St Louis, MO asked in Civil Rights for Missouri

Q: Can a attorney join a case that has already been filed in court ?

believe I have strong civil right case, with a preponderance amount of evidence. I have been reaching out to attorneys, but it seems there is a limited amount of attorneys who do Civil right cases and in relation to due process, and the few i do have say they have a large case load, or is a small firm with lots of work. I don't know if that is literally or code for its not worth my time But I would like to file my suit and will be a self representative litigate of course studying everything I can and using the tools on the court website. My question is simply i will still be searching for a attorney, if i find out after i file and the court accepts it can attorney join at any point or would I have to have before i even file?

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2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Civil Rights Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: Yes, an attorney can join a case that has already been filed in court. It's not uncommon for individuals to start a case as a self-represented litigant and later retain an attorney. If you find an attorney after you have filed your case, they can file a notice of appearance with the court to formally become your legal representative. The process of an attorney joining a case already in progress is usually straightforward and is generally permitted by the courts.

However, it's important to be aware that bringing an attorney on board at a later stage might require them to catch up on the case, which can take time. It's always beneficial to have legal representation, especially in complex areas like civil rights and due process.

Keep in mind that even after filing a case, you can continue your search for an attorney who is willing and able to take on your case.

Remember, choosing the right attorney is crucial for the success of your case, so it's worth taking the time to find someone who is a good fit.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Little Neck, NY

A: It's common for attorneys to join cases that have already been commence pro se. But depending on the nature of a case and how far it progressed, a law firm would probably want to evaluate what has been done to date. Good luck

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