What legal recourse does a client have against an attorney for negligence in Ohio?

In Ohio, a client has the ability to file a lawsuit for legal malpractice when an attorney is negligent in their representation, which leads to damages for the client. This legal malpractice claim must demonstrate that the attorney failed to meet the standard of care expected in the legal profession, which directly resulted in harm or loss to the client. Legal malpractice encompasses situations where an attorney’s errors or omissions fall below the competency required and cause financial or other damages to the client.

The necessity of proving negligence involves not only showing that the attorney acted improperly but also that the resulting behavior was a breach of fiduciary duty or care. Plus, the client must provide evidence of how this negligence directly caused damages, distinguishing it from other potential claims that do not directly involve the attorney's professional duties.

Other choices either do not fully address the basis for a client's recourse in cases of negligence or imply actions that would not ultimately resolve the underlying issue of legal malpractice. For instance, while breach of contract may be a concern in some attorney-client relationships, it does not address professional negligence, which is the essence of a legal malpractice claim here. Filing a complaint with the Ohio State Bar Association serves more to initiate disciplinary action rather than to seek direct restitution or recovery for damages, and solely