It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do.
– Edmund Burke
By Christine Anderson Ferraris
I am not sure I need a lawyer but think I might…
Lawyers often help clients in matters that have nothing to do with legal disputes. For example, a business owner might seek a lawyer’s guidance on legal aspects of starting a business or entering a partnership, or a consumer when buying or selling a home, or for information and advice on planning a will or trust. Like medical checkups, you can have a legal checkup for your life and/or business planning to lessen problems and headaches, or maybe even prevent them altogether.
When do I really need a lawyer?
Some matters are hard to recognize if you need a lawyer. One should talk with a lawyer about significant life events or changes, which include:
being arrested for a crime;
being served with legal papers in a lawsuit;
being involved in an accident where someone was hurt or property was damaged;
a change or anticipated change in family status such as adoption, marriage, divorce, or death;
a change or anticipated change in economic status such as obtaining or losing valuable personal property or real estate, starting a business, or considering filing for bankruptcy.
Is there anyone else who can help me besides a lawyer?
There are options to resolve challenges without having to hire a lawyer. If you believe you have been cheated, there may be a local, state, or federal agency, operated by the respective government, that can assist you. Many large entities have their own departments to help resolve consumer complaints. Some communities have an ombudsman, a government official whose job is to mediate and try to resolve smaller legal disputes such as landlord/tenant, consumer, or employment issues. Another option is to suss out if the local television and/or radio stations have a program to help consumers.
Sometimes problems that seem to be legal may be resolved or prevented by other means. Many civic groups offer guidance and counseling for personal or business-related problems arising in business, elderly care, marriage, child rearing, and financial management. Members of the clergy also may be able to refer you to resources for such help.
Most states have procedures that allow people to represent themselves in small-claims court if the total amount of their claim is under a certain dollar amount—in Arizona it is $3,500. The cost to file is minimal and court procedures are simplified as well as timelier than other courts.
In summary, an ounce of prevention has a lot more value than anxious hours and many dollars spent on a cure. If you think you may need professional legal help, please seek it promptly.
The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information is for general informational purposes only. This information may not constitute the most up-to-date information. Links provided are only for the convenience of the reader, A. Ferraris Law, PLLC and its members do not endorse the contents of the third-party references.
Copyright©2021, A. Ferraris Law, PLLC. All Rights Reserved.
Christine Anderson Ferraris and her firm, A. Ferraris Law, assist consumers and business owners harmed by the government, or another business. She has been for several years the race director for the CV50/50 children’s trail run in Colossal Cave Mountain Park each November.
