To cure incompetence, a lawyer should first do which of the following?

• A. Associate with a competent lawyer
• B. Hire a private investigator
• C. Proceed without change
• D. Withdraw from all clients

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that a lawyer must have the knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation to represent clients competently. When a practitioner finds themselves lacking, the quickest and most direct remedy is to bring in help by associating with a more experienced, competent attorney. This addresses the root deficiency by adding the necessary expertise to the case and demonstrates a commitment to meeting the duty of competence.

Other options miss the mark because they do not directly fix the lawyer’s lack of knowledge or skill: proceeding without change continues to fail the competency standard; withdrawing from all clients is an extreme step not warranted if competent help is available; hiring a private investigator doesn’t resolve deficiencies in legal knowledge or procedure.