So you’ve done your research, spoken with various criminal defense lawyers, and chosen one you feel will best represent your case. It’s a monumental decision that definitely should not be taken lightly. But what happens if you’re halfway through your case, or just beginning, or at the very end, and you start to have doubts about your choice of a lawyer?
Maybe your personalities clash, and every time you call, you hear him or her sigh in frustration on the other line. Maybe it seems like he’s not paying any attention to your case—it takes days and repeated phone calls to get simple questions answered. Or maybe—worst case scenario—your lawyer missed an important deadline to submit essential documents to the court, seriously jeopardizing a favorable outcome in your case.
Can anything be done? You’ve already explained every aspect of your case to him or her, worked out payment terms, and he already has so much confidential information… it seems like it might be risky to try and switch to someone else. But at the same time, there’s knot in your stomach that tells you that your current lawyer isn’t serving your best interests.
Good news—yes, you can switch defense lawyers at any time during your case—beginning, middle, or end. Every court in the state of California will permit you to switch attorneys in the middle of the case, but you do have to follow a certain procedure.
- First, review the contract you signed with the attorney. Check what it says about terminating the lawyer/client relationship and what will need to be done.
- With your first contract on hand, hire a new attorney. The new one will want to review the terms set up by the old one. Make sure the new lawyer is able to acquire any necessary files and paperwork from the old one, and make sure he or she notifies the court of this change in representation.
- Then send a certified or registered letter to the old lawyer, clearly indicating that you have decided to terminate the relationship, and requesting all relevant files. If any fees have been paid and the work hasn’t yet been done, ask for a refund. Ask for a bill specifically explaining all pending fees and expenses.
Switching attorneys is a big deal. But if you have legitimate reasons for doing so, the court will respect that and not penalize you. Be aware that some courts will look unfavorably on people who repeatedly switch attorneys, and may suspect that you are trying to delay the judicial process. Try to only switch lawyers once during your case, and only when truly necessary.
Even more importantly:
When you’re considering switching lawyers, go with the most successful criminal defense lawyer in Southern California—Chambers Law Firm. Attorney Dan Chambers will take your case seriously every step of the way, meticulously reviewing every detail of your case to represent you with the most solid defense possible. He almost always returns client calls and emails within 24 hours—making you and your case a top priority at all times.
Call 714-760-4088 or email dchambers@clfca.com to set up a free initial consultation with Southern California’s top criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers, today.
