7 Signs You Hired A Bad Lawyer (and What You Can Do About It)

Whether you're planning a home renovation, navigating a property dispute, or dealing with building contracts, hiring a reliable solicitor can make or break your project. For DIY enthusiasts, young professionals redesigning interiors, seasoned architects, and tradespeople across the UK, the legal side of home improvement projects can be daunting. A good lawyer provides clarity, but a bad one? That can leave you out of pocket and stuck in red tape.

Knowing the signs of a poor legal partner is just as important as finding the right tile or contractor. Here are 7 telltale signs that you may have hired the wrong lawyer—and what to do if that's the case.

1. Poor Communication

Communication is the backbone of any successful client-lawyer relationship. If your lawyer is consistently unavailable, rarely returns calls, or takes days to reply to emails, it may be time to consider a switch. You shouldn't feel like you're chasing your legal advisor just to get basic updates.

For clients planning home upgrades or architectural developments, access to timely legal advice is critical. From reviewing planning permissions to negotiating with contractors, delayed responses can slow down timelines or cause you to miss key deadlines altogether.

It’s also a red flag if the lawyer uses excessive jargon without explaining it. A competent solicitor ensures you fully understand your rights, obligations, and documentation before signing off on anything.

If communication issues persist, consider raising your concerns formally. Many firms have internal complaint procedures you can follow before seeking a new legal advisor.

2. Lack of Experience in Your Type of Case

Not all lawyers are created equal. Just as you wouldn't hire a kitchen fitter to repair a roof, legal expertise should match your specific needs. Some lawyers specialise in criminal defence, others in family law. For property-related guidance, you need someone well-versed in planning law, building regulations, or property disputes.

If you've hired a lawyer without experience in your area of concern—say, managing contractual disputes during a renovation—you may find they struggle to advise accurately or protect your interests.

A specialist will know how to flag risks you haven’t considered, suggest ways to navigate building regulations, or ensure your planning applications are tight and robust. Someone without that background might miss vital details, compromising your project—or worse, landing you with legal trouble.

Always check their portfolio and ask about similar cases they've handled. Don’t be afraid to verify qualifications and accreditation with organisations like The Law Society or Solicitors Regulation Authority.

3. Missed Deadlines and Disorganisation

Law is not just about knowing the rules—it's also about timing. Whether it’s submitting documentation to the council, filing claims, or meeting response deadlines, your solicitor must be on top of every timeline.

If your lawyer frequently misses deadlines, loses documents, or forgets key dates, it’s more than just annoying—it’s a liability. In legal matters relating to construction or renovations, delays could halt your project or escalate costs quickly.

For tradespeople managing subcontractor agreements or architects fighting planning appeals, legal mishandlings can mean lost contracts or increased exposure to penalties.

To avoid this, always request a schedule of deliverables and ask to be kept informed about milestones. If you start to notice continual slippage, act quickly. File a formal complaint with the firm and consult another solicitor for a second opinion.

4. Vague Billing or Unexpected Charges

Legal services aren't cheap—but that doesn’t mean you should be left in the dark about your invoice. One of the most common complaints against solicitors is vague or inflated billing.

If you're receiving invoices with unclear line items, unexplained charges for routine tasks, or if your lawyer can’t justify their fees, this is a major red flag. Many unscrupulous firms rely on clients being too intimidated or uninformed to question unexpected costs.

Home renovation projects already come with tight budgets. Architects, DIYers, and designers can’t afford spiralling legal costs due to unjustified billing practices.

What you can do: ask for a written breakdown of costs before engaging the solicitor. This should include hourly rates, anticipated expenses, and whether you’ll be charged for things like emails, phone calls, and document preparation. Insist on regular cost updates and always question discrepancies before paying.

If you suspect overcharging, you can request a “detailed bill” under the Solicitors Act 1974, and even have the bill assessed by the court in some cases.

5. Unprofessional Conduct or Attitude

Your solicitor should be your legal ally—not someone who dismisses your concerns or makes you feel insignificant. A bad lawyer may be condescending, dismissive, or behave in ways that feel unethical or make you uncomfortable.

This might include belittling your knowledge of a contract, refusing to acknowledge concerns about regulations, or being unprepared in meetings. If you're working on a self-build home or redesign project, the last thing you need is a solicitor who treats your project as a side job.

Rudeness, arrogance, or laziness shouldn't be excused. You're paying for a service and have every right to expect respect and professionalism.

Document any unprofessional interactions and consider escalating to senior leadership within the firm. If issues remain unresolved, report the behaviour to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

6. They Don’t Listen to You

A good lawyer doesn’t just apply the law—they listen first. If your solicitor constantly interrupts you, brushes over your concerns, or pushes a legal strategy you’re not comfortable with, that’s a bad sign.

Every legal strategy should be built around your goals—whether that’s protecting your home investment, steering a renovation through planning bureaucracy, or resolving disputes with neighbours over extensions.

Especially for professionals like architects or builders working on behalf of a client, it’s essential that your solicitor actually understands the nuances of the project before offering solutions.

If you regularly feel dismissed or pressured into decisions, you might be better served by a different advisor. Don’t settle for a solicitor who’s unwilling to tailor their guidance to your needs.

7. Zero Transparency About Your Case

You should never be in the dark about your own legal case. If your lawyer is evasive about where things stand, how long proceedings may take, or what’s likely to happen next, that’s a serious problem.

Especially for complex projects with listed buildings, change-of-use licensing, or multi-party renovation contracts, constant updates from your lawyer are essential to keeping things on track.

You’re entitled to complete clarity around the progress of your application or dispute and should be able to view any paperwork if requested. Poor transparency is often a sign that the solicitor is either overwhelmed, incompetent—or trying to sidestep accountability.

If you can’t get clear answers, put your concerns in writing and request an updated case summary and timeline. Don’t hesitate to seek a second legal opinion if your instincts tell you something’s wrong.

What You Can Do About a Bad Lawyer

First, document everything. Keep a record of emails, calls, and interactions that have raised concern.

Second, raise an internal complaint with the law firm. UK law firms are required to have a formal complaints policy. Start there.

If issues remain unresolved, you can escalate your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman or the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Depending on the situation, you may be entitled to a refund or compensation.

Finally, don’t delay finding new legal representation. The sooner you correct course, the less likely long-term damage will impact your home project or business reputation.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a lawyer for property, design, or building work shouldn’t add stress—it should relieve it. Whether you're a DIY-er installing your dream kitchen or a professional overseeing a new commercial build, your legal partner should help carry the load, not make it heavier.

If you recognise some of these warning signs, take action now. It could mean the difference between a project that finishes on time – and one that ends up in costly litigation.