Acadia Parish Legal Malpractice Lawyer

Acadia Parish Legal Malpractice Attorney

Acadia Parish is home to many important roads like I-10 and US Highways 90 and 190. This means that traffic accident claims involving personal injury claims are common. Legal claims can raise allegations of malpractice. As an attorney, you could benefit from an Acadia Parish legal malpractice lawyer.

Experienced Legal Malpractice Lawyers in Acadia Parish

Gibson Law Partners, LLC is experienced with medical malpractice, attorney malpractice, and other professional malpractice cases. We know there are often many parties involved in legal malpractice cases, so we aim to work with everyone to develop a fair and cost-effective resolution.

What Is a Legal Malpractice Claim?

A legal malpractice claim is similar to other forms of malpractice claims. They are difficult to prove and require substantial evidence.

First, and often most importantly, the person filing the claim must prove they had a relationship with the attorney as their client. This is sometimes difficult to determine, depending on the language used by the attorney and the plaintiff.

If the two had a relationship, the attorney had to act negligently. These actions must have caused negative consequences for the plaintiff that resulted in damages.

Defense Strategies for Legal Malpractice

Legal malpractice claims can be difficult to prove, but there are many defenses that can be used to question the legitimacy of the claim, including:

• No attorney-client relationship: One of the most common defenses against a plaintiff is that some people believe they are clients of the attorney, when in fact they are not. This means that the attorney did not have to act on behalf of the plaintiff, and the case can be dismissed.
• Actions outside the attorney’s responsibility: Sometimes, clients try to save money by asking their attorney to do things they are not required to do. For example, a family lawyer who is asked by a client to create an estate plan might not have the experience to do this. If the client files a malpractice claim, the attorney can claim that the estate plan is outside of their scope of practice.
• Standard of care: Even if a case did not have a positive outcome for the plaintiff, it does not necessarily mean that they have a legal malpractice case. To have committed malpractice, the attorney had to act in a way that was outside the normal level of care that the average attorney would have exercised.
• Lack of damages: There have to be tangible damages that the plaintiff suffered due to the attorney’s malpractice. This usually includes things like monetary damages related to the legal case taking longer than anticipated or resulting in an unfavorable outcome.
• Cause not proven: The attorney’s alleged malpractice must be directly linked to the losses the plaintiff suffered. If there are confounding factors, such as a bankruptcy, these events could have been unrelated to the attorney’s performance. This means that the causal link can be more difficult to prove.

An ABA Study also reports that almost 80% of legal malpractice claims are against solo practitioners or small law firms of 2 to 5 lawyers. Most malpractice comes from personal injury plaintiff work (25%) and real estate matters (23%). Additionally, the number of attorneys in Louisiana has increased by 5.4% from 2014 to 2024.

Why Hire a Legal Malpractice Lawyer?

Legal malpractice claims are difficult for a plaintiff to prove, so it is likely that they may hire their own attorney to collect evidence against you. To even the score, consider working with an attorney of your own.

An outside perspective can gather evidence and craft a claim that includes elements that you did not consider. Being directly involved in a legal malpractice case can affect your judgment and how you choose to represent yourself.

A legal malpractice lawyer can also help prevent future claims by giving you tips on compliance.  Creating airtight statements that limit the attorney-client relationship can help malpractice claims end before they are filed.

Why Choose Us?

We have decades of combined legal experience at Gibson Law Partners, LLC. Our firm has been involved in landmark cases that have influenced decisions at the highest levels, including the Louisiana Supreme Court. The experience that Gibson Law Partners, LLC provides is unmatched for Louisiana legal professionals going through malpractice claims.

FAQs

What Are the Elements of Legal Malpractice in Louisiana?

The elements of legal malpractice in Louisiana include accusing an attorney of acting negligently in the context of the case. The specific actions can vary, but the premise is the same. The attorney had to act in a manner considered below the standard of care. These actions must have had negative effects on the client.

What Are the Possible Defenses for Legal Malpractice in Louisiana?

The possible defenses for legal malpractice in Louisiana include the person accusing the attorney of malpractice not being a client of the attorney. Many people take legal advice and misinterpret it, believing they are being represented by that attorney. If it is decided that the plaintiff is not a client, the case can be dismissed.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Legal Malpractice Claim?

You do need to hire a legal malpractice lawyer. A malpractice attorney can help you establish procedures to diminish the number of people under an attorney-client relationship. This can serve as a useful defense if someone who is not a client is attempting to accuse you of legal malpractice. They can also gather evidence to prove that you did not act in a way that was substandard.

How Are Issues With Attorneys Resolved in Louisiana?

Issues with attorneys are resolved in Louisiana through the Louisiana State Bar Association. If someone has issues with an attorney, they can file a complaint through the Disciplinary Counsel. After this, the individual might choose to file a legal claim against the accused attorney, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Resolve Malpractice Claims With Dignity

There were 19,524 attorneys in Louisiana as of 2024. At the same time, legal malpractice claims are not particularly common. When they arise, you should hire your own counsel. If you are experiencing a legal claim against you regarding legal malpractice, schedule a consultation with Gibson Law Partners, LLC.