Do I Really Need A Lawyer?

There are many occasions in our life when we need to hire a lawyer and before even looking at the questions you might put to any legal professional before engaging their services there is one question you need to ask yourself first-“do I need a lawyer?”

It is possible that whatever difficulty you are facing can be resolved without the need for a lawyer and the sensible use of dialogue and common sense can resolve many differences when your first instinct is to hit the phone book and dial A for attorney.

For example a dispute with a neighbour over a boundary fence, excessive noise or the myriad of problems which do occur from time to time with neighbours may be better addressed by speaking to your neighbour directly or through a third party such as a mediator.

Other instances that you might address yourself include the small claims procedure in your local state which is set up to allow people resolve their disputes without the need for hefty legal bills. Court staffs are generally very helpful with any questions that you might have and will give the correct forms to fill out and the proper procedure to follow.

An important factor to also consider before hiring a lawyer is this: the lay litigant, that is the ordinary person without legal representation, in my experience always gets a good deal from the court and the reason for this is the basis on which our laws are built.

When you think of laws and justice a symbol you will always see in your minds eye is the scales- the scales of justice. This represents a balancing of the rights of each person in a dispute on which the judge will pass judgement. Judges are very conscious of the need to ensure that when faced with a decision that they are keeping those scales balanced. When a judge is faced with a lay litigant on the one hand and an experienced legal professional on the other side of the argument the judge will always ensure that the scales are put in balance by being very helpful and courteous to the lay litigant to ensure that his rights are not trampled on by a slick, experienced lawyer.

For this reason you may consider representing yourself in minor matters and where the cost of hiring a lawyer is prohibitive or where you might just be totally strapped for cash. However you should think long and hard before representing yourself because it can prove very costly in the long run.

In my next article I will look at the critical questions you need answers to before hiring an attorney.