Legal Question in Family Law in Utah

Bad Family Law Attorney - Any Recourse?

I am in the process of finishing up an awful divorce. I didn't do much research on my attorney before selecting her, and it has become quite obvious that Family Law is not her area of expertise. She has made bad recommendations (ie to not attend a hearing to defend myself against a TRO my husband filed against me), and she even directed me to the wrong place for one of the hearings (it was supposed to be before the commissioner, she took me to the judge). Now, 9 months later, I have accrued roughly $25,000 in legal fees. My boyfriend and I have become so tired of dealing with our attorney that we decided to take matters into our own hands and came to an agreement with my ex- entirely without the help of my lawyer. She also just quit from the firm that has been representing me.

My question is this- I have been told that I would have been better off without this lawyer even if she were free, let alone having to pay $25,000 for her inept services. Do I have any recourse? If I complain to her (former) firm, is there any way I could get my legal fees discounted? Could I complain to the bar? Is bad advice something I could sue for malpractice over? Thank you so much for your help.


Asked on 7/08/08, 11:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Alvin Lundgren Alvin R. Lundgren, L.C.

Re: Bad Family Law Attorney - Any Recourse?

The Utah State Bar has a fee dispute resolution service. You may want to start there. If the attorney failed to provide competent legal services, you should not be required to pay.

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Answered on 7/09/08, 10:37 am


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