Attorney s 2 questions: Is it normal in a law firm to be put off on another attorney without clients knowledge
I have 2 questions: I hired an attorney who then put me off on his partner without my knowledge and was not made aware of it until the day of mediation (when my attorney did’nt show up but sent his partner instead). This really threw me for a loop as i was not as familiar with this attorney and felt like i’d been abandoned on the battlefied.
2nd question: i agreed to a online pharmacy no prescription settlement in mediation but did not sign anything. Am i bound by this or can i change my mind? Its not been 24 hours yet.
Washington state by the way.
Thank you for any help you can give
Keep in mind please I was kept under the impression that my attorney was the one person i have been working with for well over a year. Talked with countless times and met with. Not the other person whom i’d NEVER met with. the words "i’m your attorney. Did you not know that?" doesn’t seem very appropriate 1.5 years into a case at mediation.
sure they are a firm not individuals, if someone hears your case that doesnt mean they personally will represent you, the firm will. dont fret though sometimes the person taking your case is just more versed in that area of law than the person you talked to. as for #2 no clue, but if you agreed it could be viewed as a verbal agreement that does not need to be signed.?.
For your 1st question, yes they can put you off to someone else. They all work for the FIRM you hired. You nevere hired the lawyer, you hired the firm.
1- You hired the law firm … usually they assign the case to the most capable practitioner.
2- Yes you are bound by your word …. especially if you gave your word in a public forum like arbitration.
Morally, you are bound by your word whenever you make a promise.
yes on the first at least sometimes. yes on the second one also, if you did not sign any papers saying you would accept the offer you can change your mind, just contact your attorney and let him know that you have decided not to accept the offer and want to continue on with the case