Waterloo Legal Malpractice Attorney
Legal Malpractice in Iowa
When you hire an attorney to represent you in a legal matter, you rightfully trust that they will provide proper, ethical services. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. When an attorney or law firm acts outside of the scope of acceptable standard service, either through negligence or misconduct, affected individuals have the right to seek restitution.
It’s important to note that a bad case result does not necessarily mean that you have experienced legal malpractice. A lawyer can do everything right and a jury can still find in favor of the other party. That being said, legal malpractice can and does happen. When it does, you can turn to Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. Our Waterloo legal malpractice lawyers are available to meet with you and discuss the specifics of your potential case. If appropriate, we will conduct an exhaustive investigation in order to determine if you are, in fact, the victim of legal malpractice and, if so, can advise you on how to proceed. We are committed to protecting our clients rights and advocating for their best interests every step of the way.
For effective advocacy and aggressive representation, contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. online or by phone at (319) 220-0416 today. Your initial consultation is free and always confidential. We provide services in Waterloo, Iowa City and the surrounding area.
What to Do When You Have Experienced Legal Malpractice in Iowa
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., is one of the few law firms that handle legal malpractice cases in our area. Many of the cases we take come to us on referral from other attorneys who trust us to get the results Iowans depend on.
We take cases involving attorney mistakes very seriously, and we don't bring just any lawsuit for attorney malpractice. When you visit our office, we will talk with you in depth about the events that led to your current situation. We may also do a thorough investigation. We will request copies of the documents involved in your case and we will review them carefully.
Understanding Legal Malpractice: What It Is—and What It Isn’t
Legal malpractice is a complex issue. Like in cases involving medical malpractice, a poor outcome does not mean that legal malpractice has occurred. Rather, one must prove that an attorney or law firm failed to provide an acceptable standard of service, meaning they failed to uphold an implicit or express contract with the client.
In some cases, this may involve proving that an attorney was negligent. For example, if your lawyer made a careless mistake that one could reasonably have expected another competent attorney to have not made, this could be an example of malpractice. Additionally, legal malpractice can involve intentional misconduct, rare instances in which an attorney purposefully mishandles a case.
In any case, in order to have grounds to file a legal malpractice lawsuit, you will need to show that your attorney’s negligent or wrongful actions caused significant damages. An attorney’s mistake is not sufficient grounds for a lawsuit if you did not suffer any damages as a result. For example, if your attorney failed to file your claim within the statute of limitations, you will need to prove that you had a “legal certainty” that you would have won the case had your attorney not missed the deadline to file.
Examples of Legal Malpractice
Due to the complexity of these cases, it can be difficult to know whether or not you have become the victim of legal malpractice without seeking the opinion of another, experienced lawyer.
Several different situations can be viewed by the courts as legal malpractice:
- Missing a statute of limitations (a court deadline)
- Failing to file a case
- Failing to raise certain issues
- Attorneys taking on cases they are not qualified to handle
These are just some examples of legal malpractice. We encourage you to reach out to our Waterloo legal malpractice lawyers to learn whether you may have grounds for a claim.
If you think that legal malpractice may have occurred in your case, take action. Contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. today at (319) 220-0416 or by submitting an online contact form. With offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, we provide representation throughout the state.
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