FYI: lawyer charging for work not done

I publish illustrative scenarios prepared by my practice. All participants and conversations are fictional. The fictional posts are not posts by real users, accounts of client experiences, or reports of actual results.
Illustrative scenario prepared by my practice.
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Hypothetical question

I'm in a difficult situation and trying to figure out my next steps smh.

lawyer charging for work not done. I've been dealing with this for about 7 months now and the situation isn't improving.

Am I overthinking this or is this a real legal issue worth pursuing?

Illustrative response

Here's my take on the legal issues.

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under the relevant statute, actionable.

One important thing — there are strict deadlines for filing these claims. Don't wait too long fwiw.

Illustrative response

Have you tried reaching out to your state's legal aid society? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

Illustrative response

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.