You are Fired

When a client is unhappy there is no reason why he or she should not consider firing that attorney. People pay good money to have themselves represented with quality work ethics from their attorneys and if you feel unsatisfied or your situation is not being helped, do not be afraid to look for other attorneys and move on to a new one. A lot of attorneys are more skillful and experienced than others, and switching attorneys can be beneficial to you in the long run.

Remember that firing an attorney should be handled with care and is not a light subject. You must make sure that you do it correctly and in a timely manner. Never be intimidated or hesitant, as time is always of value especially when you need an attorney at a crucial time. This article will ensure that you provide yourself with proper knowledge about what to do and what not to do when firing an attorney.

1. The first thing you should do is to consult the contract that you signed when you hired the attorney. Attorneys set up contracts providing guidelines and rules set in place to not only protect the attorneys, but their clients as well. If there is an special procedure for terminating an the attorney, it will be touched upon in the contract. There are many stipulations common in contracts attorneys write up and a couple of the most common ones are as follows:
• Many attorneys require that terminations should be sent to the attorney in writing
• Many attorneys require that they receive a certain percentage of any winnings in the proceeding case, even after they are let go by the client. In this case, it is imperative that you let the new attorney know of this.

Once you read the contract and you feel that it is still necessary to terminate him or her, you can move on to the next step.

2. Before you make a formal notice of termination to be sent to your attorney, make sure that you hire a new one first. The new attorney will assist you with sorting this situation out before you move on with the case you are facing.

If you choose to represent yourself, you should absorb as much legal knowledge on the subject matter as possible. You can consult a court legal library and select courts have free legal clinics to assist people in self-representation.

3. Write a letter to your attorney explaining the termination and send it via certified mail. Remember, that you are not forced to write any specific reasoning behind why you are firing him or her, unless of course if it is required by the contract. Make sure that the letter is polite and brief. Also, if you have another lawyer hired already, briefly explain that you would like the case files sent to your new attorney. If you feel that it is necessary, you can also pick up the case files yourself.

4. If applicable, request a refund form the attorney. If you owe him or her money, pay it immediately. An attorney will not be obligated to send the case files to another attorney until all dues are paid by the client.

5. Finally, make sure that you notify the court of your change in representation if your case is already underway.