Switching lawyers
Switching attorneys mid-case is more common than most people think. Before you commit to anything, I'll review everything that's happened in your case and tell you exactly where you stand — the first step isn't firing anyone.
If you have a court date coming, call now — (817) 382-8333.
Something isn't working. Maybe you haven't heard from your attorney in weeks. Maybe a bill arrived with charges you didn't expect and nobody warned you. Maybe you've started to feel like your case is drifting and your lawyer's mind is somewhere else. Maybe you had a real disagreement about strategy and you've lost confidence in the direction things are heading.
These are real, legitimate reasons to consider a change — and you're not the first person to be in this position. I've taken over cases at every stage: shortly after filing, mid-discovery, weeks before trial. Taking over a case cleanly is a practiced skill. I know how to read another attorney's work, identify what's been done right, catch what's been missed, and build a clear path forward. What I won't do is talk down the work your prior attorney did — that doesn't help your case, and it's not how I operate.
Your first step — $500 flat
Before you fire your current attorney — before you do anything — get the full picture. The Case Review is specifically designed for this. I read the whole file first, so when we talk strategy, we're starting from solid ground.
Not a sales pitch — a strategy document. You keep it whether you hire me or not. I'll tell you the honest picture, including the parts that are hard to hear.
The mechanics are straightforward, and your case does not restart.
You fire nobody until you know what you're doing. The Case Review happens first — I review your full file before you terminate anything. You learn exactly where you stand before you make any decisions.
Substitution of counsel is simple paperwork. When you're ready to move, I file a substitution of counsel with the court — a standard form that puts me on the record in your place. There's no gap in representation. The case doesn't start over. Nothing you've already done is thrown away.
Your file belongs to you. Your former attorney is required to return your file — or provide a copy of it — upon request. I'll tell you exactly what to ask for and how to get it. If there are complications with that transition, we handle them.
What comes next depends on where your case is. Your Plan of Action will map the specific steps remaining in your case — temporary orders, discovery, mediation, trial — with flat-fee quotes for each. Pay-as-you-go: you always know the price before the work begins.
Flat-fee quotes are due two weeks before services are rendered — 90 days before a final trial. No retainer to exhaust, no surprise invoices, no hourly meter.
Switching itself doesn't hurt your case — but switching without knowing where your case stands can. That's why the $500 review happens first. I read the entire file before we decide anything. If there are open motions, discovery deadlines, or hearings already scheduled, your Plan of Action will address every one of them. Judges see substitutions of counsel regularly. Done cleanly, it doesn't signal weakness — and staying with an attorney you've lost confidence in rarely helps.
Your financial relationship with your former attorney is between you and them — that's separate from hiring me. Many attorneys work on a retainer draw-down; depending on the agreement, you may have a credit, a balance owed, or a dispute about billing. Knowing where you stand on fees before you terminate is part of what we talk through in the Case Review. I can help you think through what to ask for and what the engagement agreement says — but I won't give you legal advice about a dispute with another lawyer.
Quickly, once you decide to move. After the Case Review and strategy session, if you want to hire me, the substitution of counsel can typically be filed within a day or two of you signing my agreement. Getting your file transferred from the prior attorney can take a little longer — but I'll be on the record immediately, which stops any gaps in coverage. If there's a hearing on the calendar, tell me now and we'll work the timeline around it.
This is the most urgent situation, and the answer is: call me now. Courts sometimes grant a short continuance when there's a recent substitution of counsel — but it's not guaranteed, and judges vary. The closer the hearing, the more we need to know quickly. Start the $500 review as soon as possible, or text or call (817) 382-8333 today so we can assess the timeline. Don't wait to see if it sorts itself out.
Start online any time — sign up, pay the $500, and put your strategy session on my calendar. I'll read the whole file and tell you exactly what you're working with. You decide what happens next.
If you have a court date coming, call now — (817) 382-8333.