how to tell my attorney she sucks

by Clifford Bayer 8 min read

5 Signs That Your Lawyer Sucks

  1. Unreturned Phone Calls. Your lawyer should be available to answer your questions and inform you of new developments...
  2. Sketchy Billing. Be careful of the value of what you’re paying for. With respect to frugal choices, it’s easy to get...
  3. Unethical/Illegal Behavior. This may be one of the most dangerous signs of a bad lawyer.

Full Answer

How can you tell if a lawyer is a bad lawyer?

Sep 20, 2017 · 5 Signs That Your Lawyer Sucks 1. Unreturned Phone Calls. Your lawyer should be available to answer your questions and inform you of new developments... 2. Sketchy Billing. Be careful of the value of what you’re paying for. With respect to frugal choices, it’s easy to get... 3. Unethical/Illegal ...

What if my lawyer seems unenthusiastic when they speak to me?

Nov 29, 2018 · That CPA or attorney, they're going to get it. They're basically saying, "Hey, I'm an expert," or you're saying, "I'm an expert in this area, that's why I know this." And the fact that I'm not an attorney or not a CPA, you know, I still make sure I want to learn all this information there. So, again, hopefully, you found this helpful.

What should I do if my lawyer ignores me?

My first year out the Florida Bar has a mandatory PR course. Its 8 hours of why no one likes being a lawyer, why the public doesnt like or trust lawyers, coping with stress, student loan and work stress, avoiding substance abuse and how a vast majority of attorneys wouldnt recommend the profession to their friends and family.

How do I find a good lawyer?

May 20, 2010 · Posted on May 20, 2010. Absolutely. You have every right to terminate this lawyer's services and hire someone else. The only caveat is that most personal injury attorneys will have a provision in their retainer agreement giving them a "lien" on any eventual settlement or judgment. This means that you would have to pay him for a pro-rata share ...

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What to do if you can't reach your lawyer?

If you can’t reach your lawyer you should be able to reach the office or another staff member who can set up an appointment with you or a good time to reach them . Keep in mind that missed phone calls happen to the best of us, but your lawyer should never ignore you.

What is the biggest part of being a lawyer?

One of the biggest parts about being a lawyer is convincing the jury to go in your favor. If your attorney isn’t enthusiastic about your case or seems unsure, that should raise some red flags.

Do lawyers start at the bottom?

Like any job, some lawyers start out on the bottom and need to work their way to the top. Despite what online reviews say, if you notice a lack of respect for your lawyer in the courtroom or by other peers, it’s a red flag. Your lawyer needs to be respected and taken seriously, especially if your case goes to trial.

Is it important to have empathy with your lawyer?

Just as important as it is for your lawyer to get the job done, it’s equally as important for them to empathize with you and understand what you’re going through. Whether it’s a divorce case or a personal injury case, showing no compassion or empathy is a definite sign of a bad lawyer.

What to discuss with a divorce attorney?

You will want to discuss sole or joint custody of the children, standard visitation or shared custody of your children, who is likely to be responsible for paying child support, how much that might be, whether your spouse is eligible for spousal maintenance, and the division of your community estate. Make certain you share with your attorney any facts that might favor you getting a larger share of the community estate, such as higher income earned by your spouse, health issues, disability, separate property of both spouses, and whether there has been spousal abuse.

How to share facts with divorce lawyer?

It’s important to share all relevant facts with your divorce attorney so he or she can prepare for and deal with potential problems. Even if you think a particular fact is irrelevant to your divorce, make certain to mention it to your attorney so he or she can decide whether the item could create a problem down the road. You don’t need to tell your attorney everything about your marriage and children, but make certain to share all items relevant to the issues of your case. If you are in doubt about what your attorney needs to know, get guidance on what’s relevant.

Where is Harry Munsinger?

He has over twenty years experience resolving disputes involving divorce, probate, wills, and trusts. Harry was an adjunct law professor at the University of Texas and St. Mary’s University. He has published several textbooks and over forty psychological and legal articles. Harry has been a forensic psychology expert, a licensed psychologist and a litigator.

Why is it so hard to be honest in divorce?

It’s difficult to be totally honest because the issues are personal and can be embarrassing. Even when you know conversations with your attorney are confidential, some things make you feel ashamed so you are reluctant to be totally open about ...

What is collaborative divorce?

A collaborative divorce is a cooperative process where an experienced team guides you through your divorce with minimal stress and expense. Litigation is an adversarial approach to divorce and involves going to court, presenting evidence, ...

How to reconcile a marriage?

Making a marriage work can be challenging, especially when one spouse is considering divorce. It takes time and effort to rebuilt a relationship, but if both spouses are committed to making the marriage work, reconciliation is possible. 1.

Can you bring a friend to a divorce meeting?

Bringing a friend to the meetings with your attorney may destroy attorney-client privilege. Being in a hurry will put you at a disadvantage and may increase the cost of your divorce. Never say never, because you will likely have to change your mind during the course of the divorce process.

Who is Jeffrey Levine?

