It was like that until my day arrived at the trial and he didn't tell me either, so I decided not to remind him to see if he would show up, the day of the trial comes and, indeed, my lawyer never showed up. If your lawyer simply doesn't show up for a hearing or court date, it could be considered legal negligence because it violates your duty of care. Its absence can be extremely damaging. In the best-case scenario, your hearing could be rescheduled.
In the worst case scenario, you could lose your case completely. Only lawyers can go to court on behalf of another person. Illinois Attorney's Law says: “No person shall be permitted to practice as an attorney or legal counsel in this state without having previously obtained a license for that purpose from the Supreme Court of this state. If you have already paid the lawyer who did not appear in court, you can contact him and ask him to refund the money. For example, representatives who are not lawyers can attend Social Security and unemployment benefits hearings.
A deferment means that you will be scheduled for a new court appointment approximately 30 days later, giving you more time to hire a new lawyer. The next question was originally directed to John Roska, lawyer and editor of the weekly column The Law Q&A in the Champaign News Gazette. Any information submitted through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done solely in a form not confidential. You should not act on the basis of the information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking the professional advice of an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction.
So what happens next? Are there consequences for the lawyer? What are your rights when you feel like you were let down at a time when you needed them most?.
