Lawyers are obliged to abide by certain codes of professional conduct and to provide clients with a high standard of legal representation. Clients who are unhappy with their attorneys can report any unsatisfactory or unprofessional behavior to the state bar association. In serious cases, clients have the right to sue for malpractice, although this can be complicated and is generally only done in cases of extreme negligence or breech of duty. In most cases, in order to win a malpractice lawsuit, you must be able to prove four things: that the attorney owed you a duty to act properly, that the attorney breeched that duty or was negligent, that this conduct caused you damages, and that you suffered a financial loss as a result of the attorney's conduct. In all states except Ohio, you must first demonstrate that your attorney was remiss or negligent; second, that you would have won the underlying case; and third, having won that case, that you would have received certain financial compensation. This burden of proof can be both complicated and difficult to establish. If you're dissatisfied with your attorney's performance, talk to the attorney about any issues you have. If you believe your attorney has broken the rules of professional conduct, you can file a formal complaint with the regulatory authority in your state.
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