3.130(1.1) Competence

Your lawyer has to actually know what they're doing when they handle your case. This means they need to understand the laws that apply to your situation, have the right skills to handle your type of legal problem, and put in enough time and effort to prepare properly. It's not enough for someone to just have a law license. They need to be genuinely capable of doing the job well.

For you as a client, this means your lawyer should study your case, understand the relevant laws, and be ready when it counts, like at hearings, trials, or when deadlines come up. If a case involves an area of law your lawyer doesn't know well, they need to either learn what's necessary, bring in help from someone who does know it, or refer you to another lawyer who can handle it properly.

This rule exists to protect you. It means you have the right to expect real competence, not just someone showing up with a law degree. If your lawyer messes up your case because they didn't know the law, didn't prepare, or didn't have the right skills, that can be a violation of their professional duties to you.