Lawyers’ Obligations

Lawyer Responsibilities

Lawyers are governed by certain standards of professional responsibility toward clients. Your lawyer must follow these basic rules and professional ethics:

• Communicate with you on all matters relating to the case in a timely manner;
• Must not represent another client who has interests conflicting with your interests;
• Handle your case professionally and use his legal knowledge, as it is applicable to your case;
• Must keep all communication with you confidential, meaning he cannot divulge any information with a third party without your permission;
• Must follow your directions in pursuing the case, as long as it follows the law;
• Must safeguard your property.

 

Depending on rules that apply in your jurisdiction, your lawyer may have other responsibilities to you. But you should make sure that he/she respects these basic rules. A failure to comply with the rules may be the basis for a malpractice action.

At the same time, a client also has certain obligations toward his lawyer. Breach of any commitment might cause a lawyer to terminate the contract. You have a responsibility to cooperate with your lawyer and provide him/her with all relevant facts, attend all court proceedings when required, and pay the lawyer’s fees in a timely fashion.