefficiency.
• If there are stacks of documents that need to be filed and mail that needs to be opened, it is a bad sign. When an office is run this way, it is easy for your case to slip through the cracks.
Lack of Staff
If you visit your lawyer’s office and find that there is no support staff, you may want to find someone else. This could be a sign of financial trouble. If your lawyer has no support staff, you cannot be sure that your lawyer will be able to handle the legwork necessary to win your case.
The best way to be sure that you are working with a good lawyer is to first, read reviews about the lawyer. If their previous clients had a good experience with them, you should as well. You should also be able to recognize the warning signs and red flags associated with a bad lawyer.