Lawyer Malpractice and Domestic Violence: Are We Revictimizing Our Clients?
14 Pages Posted: 31 Dec 2008
Date Written: December 1, 2008
Abstract
This article explores lawyer malpractice in cases involving domestic violence. The author examines the potential hazards from the perspective of representing the offender as well as the victim. The author advances the idea that domestic violence may be unrecognized in many cases if the attorney is not familiar with the appropriate indicators. In addition, an attorney may be unwilling to raise issues of abuse due to the attorney's own discomfort with the topic. The author argues that the family law lawyer's failure to recognize and address issues of violence places the lawyer at risk for client claims of malpractice as well has other claims.
Keywords: Family law, domestic violence, lawyer malpractice
JEL Classification: K14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation