2 January, 2020
Though most lawyers are honest professionals, the legal industry is very political in today’s time. Every state in the world has its rotten apples. Even if you think that you’re aware of everything about the field, you’re wrong! Law is a diverse profession and most lawyers don’t have enough information regarding it. There are multiple stereotypical myths that continue to hound this profession.
However, as a learned citizen, you must conduct in-depth research to know about everything.
Here, in this discussion, we will guide you through a few things a lawyer won't tell you. Keep in mind, you need to know about them if you are going to the courts of law in the pursuit of a legal matter.
Following is a list of things a lawyer won't tell you:
1. Registration Forms Don’t Cost Any Money
If you don’t have hands-on experience of getting through a legal battle, it is crucial for you to know about this. When you visit a lawyer, he/she will give you the impression that they’re starting from scratch. This way, lawyers charge a lot of money for registration forms that they already have. Don fall for this trap and always try to negotiate the price. A legal battle takes a lot of time to get sorted out. Therefore it is essential to know everything. Registration forms don’t cost money, in fact most lawyers already have the bulk of them in their offices with most of the documents signed and approved.
2. Most Work Is Done By Paralegals
A lawyer cannot navigate a case unless he/she doesn’t have a paralegal by their side. Paralegals are essential people in today’s time as they help lawyers to a great extent. Beginning from getting the main documents signed down to preparing a case’s files, paralegals know it all. Most of them don’t get paid in the early months of their services. However, when you visit a lawyer, you will be charged the full fee of the services as if the person is doing the entire work themselves. However, when you pay a lawyer, you’re paying more than half of the money for the services that were free of cost.
3. Experience Does Matter
In this field, there is nothing more important than experience. A veteran professional will always showcase his/her portfolio in the light of experience. Young and naïve people are not well versed with the courts of law. Therefore you need to settle for a professional lawyer to navigate your case. A lawyer will never tell you that experience matters. People who don’t have experience of working with a lawyer, end up trusting the wrong guys for their work. Don’t be one of them and always consider experience as the key trait of a lawyer.
4. There are Multiple Hidden Charges
Have you ever imagined why you end up paying more than the amount that you and your lawyer agreed on in the beginning? This is because there are multiple hidden charges involved in the services of a lawyer. Most people get fooled by the acute budget of a lawyer. This is because lawyers don’t tell about the hidden charges involved in the contract. When signing a document, always talk to a lawyer about all the hidden charges to avoid any confrontation in the near future. Though most of the expenses are bizarre, a lawyer will make sure you pay for whatever expenses are incurred.
5. A Lawyer Needs You Throughout the Case
Even if you hear that they don’t need you, make sure you register your presence at every important point of the case. There are multiple tasks, which require your intrusion throughout the case. Most lawyers try to push clients out of the room, which is very dangerous for the case. If you are the one who has been convicted, it is pivotal for you to stay equipped with all important angles of the case. Many people lose cases in the courts of law when their statements are in conflict with the statements of the lawyers. Therefore it is better to stick with the lawyer throughout the case unless you don’t succeed.
6. Fee is Negotiable
Don’t get surprised when the lawyer tells, his price is fixed. Lawyers are people just like us who can be manipulated. Their fee is negotiable and can easily be paid in instalments. Secondly, if you’re not okay with paying the entire amount on time, it is imperative to request for payment in instalments..
Another interesting thing to note here is that not every case requires the client to pay on time. There are a few cases where lawyers are entitled to receive their fee only after achieving success such as in workers compensation and lawsuits. Secondly, try to find a lawyer in your locality to get maximum discount on the fee. For instance, if you have been charged with a felony, and you’re from California, you must google San Diego Criminal Lawyer to get a list of all professionals working in your area.
7. Lawyers Don’t Know Everything About Law
Not to forget, the law is a diverse profession, which is not easy to understand. Seldom will you come across lawyers who possess massive amounts of information about the field. Most lawyers practice a specific niche for their entire lives. An honest and upright person will tell you, he doesn’t know everything. However, it is important to possess a basic knowledge of this field. Therefore, the next time a lawyer tells you he knows everything, don’t trust the person. Most lawyers try to act smart at the beginning of their careers, not even realizing that there's a lot for them to learn through experience.
8. You Stand an Absolute Chance of Failing
Even if you have the world’s top-notch lawyer to defend you, there is always a 100% chance of failing. A lawyer will win your trust in the pursuit of earning lots of money through your pocket but will never say that there’s an equal probability of losing a case. Some cases are so archaic, people often lose close to the climax. Therefore, you should always be mentally prepared when choosing a suitable attorney to navigate your case in the courts of law. Instead of feeling terrible after losing a case, it is vital to have a perspective on both sides of the coin.
9. There are Many Other Lawyers Out There
People who have complex cases often shy away from going public with their case. Lawyers who are of predatory nature often take undue advantage of this and try to manipulate them. It is crucial to note, there are thousands of lawyers who paddle their services to millions of clients every year. Don’t lose your confidence if you can't afford the fee of a veteran lawyer. Secondly, doll fall for the crap, which says” You won't find a better person than me for this case”. The market is flooded with a lot of people who offer the same services. Therefore it is better to conduct in-depth research before hiring someone.
10. Every Lawyer Makes A lot of Mistakes
The success, which a person receives in this profession depends on the number of years worked and the probability of winning different cases. Even the best in town make multiple mistakes in the past and screw up many things. A lawyer will never tell you how he screwed up so many cases in the past. If you are skeptical about the integrity of a person’s services, the best way is to visit their social media profile and read customer reviews. Don’t make decisions based on negative reviews. Begin from the positive owns to see how the lawyer provides value to his/her clients.
11. Lawyers Can’t Easily Fire You As a Client
Some lawyers tend to threaten their clients by saying that they’ll fire them. However, it isn't as easy as it sounds. In most cases, lawyers and clients engage in verbal spats overpayment issues. Although it is not easy for a lawyer to suddenly struck off his/her client. As a client, you should read the professional code of conduct to know your rights. Most clients are not aware of their rights that is why they often walk out of a room with a dull face, uplifting the confidence of a careless lawyer. Secondly, if you have a terrible experience of working with a lawyer based on a payment plant, you must post a clear review of his/her social media profile.
12. You Can Do Some Work Yourself
Yes! You need a lawyer to help you navigate your case in the courts of law, but there are a couple of things you can do yourself. Most lawyers tend to maximize their earning by adding as many expenses as they can. This way you will be able to save a lot of money throughout a case. There are many things you can easily do yourself such as filling out paperwork, getting signatures of important people, collecting evidence and filing case in the courts of law. Most lawyers will try to push you out of the room and encourage you to allow them to complete the entire work. So next time you plan to take legal help, it is essential for you to have enough information about this field.
Amy Rehan is a guest post manager at Globex Outreach. Her job is to ensure all guest post projects are completed on time and according to client’s requirement