It is important at the time you hire your lawyer, or soon after, to tell your lawyer how often you would like to be updated on your legal matter. If you find that you are not talking with your lawyer as often as you would like, arrange a meeting to discuss this. At this meeting, indicate your desire to be contacted on a routine, specified basis. Hopefully, this will resolve the issue. If not, consider whether to fire your lawyer and hire someone else to represent you.
If you decide to fire your lawyer, you should write a letter that says you no longer want their legal services. Also, request a statement of your account. You may owe the lawyer money for services already performed. To find another lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100.
If a reasonable amount of time has passed since you telephoned or wrote your lawyer and he has not responded, you may wish to file a complaint with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct , the agency set up by the South Carolina Supreme Court to hear complaints against lawyers. You can reach the Commission on Lawyer Conduct by dialing (803) 734-2038. Its address is P.O. Box 12159, Columbia, SC 29211.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (803) 799-7100.
When a lawyer withdraws from a case, steps must be taken to protect your interests. Your lawyer should give you reasonable notice, allow time for you to hire another lawyer, surrender papers and property to which you are entitled and refund any advance payment of fees that have not been earned. The lawyer may keep papers relating to you to the extent permitted by other law, as well as keep a reasonable nonrefundable retainer.
If your bill has been paid and the lawyer will not return your file, you may wish to file a complaint with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct , the agency set up by the South Carolina Supreme Court to hear complaints against lawyers. You can reach the Commission on Lawyer Conduct at (803) 734-2038. Its address is P.O. Box 12159, Columbia, SC 29211.
Assuming your bill has not been paid, the lawyer may place a "lien" on your file. (A lien is a security interest in property, just like the bank has on your car when you take out an auto loan.) In this case, you have a couple of choices:
- a) Send the lawyer a letter requesting a statement of your account. If you agree with the amount, pay it, and the file should be sent to you. If you disagree with the amount, you can contact the South Carolina Bar's Fee Dispute Board, which is set up to resolve disputes over fees. (Forms are available by telephoning the Bar office at (803) 799-6653.) Once this disagreement is resolved and the account settled, your file should be released. If not, you can file a complaint with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct .
- b) Or, if you have hired another lawyer to take over your case, that lawyer can request the file for you.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The number is 803-799-7100.
Yes. If your lawyer wants to settle, it means that your lawyer believes this is the highest settlement offer the other side is willing to make. If the offer is less than you expected, you may wish to hire another lawyer.
If you decide to fire your lawyer, you should write a letter that says you no longer want their legal services. Also, request a statement of your account. You may owe the lawyer money for services already performed. To find another lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100.
You may have a contingency fee arrangement with your lawyer, which means his fee is paid from the settlement. If fired before the contingency occurs, the lawyer loses the right to the contingent fee. However, you may owe the lawyer money for services already performed. To find another lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100.
Once your case is settled, you should receive payment within 30 days if your case involved an insurance company. If the settlement comes from other sources, such as an individual's promise to pay, the time period could vary greatly.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (803) 799-7100.
No. The South Carolina Supreme Court set up the Commission on Lawyer Conduct to hear complaints against lawyers. The complaint process is confidential until the Court disciplines the lawyer. The Board, not the South Carolina Bar, has this information.
Beginning January 1, formal discipline charges against a lawyer become public 30 days after the lawyer files an answer to these charges. "Formal charges" mean that a complaint has been received, reviewed to determine whether probable cause exists to file charges, and, if there is probable cause, that charges have been authorized to be filed.
If a lawyer has been disciplined, it will be public record. For further information, you can contact the Commission on Lawyer Conduct at (803) 734-2038. Its address is P.O. Box 12159, Columbia, SC 29211.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The number is 799-7100.
There is a time limit to file a lawsuit. This is called a statute of limitations which imposes a time limit to sue in certain cases. These statutes vary depending on the type of claim involved. You may wish to contact a lawyer to advise you regarding how such statutes affect your claim. To find a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (803) 799-7100.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (803) 799-7100.
This information was prepared to give you some general information on the law. It is not intended as legal advice about any particular problem. If you have questions about the law you should consult a lawyer. If you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (803) 799-7100.