Sometimes lawyers are asked to take on as a client a person who says that they were previously represented by one or more other counsel in the same matter, but the relationship fell apart.
The question is whether you should take this matter on.
Though we cannot really tell you what to do, some psychologists will argue that they should reject as a new patient someone who (i) describes a series of mistakes made by, or a lack of understanding by, their prior clinicians and (ii) describes the new practitioner as being better than the others and so will be able to help.
Lawyers often hear similar stories from prospective clients. But they miss the signs because lawyers, like most psychologists, have an instinctual desire to assist. This is what we do. And this instinctual desire to assist kicks in as soon as we meet a prospective client. But, if we take a little time to consider the matter, we might come to a different conclusion about the proposed retainer.
All we are saying is that when faced with this type of prospective client, take some time to fully consider whether or not to take the matter on. Don’t rush in. Ask to speak to the prior counsel because maybe the client is looking for new counsel because the prior lawyer is retiring. Or maybe it is because the client would not follow the prior lawyer’s advice.