how do i get my money back from a lawyer

How to Demand a Refund From an Attorney

• The Lawyer-Client Agreement Controls. It is important to read and understand the fee agreement that you sign with your attorney before he begins working on your behalf.
• Contingency Agreements. ...
• Hourly Fee Contract. ...
• Bar Association Assistance. ...

Full Answer

Can I get my money back if I take him to court?

Jun 19, 2020 · There is no guarantee that you can get your money back from a lawyer. However, if your attorney has wrongfully kept some or all of your retainer or financial settlement, your state bar association might be able to help. The more work you are willing to do, the more likely you are to shake loose your money from your attorney’s possession.

How do I get a refund from a lawyer?

If your lawyer fails to return these funds within 30 days, you may take several steps to ensure that you aren't cheated. First, you should send another letter that reiterates your decision to take your lawyer off the case and demands prompt repayment of your retainer. In this letter, spell out the consequences of inaction.

Can I get my money back from an ex-lawyer?

Jul 07, 2011 · This is called a retainer. If you fire a lawyer to whom you have paid a retainer, you are entitled to a refund of whatever money remains of the retainer after the lawyer is paid for his services up through the time you fired him. Once you fire him, he must prepare and give you a written accounting of the funds and a refund check.

Can I get my money back from a lawyer I fired?

The best way to get a refund is to ask your lawyer directly—you can either send a letter or call them at the office. See if you can set up a meeting to discuss the termination of your agreement and your refund payment. Make sure they give you back all the case files and court documents but keep in mind that they might charge you for them.

How long does it take for a lawyer to return a retainer?

If your lawyer fails to return these funds within 30 days, you may take several steps to ensure that you aren't cheated.

What happens if a lawyer refuses to work for you?

While your lawyer will probably still be employed by his or her law firm, he or she will have no further relationship with you or your case.

What happens if you are fired from your attorney?

Once you've fired your attorney, you must find a replacement for him or her before your next court date. If you don't find another professional to take your case, it may be dismissed. If this happens, you'll need to refile it.

How to fire an attorney?

In order to avoid any potential financial backlash from your decision, you should fire your attorney using a notarized letter that you've sent to him or her via certified mail.

Can a lawyer bill you for work done before firing?

In most cases, your lawyer will not risk such dramatic repercussions. However, it's important to note that your lawyer may still bill you for the work that he or she performed immediately before the firing. Under the terms of your pre-existing agreement, you're obligated to pay this bill in full.

Is a lawyer an employer?

When you hire a lawyer, you're not exactly entering into an employer-employee relationship. Your lawyer isn't obligated to shortchange his or her other clients in order to take on responsibilities that fall outside of the scope of your case. However, your lawyer is nevertheless obligated to fulfill the task that you've set before him or her.

The Lawyer-Client Agreement Controls

It is important to read and understand the fee agreement that you sign with your attorney before he begins working on your behalf. You'll also need to read it when you are ending the relationship. It holds the key to determining whether your lawyer owes you money.

Contingency Agreements

If you and your attorney signed a contingency agreement, he agreed to do the specified legal work in exchange for a percentage of any money you win in the lawsuit. This type of fee is often used in personal injury cases, such as automobile accidents and medical malpractice cases.

Hourly Fee Contract

The only cases appropriate for contingency fee arrangements are those in which the client may win a money judgment from the other party. Other types of legal work, like criminal defense or divorce matters, are commonly handled on an hourly fee basis. You and the attorney agree before he begins work on how much you will pay him per hour.

Bar Association Assistance

If you and your former attorney disagree on the amount of refund you are due, you can usually get help. State and local agencies that regulate attorney conduct in each state, called bar associations, often offer fee arbitration services.

How to get a refund from a lawyer?

The best way to get a refund is to ask your lawyer directly—you can either send a letter or call them at the office. See if you can set up a meeting to discuss the termination of your agreement and your refund payment.

How to file a small claims court?

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Can you get a refund for a retainer fee?

The retainer fee doesn’t guarantee a successful outcome. If you are displeased with your provider’s services, you can request a refund for the retainer fee in no time at all with DoNotPay.

2 attorney answers

Call the Mississippi Bar. They have a process for this that doesn't require a full Bar complaint.

Craig Panter

You demand a full accounting and ask for whatever unearned funds there are to be returned. A call from the MS state bar to the lawyer will certainly put you back on the map I am certain.

How to get money if a lawyer stole from me?

How can I get money if a lawyer stole from me? Call the State Bar of Arizona to explain your case and ask if you may be eligible to apply to the Client Protection Fund. Call 602-340-7280 within Maricopa County or 800-319-0514, extension 7280, everywhere else. Fill out an application on the State Bar of Arizona website.

What is money you give to a lawyer?

Money you gave to a lawyer for an investment, loan or any other purpose that did not arise from a lawyer-client relationship. Requests for reimbursement for interest, legal fees paid to other lawyers, damages, or other expenses.

How much money did Ray Bedell borrow from a lawyer?

Here's a little-known way to get money back from a bad lawyer. Ray Bedell, a retired Phoenix electrician, had borrowed and scraped together more than $5,000 to hire an attorney in a family court case so he could spend more time with his daughter. The lawyer seemed smart, aggressive and talented in the courtroom, Bedell remembered.

How long does a lawyer have to be suspended in Arizona?

The lawyer must have been licensed or authorized to practice law in Arizona. The lawyer must have been disciplined with a suspension for longer than six months, interim suspension, disbarment or a felony conviction related to the claim.

What is wrongful taking of money?

Wrongful acts such as theft or embezzlement of money. The wrongful taking or conversion of money, property or other things of value. Refusal to refund fees when the lawyer performed little to no work. A lawyer's intentional dishonest or deceitful conduct that leads to the loss of money or property.

What happens when an attorney lies?

An attorney lies, which causes a client financial harm. An attorney dies in the middle of a case and doesn't leave money to reimburse clients. Lawyers accused of these actions don't always have bad intentions, Bar officials said.

How long did the board of attorneys vote on the Bedell case?

The board didn't vote on Bedell's case for six months because of a case backlog, he said.