Top Reasons to Hire a Attorney
There are many reasons why you should hire an attorney if you are facing any legal issue. Some of the more important reasons are discussed here.
1. The Law is Complicated
It probably comes as no surprise but the fact is the law is complicated. Laws are written by politicians. Most politicians are lawyers. Lawyers are fluent in legalese—they know the law. Not every legal matter requires the use of an attorney and in certain instances, it is perfectly reasonable to handle a legal issue without hiring an attorney. For example, you might choose to fight a traffic ticket alone.
However, for most legal issues, you want an experienced lawyer by your side. A solid case can quickly unravel without the help of a trained and emotionally detached attorney. At the same time, otherwise avoidable pitfalls can result by failing to hire a lawyer when starting a business, reviewing a contract, or embarking on other endeavors with potential legal ramifications.
2. Some Lawyers are Affordable and Not Having One May Cost You More
What is at stake? A criminal case may determine whether or not you spend time behind bars. A civil case could hurt you financially. In many instances, civil attorneys, including Gulisano Law, do not charge anything upfront and do not collect a legal fee unless they win your case. Additionally, some statutes allow the successful plaintiff in a civil case to recover legal fees from the defendant.
If your particular matter cannot be handled on a contingency fee basis, then cost is certainly a concern. However, the belief that hiring an attorney is unaffordable or will cost you half your life’s savings, are unfounded. Sure, there are mega-huge elitist law firms in downtown skyscrapers that bill by the millisecond, charging their clients hundreds of dollars an hour, but those firms are the exception.
When a matter cannot be handled on contingency, firms like Gulisano Law, often work for a reasonable flat-fee. Even if it does cost you out of pocket, hiring a lawyer can actually save or make you money. For example, a lawyer would likely negotiate a higher settlement of a personal injury claim than the injured party would alone. However, not having a lawyer may cost you more in the end.
3. Lawyers Know the Facts and Evidence Needed to Prove Your Case
Clients often think they do not have a case because they lack certain “evidence.” For example, clients sometimes think that something cannot be proven because they do not “have it in writing.” However, very few things must be “in writing” and the only evidence you usually need is the client’s testimony.
Other times, clients think their case is doomed because of some “evidence” the other side has. For example, an employee who has not been paid all his wages might think he does not have a case because the employer has evidence that he stole some office supplies.
First, whether it is true or not, the fact has no bearing on whether the employer owes unpaid wages to the employee. Second, the only reason the employer would bring something like that up is to make the employee look bad in front of the judge or jury.
Objection! That information is irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial. It is therefore inadmissible in this proceeding! More likely than not, an attorney would seek to have that “evidence” suppressed, meaning it would be kept out of court. The point is without the proper legal training, you may not be able to know whether a key piece of evidence against you is admissible in court, improperly obtained, or contradicted by other evidence.
4. A Missed Deadline or Procedural Technicality Could Prejudice Your Rights
Even if you get past the complicated issue, American court systems follow procedural rules that evolved from 13th century British common law. Besides these arcane procedural hurdles, there are deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. If you are not an attorney, you may struggle with the procedures and deadlines for properly filling out and filing certain legal documents. One late or incorrect filing could derail your case, delay your case, have your case dismissed, or cause you to forfeit certain rights altogether.
5. Lawyers Have Access to Experts and Specialists Needed to Prove Your Case
Attorneys depend on an extended network of professionals to help their clients’ cases. For example, a mold remediation expert might be needed in a mold case or a forensic accountant might be needed in a business dispute with warring partners. Most non-attorneys do not personally know the types of professionals who can help with discovery or challenge evidence or testimony by the opposing party.
6. A Lawyer Can Present Your Strongest Case
Partly because of their emotional involvement in the matter, clients often want to focus on specific facts that are not relevant to legally proving their case. An attorney can highlight the strong aspects of your case and try to minimize the weak ones. Even if there is evidence pointing directly at you, pleading guilty or admitting fault is not the only choice. When you hire a lawyer, they can explain all of your options and can help you avoid potentially severe penalties even before a trial begins.
7. Prevent Problems Rather Than Fix Them Later
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. Hiring a lawyer in many instances will help you avoid potential legal headaches down the road. For example, if a client wants to start a business, consulting with an attorney to structure the company and draft documents, instead of pulling something off Google, can help to avoid future conflicts.
Do you really understand the fine print of that contract you are signing and what it will mean for you down the road? A lawyer will. Have you really considered the full ramifications of a huge financial commitment, your about to enter into, in the event things do not go according to plan? A lawyer will.
8. Lawyers Know How to Value Cases and Negotiate Settlements
Clients often have a value that they believe their case is worth. Particularly in personal injury cases, that value is vastly more than the actual value. If you are negotiating a settlement, you want to be confidant that you are getting a fair deal. An experienced lawyer will have likely dealt with cases similar to yours or be experienced enough to make a calculated guess on how your matter might get resolved at trial. Sometimes a settlement is the best choice, while other times it makes more sense to see your case through to trial.
9. The Other Party Probably Has Legal Representation
If someone tells you they want to “run things by their lawyer,” red alarms should go off in your head. If they think the situation is important enough to run by a lawyer, you should to. Non-attorneys are generally at a disadvantage when squaring off against opposing counsel or doing business with another party that has legal counsel. As explained above, the law is complicated and an attorney representing anyone other than you will only be looking out for that person’s interests.
10. Lawyers Often Provide a Free Consultation
Many attorneys, including Gulisano Law, offer a free initial consultation. Not only will a free consultation give you an idea of the type of case you have and its likely outcome, it will help you decide whether you actually need to hire a lawyer.
For the attorney, a free consultation can be extremely helpful to immediately and quickly point a client in the right direction. Sometimes clients have a case and sometimes they do not but it is free to find out. In short, there is absolutely no reason why anyone with a potential legal issue should not at least consult with a lawyer.