Can I Sue My Contract Lawyer for Legal Malpractice?
When you hire a lawyer to draft or review a contract, you expect professionalism, accuracy, and protection.
A contract should safeguard your interests, not leave you vulnerable.
But if your attorney makes a costly mistake, you may wonder if you can sue a contract lawyer for legal malpractice in Connecticut.
The short answer: yes, if the error caused substantial, measurable harm.
Legal malpractice cases are complex and typically require an experienced lawyer.
To learn how a Connecticut legal malpractice lawyer can assist you, please call (860) 561-0651 or send an online message today.
Here is what you should know before taking the next step.
Key Points
- You may be able to sue a contract lawyer for legal malpractice, if they fail to meet the required standard of care in handling your case and that failure causes financial damages.
- Common examples of contract-related legal malpractice include drafting errors, missed deadlines, or failing to properly review or advise on contract terms.
- Contract-related legal malpractice claims depend on the specific facts of the situation, including the attorney’s conduct and the impact on your case.
Our Practice is Limited to Connecticut
We handle Connecticut legal malpractice claims. We won’t review cases where financial losses are less than $100,000.
What Counts as Legal Malpractice?
Legal malpractice in Connecticut occurs when a lawyer fails to provide competent representation, and that failure causes financial harm to a client. It’s more than a simple disagreement or a disappointing outcome; it’s negligence that leads to real losses.
Examples of potential malpractice include:
- Forgetting to include a key clause that would have limited your liability or protected your interests,
- Drafting a contract that violates Connecticut law or is unenforceable,
- Missing a crucial filing or deadline that affects your rights, and
- Giving incorrect advice that causes you to lose a deal or pay unnecessary costs.
Even in these situations, without substantial damages, a clear error may still not justify the cost and effort of litigation.
Why the Amount of Damages Matters
Legal malpractice lawsuits are complex, expert-driven cases that require significant time, documentation, and financial resources to pursue. For that reason, StangerLaw LLC typically only assists with malpractice cases involving damages of $100,000 or more.
This threshold helps ensure the potential recovery outweighs the cost of litigation. For example, if a lawyer’s drafting error caused your company to lose a major contract, or a poorly written clause led to a six-figure settlement against you, those losses could justify a malpractice claim.
Common Examples of Contract-Related Legal Malpractice
Contract-related malpractice can take many forms, including:
- Omissions. The lawyer fails to include a critical term, such as an indemnity or non-compete clause.
- Negligent review. Your lawyer approves an agreement that contains hidden or unfair provisions.
- Failure to advise. The attorney doesn’t warn you about foreseeable risks or explain unfavorable terms.
- Conflict of interest. The lawyer represents both parties or acts against your best interests without proper disclosure.
Each of these can result in a valid claim, but only when there’s proof of negligence and quantifiable harm.
What to Do If Your Lawyer Made a Mistake in the Contract
If you believe your lawyer made an error that caused substantial loss, gather documentation. Keep copies of the contract, emails, drafts, and any related financial statements or communications. Estimate your total losses and consult an experienced legal malpractice lawyer in Connecticut.
At StangerLaw LLC, we regularly evaluate cases where contract lawyers made costly mistakes that harmed clients’ financial interests. We look beyond the surface issue to determine whether the attorney’s conduct fell below professional standards and whether it caused enough damage to justify pursuing a claim.
When to Contact StangerLaw LLC
If your attorney’s mistake resulted in significant financial harm, you may be entitled to sue the contract lawyer for legal malpractice. We have decades of experience representing clients throughout Connecticut in complex legal malpractice cases.
We understand how devastating it can be when a lawyer’s negligence results in a financial loss. Contact StangerLaw LLC online or call (860) 561-0651 today to discuss your situation confidentially and find out if pursuing a legal malpractice case makes sense for you.
