Can a lawyer "drop" their client in the midst of a civil case?

Question

Hi. I'm curious to know what happens during a civil case if a lawyer begins to feel like they don't want to represent their client anymore. For example, if the lawyer learns in the middle of the case that the client lied to them or is doing something unethical that the lawyer doesn't want to be involved with or defending. Would the lawyer be able to stop representing their client? Or do they have some sort of ethical or professional obligation to continue to represent their client? If they did stop representing their client, would the lawyer have to return all or some of the money the client had paid? Also, to be clear, this isn't happening/hasn't happened to me. I am just curious. Thanks. Edit: Thanks for all the responses!

Answer 1

If the lawyer has made a contract to represent a client where the client has to pay something before the settlement of the civil case, then I would think he'd be ethically obligated to repay the client if he decides he no longer wants to represent him. As to whether a lawyer is free to decide to no longer represent a client, I would think that he could, as long as he hasn't signed a contract with him.