Medical professionals aren’t the only ones who can engage in malpractice. Lawyers may also face malpractice claims. Known as legal malpractice, you may bring a lawsuit against an attorney when their performance falls below acceptable legal standards.

While you can’t file legal malpractice against a lawyer for losing your case, there are certain circumstances in which this may apply. If you were injured due to negligence and your attorney did not uphold the proper standards expected of all lawyers in similar circumstances, you should speak with the Indiana legal malpractice lawyers at Wagner Reese, LLP.

Our legal malpractice attorneys have built a solid reputation representing cases involving legal negligence. We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an achievement that is only bestowed upon 1% of the attorneys in the U.S. We were also named The Best Lawyers in America© by Best Lawyers® in 2022 and 2024, and have received many other prestigious awards. These accolades demonstrate our commitment to every case of legal malpractice and how we will advocate for your rights. Contact our legal negligence attorneys today for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Photo of a person sitting at the wooden deskUnderstanding Legal Malpractice

Every attorney must abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct established by the American Bar Association. These rules establish a duty of care that is expected of all attorneys when representing client cases and establish the rules for legal malpractice.

This means that every attorney is expected to provide competent representation for their clients. They must have the knowledge, experience, and ability to take these actions.

Additionally, all attorneys are expected to communicate with their clients throughout their legal representation. Even if there is no new information to report from the insurance company or other involved parties, lawyers need to convey this information to keep each client up to date on the case.

Attorneys are also forbidden from engaging in conflicts of interest. They should notify a client immediately if one arises. Confidentiality should be maintained during and after legal representation and attorneys should practice due diligence.

When any of these duties are unfulfilled, an attorney could face legal malpractice claims. If you were represented by an attorney who did not obey the regulations set by the American Bar Association, contact our Indiana legal malpractice lawyers to discuss your case.

Signs of Legal Malpractice

Legal malpractice is a form of negligence, just like medical malpractice. This will require demonstrating the elements of negligence that begin with proving the attorney had a duty of care to you. This can be proven by presenting your signed fee agreement or retainer.

Once this duty has been established, it must be proved that the attorney breached their duty. The breach must go beyond simply losing your case, and you will need to prove that it was the cause of the harm you endured, which led to a financial impact or injury.

Legal malpractice cases are as challenging as medical malpractice cases. You must prove that the lawyer’s negligence caused you to experience financial loss. If the attorney took different actions, there would have been a different outcome. A prime example of this is when an attorney neglects to file your personal injury case before the expiration of the statute of limitations. You would need to prove that if the lawyer filed your case on time, you could have won your verdict or settlement.

These are very challenging cases to prove but the legal malpractice attorneys at Wagner Reese, LLP are ready to advocate for you and provide the unwavering support you need.

Choose the Indiana Legal Malpractice Lawyers at Wagner Reese, LLP

The legal negligence attorneys at Wagner Reese, LLP take our professional requirements very seriously. We believe in upholding the values set by the American Bar Association. It pains us to see other attorneys who do not follow the rules, and we will work to make sure they are held accountable.

In summary, our legal malpractice attorneys have received numerous awards for their adept legal abilities. We are renowned for bringing swift legal action to fight for fair compensation in cases involving legal negligence. Call us today at 866-828-0308 to speak with our Indiana legal malpractice lawyers and discover your legal options. Please note that we do not handle legal malpractice claims when the underlying claim involves family law, bankruptcy, or criminal defense issues.