People generally go to an attorney when they believe that someone has wronged them somehow, and they hope that the attorney can assist them with receiving compensation for their inconvenience. Therefore, many people might not be aware that their legal advisors may also engage in behaviors leading to malpractice, just as a medical professional might, for example.
Here are some examples of attorney malpractice or negligence in California.
Missing deadlines
Clients rely on their lawyers to do things such as filing paperwork and contacting other parties on time. Missing a deadline can result in a client getting a smaller settlement or no settlement at all, especially in cases where there is a statute of limitations attached to filing a claim.
Engaging in a conflict of interest
In the legal world, a conflict of interest can occur when a lawyer represents two parties that oppose each other. This often results in the lawyer being unable to provide either party with services that are to the best of their abilities.
Withholding information
It is important that attorneys give their clients all necessary information pertaining to their cases, even if it is bad news that may reflect poorly on the attorney. Failure to give clients the information that the legal system entitles them to is unethical and violates the rules of the bar.
It is important for people to recognize signs of possible malpractice by attorneys so that they can take action to ensure that their rights are not violated and change lawyers if necessary.