Lawyers spend a lot of time ensuring that they know everything there is to know about the law. That expertise is a comfort when you find yourself in a sticky situation. However, people often make mistakes before they’re able to get to their lawyers. One wrong move before you contact your lawyer can affect the whole outcome of a legal situation.
While not everyone can be a lawyer, everyone can benefit from having a basic understanding of the law. It sets you up to better understand your rights and the potential consequences of your actions. In short, the more you know about the law, the higher your chance of avoiding any pitfalls that could affect your case.
With that in mind, here are five awesome things you can learn from your lawyer that are sure to help you in the long run.
1. Are There Other Options Besides Going To Court That Can Solve A Legal Dispute?
One of the first things you should learn from yourlawyer is that not every incident has to end in a court case. In some cases, that’s an extreme and unnecessary option that can take more time, effort, and cost than it’s worth. It’s important to understand your choices.
For example, arbitration is often considered a better alternative to legal proceedings in both the public and private sectors. In arbitration, a neutral party will hear both sides of an argument and make a decision about the situation.
For the process to work, both parties must agree to abide by the arbitrator’s decision. While this doesn’t work in every situation, it can be less expensive and much quicker than going to court.
That’s just one of the many routes you can pursue when you have legal trouble, a lawyer will be able to advise you further on what your options are.
2. Does A Lawyer Guarantee A Better Outcome?
While there’s never a guarantee that a lawyer will win a case for you, and no ethical lawyer should try to guarantee it, there’s evidence that having a lawyer increases your chances of a good outcome.
This is mainly because a lawyer will understand the unique laws at play in your location. Additionally, they understand the process of filing legal documents and can use their case history to your advantage. They have much more experience than you do and are after all professionals at what they do.
3. What Are The Ethical Obligations Of A Lawyer?
The best time to ask your lawyer what their ethical obligations are is before you need to know. It’s very important that you understand your rights in regards to your lawyer, and what they can and can’t do.
A lawyer should be loyal, keep their client’s secrets, strive for the best outcome for their client, and always operate within the law. Each state has its own committee or agency that reviews lawyers to ensure they live up to their obligations.
4. What Fees Are Associated With A Court Case?
The cost of a case is often the first thing a client wonders about when they visit a lawyer. While the fees will vary depending on the particulars of the case, here’s what you should consider when interviewing a lawyer.
- Ask if your bill can be itemized, that way you know exactly what you’re being charged for.
- You should have an agreement in place that specifies how often you’ll be billed.
- If your lawyer isn’t getting paid unless you win, ask what fee you’ll be paying the lawyer if they win your case for you.
5. When Do You Have A Right To An Attorney?
One of the most important things you can learn from a lawyer is when you’re entitled to one. You can’t depend on others to let you know when you should ask for representation, so you need to know what to do when the time comes.
You are always entitled to a lawyer when you’re facing criminal charges. You also have the right to ask for an attorney if you’re being questioned by the police. Questioning should then stop until your legal representative has arrived.
Some people believe that if they’re innocent they don’t need a lawyer, this is unfortunately not true. You can always benefit from the presence of an attorney and shouldn’t hesitate to bring one in even if you haven’t committed a crime.
These are just a few of the helpful facts you can learn from your lawyer. If you use them as a starting point you’re sure to gain a better understanding of the law and its consequences.
