The objectives of the website LOUSY LAWYER.us are:

  • To help the public discern between Good and Lousy Lawyers ;
  • To help the public address their concerns about their attorney;
  • To help expose the Dirty Attorney(s) and help those harmed by them;
  • To help initiate legislation in all US States that does away with present protection of unethical and illegal conduct by Attorneys;
  • To hopefully discourage future bad acts by the Lousy Lawyer.

COMMON COMPLAINTS BY CLIENTS OF ATTORNEYS INCLUDE:

  • Failing to communicate. Lawyers have a duty to keep their clients reasonably informed about the status of their cases, to respond promptly to requests for information, and to consult with their clients about important decisions. (For example, when a settlement offer has been made).
  • Not returning documents. A client’s file is generally considered to be the property of the client. When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In many states the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full.
  • Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on. They must also be sufficiently prepared to handle matters that come up in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial.
  • Conflicts of interest. Lawyers owe a duty of loyalty to their clients, which means they must act with the client’s best interests in mind. This includes avoiding situations that would create a conflict of interest—such as representing two clients on opposite sides of the same case or taking on a new client who wants to sue an existing client.
  • Financial matters. Misplacing or stealing client funds, refusing to hand over money owed to a client, or charging clearly excessive fees are all ethics violations. However, a simple dispute over how much you owe your lawyer in legal fees is generally not an ethics matter. Most of the time, these disputes are resolved through fee arbitration—an informal process where a neutral third party hears from both sides and makes a decision.

SIGNS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN HIRING AN ATTORNEY
(Or reasons to change/dismiss the one you already have.)

  • Lack of Communication

    When you hire a lawyer, you’re bound to have questions about your case. A good lawyer should always communicate what’s going on with your case: about next steps or whose working on it.
    If you can’t seem to get a hold of your lawyer, especially after many calls and messages, that’s a bad sign. While lawyers get busy with other cases, they should always put their clients first.
    If you can’t reach your lawyer, you should be able to reach the office or another staff member who can set up an appointment with you or a good time to reach them. Keep in mind that missed phone calls happen to the best of us, but your lawyer should never ignore you.
    Another thing to consider is how your attorney likes to communicate. In such a digital age, one bad lawyer may prefer email and texting while others stick to an old-fashioned phone call.
    The bottom line is, lawyers aren’t cheap. You’re not only paying them to help you with a case, but to communicate and give you their best service. If your lawyer isn’t communicating, you might consider switching to a new attorney.
    To avoid this in the future, ask your lawyer how the best way to reach them is during the consultation. This way you’ll know if they prefer email over phone calls and you can avoid any miscommunication.

  • Lack of Enthusiasm

    One of the biggest parts about being a lawyer is convincing the jury to go in your favor. If your attorney isn’t enthusiastic about your case, or seems unsure, that should raise some red flags.
    But, another bad sign to watch out for is if they seem overconfident. While it’s good to be enthusiastic about a case outcome, their job is to be realistic and prepare you for any scenario which can occur.

  • Unclear Billing

    Lawyers aren’t cheap. It’s not always their fault, it’s just the price of the service. But, if you hire a lawyer and you’re seeing excessive or overbilling charges, something’s wrong.
    If you lawyer is overbilling you, they could be inflating a task time, also known as “padding time”.
    Also be on the look-out for: Vague Billing, Hidden Expenses and any Surcharges on legal expenses.
    You should never receive a bill with vague information. Each bill should clearly explain what the charge was for, who performed it, when my lawyer is not fighting for me, and for how long.
    Some law firms add surcharge fees to simple tasks or items such as postage or copying; these fees are unethical and inappropriate. If you see any billing fees that are unexplained and unclear, don’t be afraid to ask your lawyer what they’re for.

  • Unethical/Illegal Behavior

    Although some lawyers may have bad habits such as lack of communication, one of the biggest signs of a lawyer is if they practice unethically or even illegally.
    As important as it is to win your case, your lawyer should never do so by breaking the law or lying. If they get caught, not only will it look bad for your case, but both you and your lawyer could get charged with perjury with defense, also known as lying under oath.
    A lawyer doesn’t always have to do something illegal to be bad.

    Other unprofessional or unethical things to look out for:

    • Missing or showing up late to meetings and other important appointments
    • Not having documents filed by the deadline, filing the wrong paperwork, or filing paperwork incorrectly
    • Making important decisions without asking you first
    • Not returning your calls
    • Having a conflict of interest in the case
    • Not working on your case at all

    If your lawyer does one or any of these, it’s time to switch lawyers.

  • No Compassion/Empathy

    Just as important as it is for your lawyer to get the job done, it’s equally as important for them to empathize with you and understand what you’re going through. Showing no compassion or empathy is a definite sign of a bad lawyer. The better they understand and empathize with you, the better they’ll be able to communicate that pain and suffering to an insurance company or jury if your case goes to trial. You don;t need to love your lawyer. If they understand you and your case you’re in good hands.

  • Signs of Respect

    Like any job, some lawyers start out on the bottom and need to work their way to the top. Despite what online reviews say, if you notice a lack of respect for your lawyer in the courtroom or by other peers, it’s a red flag. Your lawyer needs to be respected and taken seriously, especially if your case goes to trial. If you don’t see a sign of respect from other peers, neither will the jury. Take the hint and find a new lawyer.

