What to look for in an attorney? How to measure his competence? This is the first in a series of episodes that focus on California Legal Ethics.
"An attorney must competently perform legal services." - Richard Duquette
You can hear from a lot of attorneys in the industry. Unfortunately, not all of them are competent enough to handle a case or to represent a client.
According to People v. Mckenzie (1983) 34 Cal 3rd 616, 631, the duty of a lawyer is to represent the client zealously within the bounds of the law. Competence requires diligence, learning and skill, and the ability to reason well.
An attorney must have the capacity to perform his duties. He has a duty to serve both his client and the legal system.
The California Rules of Professional Conduct (CRPC) 3-110 states, "A member shall not intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly fail to perform legal services with competence."
The relationship between a client and an attorney is as a fiduciary. It tells the attorney to act according to the best interest of his client. Without apt learning and skill, he could fail in performing his duties competently.
Download and listen to California Legal Ethics to hear about client-attorney relationship, the duty of an attorney, and what characteristics to look for when hiring someone to handle your case!
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