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Can you effectively handle your own legal case?

 ‘Do I need an attorney??’

In the video below, I talk about what happens when you think you need an attorney.  




When I was practicing law, that question was a common question.  I would usually get it when I was screening a potential client.   At some point, usually because they weren’t completely sure about hiring an attorney, the person would ask this or some version of this question.  


You may be surprised at my response (and I have said this to quite a few people over the years):


“Do you NEED an attorney?  No, in most cases, you don’t need an attorney.  


But ask yourself this question.  If the transmission in your car breaks down, do you need a mechanic?   


Now, if you know how to repair cars, the answer may be no.   Now, if you don’t mind doing the research to figure out how to repair the transmission, the answer may be no.  


However, if you have never repaired a car or worked on a transmission, you now have to spend the time researching.  You will need to figure out the right tools. You have to buy the parts.  You have to figure out what you need to repair.  


And, in addition to doing this, if you only have one car, you have to figure out how to get to work, grocery shopping, or picking up your loved ones.  You, also, have no idea how long it will take you to repair the transmission on your own.   


Again, I say, you don’t need a mechanic but once you take a step back, you will quickly realize that you will probably be without a car for a long time, you have no idea what you’re doing, you will take a long time to figure it out, and you won’t know if you’re doing it right.  


So when asking, ‘Do you need an attorney?’, you are really asking the wrong question.  


The question you should ask is ‘Do I have the energy, the time, and the knowledge of the law to effectively represent myself?’.”  


The reality is that hiring an attorney does not guarantee you the outcome you are trying to achieve.  I know that it can be frustrating to invest in hiring an attorney and not get the outcome you want.  However, legal processes are tricky and attorneys spend a lot of time examining the nuances of certain cases as well as the different aspects of the law.  


So, regardless of how well you ‘KNOW YOUR CASE’, you have to ask yourself if you have the ability to address any legal issues that may affect your case.  Are you familiar with various rules, regulations, case law, and statutes that may impact the outcome of your case?   Are you able to recognize the things you need to do legally to protect any of your appeal rights?  


All of these questions, you need to be prepared to answer because, the truth is, you may be able to handle your case but are you able to handle it effectively? That’s the true question.

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/mynameisreeves/2021/06/21/tips-to-help-avoid-freaking-out-when-you-recognize-you-need-an-attorney

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