The main reason why so many people aren’t certain whether to get an attorney to represent them in court, is the potential for money savings this would bring. But unless you’re highly trained in handling legal cases, this is a recipe for disaster. Simply put, you stand to lose more than there is to gain. Hiring an attorney to represent you will ensure the optimal conditions for you to secure the victory in whatever legal battle lies in front of you, and there are plenty of reasons why you should never fight it alone:
- A lawyer knows the ins and outs of legal procedures, while you don’t
Missing an important deadline could cost you the case. The same goes for improperly filling out a certain form or not knowing the full extent of the law. Toying around with that stuff just to save a couple of pennies is a fool’s errand. In the legal world, a minuscule thing like running 3 minutes late can very well be the difference between them listening to what you have to say or turning you away. Besides, you probably aren’t aware of the standards and best practices in court – as such, how can you ever dream of getting what you deserve in terms of reimbursements and such? It’s next to impossible.
- Lawyers can research things much faster
Did you know that lawyers have special databases they can use to research something? Legal databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis are just some examples of this. While it’s possible you could get access to the same kinds of data by using a public search engine like Google, how much time would that take? Spending an entire day looking for a piece of data a lawyer could literally pull up within seconds hardly counts as spending your time efficiently, does it? At the end of the day, time is money, and it’s no less true in cases such as these.
- They know powerful and influential people
By hiring a defense attorney you also get access to their network of powerful connections. Private eyes, expert witnesses, and so forth, may prove to be a valuable asset in your arsenal, and it’s the kind of asset you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Experts such as these could play a pivotal role in proving your point, and you need to take advantage of every single grain that helps you tip the scales in the court of law.
- The other party involved may have legal representation
Without having your own attorney to represent you in court, you’re going to get torn to bits by the other party’s legal representation. That’s just the way it is. Unless you have some legal training yourself, you’ll be at such a severe disadvantage you’ll hardly be able to put up a fight. Putting this another way, no one can expect to go against the kind of experience and knowledge of the law a lawyer has and anticipate a victory. There are many pitfalls you’re unaware of, and using solid arguments won’t be enough to hold your own in court. You need to know the law and its endless complexities, there’s just no going around it.
- Lawyers have the kind of experience you don’t
As such, they’re familiar with standard practices in court and can estimate how certain events are likely to play out. Based on how things are going, your legal representation can alert you when things are spiraling out of control and act just in time to strike up a deal with the opposing side, so you can settle outside of court if deemed beneficial to you. Don’t make the mistake of mixing settling outside of court with being weak, submissive or any of the like – sometimes that’s what you need to do if the situation calls for it. If things go in that direction, a lawyer will help you negotiate a fair settlement with the other party and make sure that everything moves according to the plan.
- They can help you even if the evidence is pointing against you
Many people think that if the opposing party has evidence that’s pointing against you, it’s the end of the world and that the battle is lost. But is it really? What if the evidence was obtained in an unlawful way, thus making it unsustainable in court? You wouldn’t believe how much of a difference this makes, and by investigating how the opposing side got its hands on the evidence, your attorney can help turn the tide in your favor. Who knows, perhaps the witnesses they’ve summoned have contradicted themselves, or that the crime lab made a critical error in the procedure. You couldn’t possibly tell… but your attorney will find out.
- Your future is at stake
In a criminal case, the results determine whether you’re going to be spending time behind bars or not. In a civil case, your financial future is decided, and if things don’t go your way, you could spend a good portion of your life paying money to the opposing side. Remember, if you lose a civil case, you may be required to pay the opposing party’s legal fees in addition to your own, which could be too big of a burden to carry. The good news is that there are many attorneys out there who won’t charge you upfront – only after the case is won. That way, your only concern should be to find a reliable and trustworthy one to work with and concentrate on securing your victory without constantly worrying about how you’re going to be paying your solicitor.
Conclusion
Hopefully the reasons laid out above have convinced you that hiring an attorney is the only sensible way to go about handling legal matters. You don’t want to go at it alone, especially when the opposing side is willing to resort to underhanded tactics to stain your reputation or cheat you out of what belongs to you. Why make it hard on yourself or any harder than it needs to be? Hire a lawyer.
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