#02
Hiring StageHigh Risk
The lawyer was referred to you by your opposing party or someone connected to them
Conflict-of-Interest Referral
Why It's Dangerous
If the person who referred the lawyer has a financial relationship with your opposing party, that lawyer is unlikely to genuinely represent your interests. The referrer may be receiving a kickback, or the lawyer may simply be a pawn placed by the other side.
Typical Scenario
After a dispute arose with a company, a client hired a lawyer referred by one of the company's shareholders. On the surface the lawyer represented the client, but repeatedly advised the client to abandon favorable evidence. The client later had reason to believe the lawyer had undisclosed ties to the opposing party.
* This scenario is illustrative, based on common patterns observed in legal disputes.
What To Do
1
Find your own lawyer independently rather than relying solely on someone else's referral2
Select a lawyer yourself through the local bar association's official site or a legal services platform3
Consult 2-3 lawyers at once and compare their professional judgment4
Investigate whether the referrer has any financial relationship with the opposing partyHave you experienced this?