Understanding Different Forms of Legal Malpractice

 Posted on November 27, 2023 in Business Law & Litigation

Legal malpractice occurs when an attorney fails to perform their duties competently, resulting in harm to their client. This breach of professional responsibility can have severe consequences, including financial loss, missed opportunities, and even emotional distress. In such cases, a legal malpractice lawyer in Illinois can be your advocate, helping you navigate the complexities of the legal system and seek compensation for the damages caused by the negligent attorney. If you have experienced legal malpractice and are looking to take action, contact a qualified attorney right away to get the help you need and deserve.

Most Common Forms of Attorney Malpractice

• Negligence – One of the most common forms of legal malpractice is negligence. This occurs when a lawyer fails to exercise the care, skill, and diligence expected from a competent legal professional. Examples of negligence include missed deadlines, inadequate research, and failure to communicate important information. A legal malpractice lawyer can help you gather evidence of the attorney’s negligence and demonstrate how it directly caused harm to your legal case or interests.

• Breach of fiduciary – Attorneys owe their clients a fiduciary duty, meaning they must always act in their client’s best interests. When an attorney breaches this duty by serving in their self-interest or failing to disclose conflicts of interest, it can be considered legal malpractice. A legal malpractice lawyer can help you identify instances of breach of fiduciary duty and hold the attorney accountable for their actions.

• Inadequate representation – This can involve a lack of preparation on the attorney’s part, failure to investigate factors, or insufficient advocacy during court proceedings. A legal malpractice lawyer can assess the quality of the attorney’s representation and determine if it falls below the accepted standard of care, enabling you to seek compensation for resulting harm.

• Conflict of interest – This arises when a lawyer’s personal or financial interests interfere with their ability to provide objective and unbiased advice to their client. This can compromise the attorney-client relationship and potentially harm the client’s legal position. A legal malpractice lawyer can help you identify conflicts of interest and demonstrate how they adversely affected your case, allowing you to pursue legal action against the attorney.

Contact an Arlington Heights, IL Legal Malpractice Lawyer

Do not let the actions of a negligent attorney stop you from achieving your legal goals. Contact the experienced Cook County, IL legal malpractice attorneys with Dickler, Kahn, Slowikowski & Zavell, Ltd.. Call 847-593-5595 for a private consultation.