LAWYERS

What are the most common complaints clients have about attorneys?

Frequent Client Complaints

• Rude or intimidating behavior
• Name-calling and threats
• Use of profanity
• Hanging up on a client
• Pressuring client
• Withdrawing or threatening to withdraw at critical time
• All communications through paralegal or other staff
• Not notifying client when attorney leaves law firm
• Sexual advances
• Not licensed in Texas, Attorney disappeared
• Lying to client
• Substance abuse
• Abusive litigation tactics
• Missing appointments or cancelling appointments with clients
• Grammatical and spelling errors in documents

Fees, Statements & Settlements:

• Not providing an itemized statement
• Statement is difficult to read
• Errors or over-charges in bills
• Quoting one fee but billing at a higher rate
• Not accounting for retainer or payments on account
• Failing to deliver orders to third parties for distribution of funds
• Making settlement offers or settling case without consulting client or obtaining consent

  Confidences:

• Disclosing client confidences to opponent
• Talking about client’s case with third parties

 Neglect & Competence:

• Not completing case by filing final orders, decrees, etc.
• Not appearing in court or being late to hearings
• Not prepared at hearings
• Missing filing deadlines
• Failing to put on evidence at hearings
• Failing to supervise work of subordinates
• Failing to research legal issues
• Failing to include causes of action in petition
• Failing to file suit within statute of limitations
• Filing wrong orders
• Not having file at meetings with client
• Not providing copies of documents on an on-going basis
• Not returning phone calls
• Failing to keep client informed of hearings and case deadlines
• Failing to explain litigation, legal strategies and issues, etc.
• Failing to schedule depositions or hearing in a timely manner
• Failing to correct substantive errors in orders, decrees, or pleadings

 Safeguarding Client Property:

• Mismanagement of trust account funds
• Mismanagement of estate funds
• Not returning original documents or files to client
• Losing file or documents
• Not returning unused retainer
• Not paying expert witnesses or paying medical providers out of funds withheld from settlements
• Cashing settlement check and keeping client’s money

JUDICIARY

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PARALEGALS

PUBLIC

I am having difficulty with my attorney, who can I talk to?