My lawyer asked for Substitution of Attorney?

After paying and initial retainer's fee my lawyer is asking for another $10K in retainer's fee -- the case is already 3 years old and I have asked him in the past to do mediation / arbitration (this is a "simple" real estate matter and the other party owes me money) and he discouraged me from doing it. I cannot afford to pay him anymore (I owe him less than $1K after the initial retainer's fee) so I asked him to spend less time in the case. A junior lawyer is the one taking care of the case and I was not happy with the result. I just did not change them before because I can't afford to pay another retainers fee and I was hoping it will be over soon (but never happend).

Anyway, he filed for Ex Parte Application to be Relieved as an attorney. I cannot attend the court hearing for this as I am new at work and has moved 300 miles away. What is the advantage of me just signing the Substitution paper vs letting the court rule in their favor? Other options on my part?

thanks

Just a thought as legal issues vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. If it is such a "simple case" what is he doing with the money? Did you get a periodic accounting of how the retainer was being spent? My suggestion contact the Clerk of the Court's office where he will file the motion. I don't know if a judge would allow him to just walk away after taking your money and not completing the job. Contact the local Bar Association to find out if you can file a complaint against the attorney for not meeting whatever minimum standards are called for in that type of litigation. Personally, I got 2 lawyers to refund money to me in a Family Court case. One tried to unilaterally change the contract we had and had me in court on days we were not there. The other woman attorney was just useless. Good luck ...

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