What Is Legal Malpractice?
Legal malpractice cases are ofen expensive to litigate and difficult to win. Three conditions must exist in order to prove legal malpractice:
- An attorney-client relationship existed;
- The attorney breached a duty he or she owed to the client; and
- The attorney's wrongdoing caused the client harm.
The most common reasons for a legal malpractice suit are:
- The lawyer didn't know the substantive law well enough;
- The lawyer failed to get a client's consent or to inform the client;
- The lawyer failed to calendar events;
- Not knowing or observing a deadline; and
- Insufficient discovery and/or investigation.
If you have concerns about the conduct of your lawyer, the links below provide information on how to make an inquiry with the local bar.
Virginia - How to File an Inquiry About a Lawyer
Maryland - Attorney Grievance Commission
District of Columbia - When Problems Arise: Complaints About Attorneys
