Some red flags donāt wave, they scream. And there isnāt anything scarier during a personal injury case than realizing the brightest red flag is your own attorney. Hereās how to spot a bad attorney before your case gets dragged down with them.
1- He Is Rude š
If your attorney treats you like youāre inconveniencing him by existing, youāve got a problem on your hands. You shouldnāt need a therapist on speed dial just to ask for a case update. If you feel like apologizing every time you call, youāre not the problem⦠he is.
2- He Never Calls You Back šµ
If youāre on your third week of āJust checking in againā¦ā voicemails, heās already checked out. You want a lawyer who returns calls, not one who ghosts harder than a JSwipe date.
3- He Wants You to Accept a Lowball šø
If your attorney suddenly transforms into the worldās friendliest insurance adjuster (āI really think you should take their offerā¦ā), beware! A good lawyer fights for your best interests, not just the quickest check. If you wanted a lowball, you couldāve just texted your ex after that second margarita.
4- He Has Horrible Staff Members š¤
You can tell a lot about an attorney by the company he keeps. If the receptionist acts like sheās guarding the Crown Jewels (and sheās not his wife) or the paralegal makes you want to fake your own death, consider it a warning. Toxic staff = toxic practice.
5- He Is A Control Freak š
Does he talk over you, ignore your input, or act like youāre not smart enough to understand your own case? Red flag. The only thing worse than being ignored is being managed like a toddler with an iPad and a sippy cup.
6- He Has Bar Complaints š©
A little searching goes a long way. If he has any Bar complaints⦠run, even if you have to use someone elseās sneakers. You donāt want your attorneyās biggest skill to be writing apology letters to the Bar Association.
7- He Is More Concerned With Appearance Than Substance š š»
Does he love his own billboards, hair gel, and Instagram reels more than prepping your case? We all love a pretty boy, but if your attorney is doing more photoshoots than depositions, find the nearest exit. A good litigator cares more about your evidence than his lighting.
8- Heās a Little Too Close With His Staff š³
If the office gossip is louder than the copy machine, and you notice your attorney spends more time in the breakroom with the paralegal than reviewing your file, watch out. When your lawyer treats āconflict of interestā like a love language, itās a walking HR violation and it never ends well for the client. If his āwork wifeā is suddenly handling your case⦠exit, quickly.
Pro Tip:
When you hear, āWeāll fight for you like family,ā just remember: not all families are healthy. Sometimes your case is getting the ādrunk uncle who swears heās 46 days sober with whiskey on his breathā level of enthusiasm.
