When you have been accused of a crime and are going through the legal process there will be specific points in the proceedings where you will want to evaluate how things are going and what action you should take next to try and achieve the best outcome.
If the prosecution relates to an alleged sex crime, for instance, it would make a lot of sense to appoint sexual crimes trial attorneys as they will have the knowledge and past experience in this sphere to help guide you as best as possible.
If you are being prosecuted it is advisable to switch attorneys, and when or how should you do that?
Here is what you need to know.
Heed the warning signs
One of the first things you need to do is to be aware of the troubling signs that your lawyer is not giving you their best attention and may not be as interested in the case as you want them to be.
A classic sign that their interest levels are not what they should be is when you find that your calls are not being returned.
Lack of communication is one of the most common complaints. Your lawyer may be very busy and trying to manage their caseload, but there is only so far you can go with excusing them for not returning your calls or answering your emails.
A noticeable lack of professionalism
Another worrying warning sign that you should not ignore is when you notice that your lawyer appears to be unprepared and not organized enough to deal with all of the salient points and timelines relevant to your case.
The worst example of a lack of professionalism is when documents are not filed on time with the court, or even worse, they fail to prepare properly for a court hearing.
This distinct lack of professionalism could cost you dearly and you really can’t afford to take that sort of chance when you consider what is at stake.
The next step
You need to be completely happy that your lawyer is giving you the best level of representation available and has the competency to deliver the right outcome for you based on the circumstances of your case.
If that is not the case, you will need to take decisive action to replace your lawyer.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions of your contract for legal services so that you can follow the correct termination procedures. Once you are happy that you can replace your lawyer and know how to do this, you need to find a new lawyer.
You should not leave yourself in limbo without a lawyer, especially if you are in the middle of legal proceedings. Therefore, you should always arrange to horde your new lawyer and get their agreement before you fire the old one.
Your new attorney will need to file a notice with the court that they are now representing you. You should also settle any bills due to your old lawyer as they may withhold case files that you need until they have been paid.
The bottom line is that you can and should replace your lawyer if you are not happy with the service and professionalism of your existing one.
