Legal advice on Professional ethics in California

I was mauled by a pit bull and hospitalized for approximately 3 weeks . My friend kept insisting I needed to get an attorney who he recommended. I reluctantly agreed and signed the contract anyway. I honestly did not understand the details of the contract other than it would not cost me anything unless I recovered an award and the attorney would get a percentage. I ultimately terminated this attorney/client relationship and the attorney is now claiming I signed a contract that he is to get the percentage I agreed to if I get a large settlement the new attorneys fought and won for. He only negotiated with the insurance company and they denied the claim. Is he entitled to more than what he worked for?

The judge requested income reports from both parties two weeks prior to the court date. My attorney submitted the document the day before. The opposing side submitted nothing and declared the case be thrown out because my attorney didn’t submit the documents on time. The judge post postponed the case with the same requirements; income reports two weeks prior to next court date. Again my attorney submitted my document late ( 3 days prior to court date) and opposing side nothing. New court date same requirements. 3rd Court date arrives and my attorney doesn’t show. Another attorney shows in his place. New attorney & old attorney secretary tell me my attorney is on vacation. It turns out he had been disbarred and didn’t tell me. He has been since reinstated. What can I do?

I filed a substitution of attorney two weeks ago. Previous personal attorney did not handle my case correctly. I suffered catastrophic injuries 85% temp. Paralyzed neck down. Elder abuse neglect and financial abuse. I'm now in a new Nursing Facility about to leave. Recovering physically emotionally and mentally I am a mess. I am well educated with nursing home guidelines, my rights and the law. A tiny bit that I have researched as if I was an attorney I am afraid and I'm going to of what more I will learn. Because of this I am reminded of the trauma I suffer daily now with PTSD to the point I am now scratching and making my face bleed. This is affecting my recovery not physically but emotionally. The company owns over 259 facilities yearly net over 69 billion and my plan is to withdraw as long as we come to a mutual agreement. I feel confident this will happen. Finally my question is my case management conference statement is due June 23rd emotionally I am not able to add my addendum because of what I need to add and prepare. I need to do what's best for me to recover physically more so emotionally I require a medical extension. What should I do? I need more time less stress.Help!

My spouse and I have agreed on a mutual divorce but he had already retained a lawyer. They want to meet with him separately and I don't feel comfortable. We meet on the 19th of June to discuss. If I don't agree with the terms can I still obtain my own attorney?

A friend referred me to an attorney, John, who represented her several years earlier. This was the first time I have needed an attorney. I met with John at his office. It seemed like a smaller firm with dozen employees. John’s a partner. He was by himself when he represented my friend. I was impressed and believed his promise that HE would help me. I was given a fee agreement and told I would need to agree to it, sign it and return it with the retainer. I did. After my initial meeting with John, I haven't spoken to him since. Being my first time, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Apparently, Paul (associate) and Rachel (secretary) have taken over. This was confirmed in my billing statement. Paul is performing the vast majority of the work with John seemingly performing in a supervisory position. Paul and Rachel's hourly rates are listed in the agreement, but it certainly didn't say Paul will be my attorney as supervised by John. My friend referred John, she didn't refer Paul. I hired John, I didn't hire Paul. Jenny styles my hair. I don’t go to Jenny so Paula can style my hair. Changing attorneys will cost me thousands. I believe this was misleading at best.

I am taking an acquaintance to Small Claims Court in San Bernardino County, CA. The Defendant owes me $5300. I have read all the rules, forms, and self-help instructions. I have plenty of evidence against the Defendant in the form of witnesses, text messages and emails where the Defendant states what they owe me and when they will pay me. They've been continually missing payment deadlines for the past 6 months. Finally I've decided to proceed with Small Claims. As I am not a lawyer, and have no court experience whatsoever, I have no idea what to expect. Though I feel like I have an obvious/cut-and-dry case for winning, I have no idea what kind of loopholes exist that the Defendant might try to win with. The Defendant's dad is a local attorney, and I am afraid that he will try to win this case on a shady technicality or loophole that I am not equipped to fight. I am seeking any insight into how to avoid or prepare for this. Thank you to anyone for their thoughts or wisdom.

I have worked as an independent contractor for an Attorney since 2017. The payment hasn't been consistent. My responsibilities provide me with concise knowledge that there was money to pay my invoices. (i.e.) A client wired me funds for payment on their bill, & the attorney instructs me to send the funds to the Trust account (per the usual) so I could be paid, but I was not paid. There were discussions between the attorney & me about a "deal" for a company he & his "business partner" were starting. In the first conference call, I was referred to as a sexual reference. Afterward, the "business partner" continued to contact me & display heinous acts of inappropriate sexual & threatening behavior. After I explained the situation to the attorney, he blew my concerns off. The attorney's resolve was to "contract" me out on this "deal". I was not permitted an opportunity for professional input. The attorney attempted to collect a retainer on my behalf and put it in his Trust account. I put in an immediate notice of resignation to the attorney. I emailed the "business partner" and stated I had no interest. The attorney is refusing to pay an invoice for March. Almost $3,000.

I was once told "A lawyer is also prohibited from misleading the client into thinking that the lawyer’s claim for fees will prevail in fee dispute litigation" but I haven't been able to find any info. suggesting this is wrong. My divorce attorney has changed her total billed amount so many times and has charged me for bogus things. She said she would refund my retainer and didn't. I told her I would take her to fee arbitration and she said if I did, she was going to ask for even more money because she gave me "discounts" and she would win. Her discounts were offered after I questioned fake work she didn't want to explain. Is there anywhere that this rule is actually enforced?

My attorneys never told me anything about the case and got my consent to do them. Did they violate any law or ethics? If something happened, Did I have to be responsible for those??Thanks

Like can I challenge any law for any reason at any time? I don't know much about the legal system.