As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, you’ll need to fulfill at least three essential elements in order to have a valid legal malpractice claim:

1. There was an attorney-client relationship, or at least a good faith basis for relying on the attorney.
2. The attorney failed to exercise ordinary care, skill and diligence.
3. Damages (loss of money, property, health, etc.) were caused by the attorney's failure and not some other factor. As discussed in Part 1, the underlying damages must have been collectible.

I hear it all the time; “My lawyer screwed up. I want to sue.” As a Board Certified Georgia Legal Malpractice Attorney, I get these calls often. Unfortunately, Georgia law requires a little more evidence than a clear mistake by the attorney for you to actually succeed in a legal malpractice case. You’ll need to fulfill at least three essential elements in order to have a valid claim:

10 factors to consider before you sue your lawyer. So you’ve hired a lawyer to help you solve a problem. Something goes wrong and you don’t receive the service or outcome you expect. The first question many of you will ask is, “Can I sue for legal malpractice?”

What to expect if the complaint against you ends up in front of the Georgia Supreme Court. Part 1 of this series discussed the initial response to a Bar complaint, and Part 2 covered what to expect if the complaint is assigned to the Investigative Panel. Part 3 reviewed ways to minimize the chances of receiving a Bar complaint. This final installment covers what happens if a bar complaint makes it to the big show – the Georgia Supreme Court.

Part 1 of this series discussed the initial response to a Bar complaint, and Part 2 covered what to expect if the complaint is assigned to the Investigative Panel. In Part 3, let’s look at ways to minimize the chances of receiving a Bar complaint by learning from other attorneys’ experiences and mistakes.