Signs You Hired the Wrong Business Litigation Attorney

When dealing with a business dispute, be it a consumer complaint, contract dispute, employment dispute, intellectual property dispute, or any other business dispute, you need a competent business litigation lawyer. But with so many lawyers practicing business litigation, finding the right attorney for your case can be challenging. Unfortunately, hiring the wrong business litigation attorney can be a huge setback. The good news, however, is that you can change your business litigation lawyer if you find that your current lawyer is not meeting your expectations or needs.

So, how can you tell if you hired the wrong business litigation lawyer? Below, we have compiled the top five telltale signs you hired the wrong business litigation attorney.

#1: Lack of Communication

Communication is crucial for a successful attorney-client relationship. Your business litigation attorney should keep you updated about new developments in your case. They should be available to answer questions and address concerns. If your attorney does not share updates about your case or is unavailable to answer your questions and address your concerns, it could be a sign your attorney is not giving your case proper attention. Indeed, attorneys are busy people. Some of your calls may go unanswered, and you may need to leave messages for your attorney once in a while. However, your attorney should get back to you within a reasonable time.

#2: Consistent Negative Reviews

If you have found consistent negative reviews about your current business litigation lawyer, it may be a sign that you hired the wrong attorney. A few negative reviews, among many positive ones, might not be as concerning as a large number of negative reviews. Also, if there are consistent complaints, such as complaints around communication, competence, or ethics, it might indicate you hired the wrong lawyer.

#3: Insufficient Information About Billing Practices

Business litigation attorneys charge their clients using several fee structures, including hourly rates, flat fees, contingency fees, and retainer fees. The billing practices should be clear regardless of how the attorney charges clients. If you do not understand your lawyer’s billing practices or your lawyer is hesitant to discuss their billing process, address the issue immediately. If the problem persists, consider hiring another lawyer. It is also a red flag if you notice excessive or unexpected billing without a clear breakdown of expenses.

#4: Dismissive Attitude

You hired your business litigation attorney because you cannot do this alone. However, this does not mean your concerns and opinions do not matter. Your attorney should listen to you. An attorney who does all the talking and constantly dismisses you may not be right for you. If your attorney does not listen to you, they could miss crucial details about your case, which could, in turn, impact the outcome of your case.

#5: Lack of Confidence

Your business litigation attorney should be confident about your case. You may have hired the wrong lawyer if your attorney does not seem confident. If your attorney is not confident, it may affect their ability to present your case effectively, negotiate effectively, or present strong arguments in court. However, you also don’t want an overconfident attorney. The right attorney is confident yet still realistic.

Contact Us for Legal Help

For a chance to speak with one of our business litigation attorneys at SAC Attorneys LLP, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.