    Telltale Signs You Hired a Bad Lawyer

    There are so many things to consider when hiring a lawyer, and once you’ve found one you have faith in and feel confident working with, it’s hard to see some of these telltale signs. If you notice any of these 6 telltale signs of bad attorneys, don’t be afraid to switch attorneys.

    https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/latest-articles/4-crucial-signs-of-a-bad-lawyer

Listed below find State Disciplinary Boards

  • Arizona
  • State Bar of Arizona

  • 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 100

  • Phoenix, AZ 85016

  • Phone: (602) 252-4804

  • Arkansas
  • Supreme Court of Arkansas

  • Office of Professional Conduct

  • 2100 Riverfront Drive, Suite 200

  • Little Rock, AR 72202

  • Phone: (501) 376-0313

  • California
  • State Bar of California

  • Office of Chief Trial Counsel

  • 845 S. Figueroa St.

  • Los Angeles, CA 90017

  • Phone: (800) 843-9053

  • Colorado
  • Colorado Supreme Court

  • Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel

  • 1300 Broadway, Suite 500

  • 1560 Broadway, Suite 1800

  • Denver, CO 80203

  • Phone: (303) 457-5800

  • Florida
  • The Florida Bar

  • Attorney Consumer Assistance Program

  • 651 E. Jefferson Street

  • Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300

  • Phone: (866) 352-0707

  • Idaho
  • Idaho State Bar

  • Office of Bar Counsel

  • P.O. Box 895

  • Boise, Idaho 83701

  • Phone: (208) 334-4500

  • Kentucky
  • Kentucky Bar Association

  • Office of Bar Counsel

  • 514 West Main Street

  • Frankfort, KY 40601-1812

  • Phone: (502) 564-3795

  • Louisiana
  • Louisiana State Bar Association

  • Office of the Disciplinary Counsel

  • 4000 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 607

  • Baton Rouge, LA 70816-4388

  • Phone: (504) 293-3900

  • Mississippi
  • Mississippi State Bar

  • 643 North State Street

  • P.O. Box 2168

  • Jackson, MS 39225-2168

  • Phone: (601) 948-2344

  • Montana
  • State Bar of Montana

  • Office of Disciplinary Counsel

  • P.O. Box 1099

  • Helena, MT 59624-1099

  • Phone: (406) 442-1648

  • Nevada
  • State Bar of Nevada

  • Office of Bar Counsel

  • 3100 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100

  • Las Vegas, NV 89102

  • Phone: (702) 382-2200

  • New York
  • (Manhattan/Bronx)
  • Departmental Disciplinary Committee

  • Supreme Court, Appellate Division

  • First Judicial Department

  • 61 Broadway, 2nd Floor

  • New York, NY 10006

  • Phone: (212) 401-0800

  • (Brooklyn/Queens/Staten Island)

  • Grievance Committee for the 2nd and 11th Judicial Districts

  • Renaissance Plaza

  • 335 Adams Street, Suite 2400

  • Brooklyn, NY 11201

  • Phone: (718) 923-6300

  • North Carolina
  • Grievance Committee

  • North Carolina State Bar

  • P.O. Box 25908

  • Raleigh, NC 27611

  • Phone: (919) 828-4620

  • Oregon
  • Client Assistance Office

  • Oregon State Bar

  • 16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road

  • P.O. Box 231935

  • Tigard, Oregon 97281-1935

  • South Dakota
  • Disciplinary Board

  • State Bar of South Dakota

  • 222 E. Capitol

  • Pierre, SD 57501

  • Phone: (605) 224-7554

  • Texas
  • State Bar of Texas

  • Chief Disciplinary Counsel's Office

  • P.O. Box 13287

  • Austin, TX 78711

  • Phone: (800) 932-1900

  • Utah
  • Utah State Bar

  • Office of Professional Conduct

  • 645 South 200 East

  • Salt Lake City, UT 84111

  • Phone: (801) 531-9110

  • Vermont
  • Michael Kennedy

  • Office of Bar Counsel

  • Costello Courthouse

  • 32 Cherry Street, Suite 213

  • Burlington, VT 05401

  • Phone: (802) 859-3000

  • Virginia
  • Virginia State Bar

  • Intake Office

  • 1111 East Main Street, Suite 700

  • Richmond, Virginia 23219-3565

  • Phone: (804) 775-0570

  • West Virginia
  • Lawyer Disciplinary Board

  • City Center East, Suite 12004700 MacCorkle Avenue SE

  • Charleston, WV 25304

  • Phone: (304) 558-7999

  • Wyoming
  • Office of Bar Counsel

  • Wyoming State Bar

  • P.O. Box 109

  • 500 Randall Ave

  • Cheyenne, WY 82003-0109

  • Phone: (307) 432-2104

  • District of Columbia
  • Office of Disciplinary Counsel

  • The Board on Professional Responsibility

  • 515 5th Street, NW

  • Building A, Room 117

  • Washington, D.C. 20001

  • Phone: (202) 638-1501

We welcome any contact, opinions, observations, suggestions and any related matter and will respond where and when able and appropriate.

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