Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

Re: After using up the retainer

It sounds like your attorney was very stressed. It happens to the best of us, but we shouldn't take it out on the clients. Needless to say, you might drop him a note asking for an accounting of your retainer and the status of the case. Then you can make a decision whether to proceed, dismiss the case, find another lawyer, raise more money, etc.

Since you didn't talk about the nature of your case and how long it's been pending, I can't even hazard a guess whether exhaustion of the retainer at this point is realistic.

Re: After using up the retainer

I agree with Mr Cohen, except I am not sure he went far enough (in my humble opinion).

Stressed or not, there is no excuse for his behavior.

You can always hire, and fire, an attorney. If his behavior was such, that you will not forgive him, find another attorney. If you don't think he has earned his fee, you can take the matter to the State Bar which was the mechanics in place for settling a fee dispute.

Also, since you went to the State Bar's website, you can file a complaint against the attorney for his unprofessional conduct.

Please feel free to e-mail, or call, my office if you need more help.

Good luck!

Re: After using up the retainer

Attorneys are human too, and we do not always act and say things the way we wish we did; even horrible, inexcusable things. If this is an aberration, wait a day, and then call him and ask if it is a better time to talk and patch things up.