Can You Change Lawyers During Trial?

Although it is never easy to make the decision to change lawyers, this is a move that may be necessary if you have lost confidence in your representation. After all, you are the one who will have to live with the consequences if your lawyer loses the case. So, you should feel comfortable doing everything you can to give yourself the best chance of a successful verdict. But what happens if your trial is already in progress? Can you change lawyers during a trial? Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible for you to request a continuance so that you can replace your current legal counsel with a new last-minute trial lawyer.

Read this blog to learn more about hiring a replacement attorney to handle your trial.

When Should You Hire a Replacement Attorney?

A lot of people assume that only one lawyer will handle a case all the way from its early stages to its concluding verdict at trial. But the truth is that the lawyer who initially took the case is not necessarily the lawyer who will be handling the case when it reaches trial. That’s because pre-trial practitioners are not the same as trial lawyers, and the various stages of a lawsuit or legal action tend to require different skill sets, with some lawyers better suited than others to try a case in front of a judge or jury.

These are some of the main reasons you may need to replace your current counsel before trial:

Your current attorneys are not aggressive enough.
Your current attorneys are not confident enough.
Your current attorneys constantly talk about settling.
Your current attorneys are unable to continue due to illness.

Afraid to Go to Trial

If your attorney is not comfortable with litigation and is afraid to go to trial, they may encourage you to settle on terms that are not very favorable. This would obviously be a bad outcome for you.

The Los Angeles last-minute trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP excel at trial work, which is why we are not afraid to take your case to court. We possess the knowledge of the law and the courtroom expertise needed to win even the most difficult trials, including business litigation, breach of fiduciary duty, employment law defense, and criminal defense. Although we are adept at negotiating favorable settlement deals on behalf of our clients, we also prepare every case with the belief that it will go to trial. This allows us to always be ready for a legal fight in the courtroom because we are never caught off guard.

Illness

Of course, it’s not always your attorney’s fault that they are no longer best suited to represent you. For instance, perhaps your current attorney fell ill during the trial. Sometimes, life can get in the way of our plans. Regardless of the reasons for you needing to hire a new attorney, it’s important that you react quickly. If your attorney got sick and is no longer able to represent you, the court should allow you to hire a replacement attorney. Moreover, your new attorney should be given extra time so that they can get caught up on the case. It’s also possible that a mistrial will be declared in a situation like this, which would give you additional time to find a new lawyer.

How to Change Attorneys During Trial

If your attorney switch is happening during the trial, you will need to have a notification filed with the court. Additionally, when you make the decision to move on from your current representation and hire a new attorney to handle your trial, you need to request your case file. This is especially important if the attorney switch is being made at a late stage because time is limited, and you want your new lawyer to get to work on your behalf as quickly as possible.

The truth is that judges are usually reluctant to grant a continuance, especially once the trial has started. That’s why you need to make sure that your new attorneys are experienced litigators who can quickly get up to speed and take over the case, whether it’s in a California courtroom or in federal court. The Los Angeles last-minute trial attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP are flexible to clients’ needs. This means that we can work alongside your original legal counsel or we can take over the case completely. We will adjust to the circumstances of your unique situation and make sure that every decision is made with one goal in mind: helping you win the case.

Contact the California Last-Minute Trial Lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP

If you are looking for new representation in your legal dispute, the Los Angeles last-minute trial attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP can help you. Our legal team has broad experience trying cases in state and federal courtrooms, including courts in California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

Call 310-590-3927 or contact us online to discuss your case.