Not every legal matter requires the use of an attorney. Fighting a speeding ticket and going to small claims courts are two examples. However, in many other situations involving a legal dispute, challenge, or deal, you may not wish to chance the risks of going it alone without the advice of an experienced lawyer who can help you out. In fact, while good legal representation may not be cheap, it can help get you out of a number of sticky situations.
If you're not a lawyer you probably have no business acting like one in certain instances. Even experienced lawyers typically do not represent themselves in court. Also, attorneys tend to specialize in one or more legal practice areas, such as criminal defense or tax law.
A strong case can quickly fall apart without the help of an experienced and emotionally detached attorney. Likewise, failure to hire an attorney when starting a business, reviewing a contract, or embarking on any other endeavor with potential legal ramifications can lead to pitfalls that could otherwise be avoided.
What's at stake? A criminal trial can decide whether or not you spend time behind bars, while a civil trial could hurt you financially. Also, there are many civil attorneys who won't actually take a penny from you unless they win your case.Also, you may be able to claim attorneys' fees as a plaintiff in a civil case, so hiring an attorney can save you or make money.
Without proper legal training, you may not be able to tell when important evidence against you has been obtained incorrectly or when a witness' testimony contradicts previous testimony. And did the crime lab handle the evidence correctly at every step? Your attorney will find out and possibly remove this evidence.
Lawyers rely on an extensive network of professionals to support their clients' cases. Most non-attorneys do not know personally the types of professionals who can help uncover or contest evidence or statements made by the opposing party.
Pleading guilty or admitting fault isn't the only choice, even if there's evidence pointing directly at you. 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.
Non-attorneys are generally at a disadvantage when confronting opposing counsel or doing business with another party who has counsel. As explained above, the law is complicated and an attorney representing your opponent (or even a non-opposing party entering into a legal agreement with you) will take advantage of this injustice.
Since many lawyers will meet with you free of charge during a personal consultation, there is nothing wrong with speaking to one.A free consultation will not only give you an idea of ??the nature of your case and its likely outcome, but will also help you decide whether you really need to hire a lawyer.