Jeffrey Levine, CPA/PFS, CFP, AIF, CWS, MSA is the Lead Financial Planning Nerd for Kitces.com, a leading online resource for financial planning professionals, and also serves as the Chief Planning Officer for Buckingham Wealth Partners. In 2020, Jeffrey was named to Investment Advisor Magazine’s IA25, as one of the top 25 voices to turn to during uncertain times. Also in 2020, Jeffrey was named by Financial Advisor Magazine as a Young Advisor to Watch. Jeffrey is a recipient of the Standing Ovation award, presented by the AICPA Financial Planning Division for “exemplary professional achievement in personal financial planning services.” He was also named to the 2017 class of 40 Under 40 by InvestmentNews, which recognizes “accomplishment, contribution to the financial advice industry, leadership and promise for the future.” Jeffrey is the Creator and Program Leader for Savvy IRA Planning®, as well as the Co-Creator and Co-Program Leader for Savvy Tax Planning®, both offered through Horsesmouth, LLC. He is a regular contributor to Forbes.com, as well as numerous industry publications, and is commonly sought after by journalists for his insights. You can follow Jeff on Twitter @CPAPlanner.

What is the most important aspect of being a financial advisor?

One of the most interesting aspects of being a financial advisor is the ability to gain insight into all sorts of different areas of clients’ lives. Far from the domains of “just” insurance and/or investments in the early stages of the industry, today, a true advisor helps define goals and aspirations, identify challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and optimize the accumulation and distribution of assets.

Gary Philip DuFour

As the other attorneys have said, yes you can retain new counsel. You should talk with your attorney and discuss your concerns. I know it is difficult when you can't get him to return your calls but inform the office that you intend to "sub him out of the case" if he does not return your call. He will probably call you back.

Steven Mark Sweat

Absolutely. You have every right to terminate this lawyer's services and hire someone else. The only caveat is that most personal injury attorneys will have a provision in their retainer agreement giving them a "lien" on any eventual settlement or judgment.

Constantine D. Buzunis

Many times a problem arises due to lack of clear communication between a lawyer and client (s). I think you and your husband need to meet with the lawyer and tell them what your expectations are in your respective cases.

Robert Edward Heyman

You need to have an in person heart to heart discussion with your attorney..it sounds like he is doing what is necessary to bring your settlement to a close, but I'm guessing the failure of communication is a result of both you and your attorney not having a meeting of the minds...in many cases, a simple face to face conference will clear the air..good luck#N#Robert Heyman, Esq.

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Lack of Communication

Lack of Enthusiasm

  • One of the biggest parts about being a lawyer is convincing the jury to go in your favor. If your attorney isn’t enthusiastic about your case or seems unsure, that should raise some red flags. But, another bad sign to watch out for is if they seem overconfident. While it’s good to be enthusiastic about a case outcome, their job is to be realistic and prepare you for any scenario which can occ…
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Unclear Billing

  • We mentioned it earlier and we’ll say it again – lawyers aren’t cheap. It’s not always their fault, it’s just the price of the service. But, if you hire a lawyer and you’re seeing excessive or overbilling charges, something’s wrong. If you lawyer is overbilling you, they could be inflating a task time, also know as “padding time”.
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Unethical/Illegal Behavior

  • Although some lawyers may have bad habits such as lack of communication, one of the biggest signs of a lawyer is if they practice unethically or even illegally. As important as it is to win your case, your lawyer should never do so by breaking the law or lying and he is a bad lawyer. Getting caught will not only look bad for your case, but both you...
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No Compassion/Empathy

  • Just as important as it is for your lawyer to get the job done, it’s equally as important for them to empathize with you and understand what you’re going through. Whether it’s a divorce caseor a personal injury case, showing no compassion or empathy is a definite sign of a bad lawyer. The better they understand and empathize with you, the better they’ll be able to communicate that pa…
See more on halt.org

Signs of Respect

  • Like any job, some lawyers start out on the bottom and need to work their way to the top. Despite what online reviews say, if you notice a lack of respect for your lawyer in the courtroom or by other peers, it’s a red flag. Your lawyer needs to be respected and taken seriously, especially if your case goes to trial. If you don’t see a sign of respect from other peers, neither will the jury. Take the hin…
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Disclose All Relevant information.

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It’s important to share all relevant facts with your divorce attorney so he or she can prepare for and deal with potential problems. Even if you think a particular fact is irrelevant to your divorce, make certain to mention it to your attorney so he or she can decide whether the item could create a problem down the road. You don’t nee…
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Provide A Written History of Your Marriage.

  • It’s helpful for your attorney to have a written statement outlining the important facts in your marriage, including how you met your spouse, when you married, the names and ages of your children, your education, where you work, critical events in your marriage, what you think caused the divorce, and who wants the divorce. A good way to organize the history is chronologically fro…
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Share Sensitive information.

  • You probably don’t want to tell your attorney you are having an affair or physically abusing your spouse or children, but it’s critical that your attorney knows about these difficult facts so he or she can be properly prepared to defend you if they come up in the course of your divorce. During the discovery process, if you opt for a litigated divorce, these facts are likely to come up and in a coll…
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Issues to Discuss.

  • There are a number of important issues you will need to discuss with your attorney during the first meeting, including child custody, child support, spousal support, division of the marital estate, any separate property claims, community debts, and your expectations about the likely outcome of the case. You will want to discuss sole or joint custody of the children, standard visitation or shared …
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Things Not to say.

  • Finally, there are some things you should not say to your prospective attorney, such as “I don’t care about costs because I want to punish my spouse, I want to bring a friend with me to our meeting, I need to get this over with as soon as possible because I want to remarry, or I will never pay child support to my ex-spouse.” Telling a lawyer you don’t care about costs may double your …
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