Don’t ‘Tipid’ on Your Lawyer: The Benefits of Good Representation
By: Janice Dantes
Abraham Lincoln once said, “the man who defends himself in court has a fool for a lawyer.” Most clients calling our office have never hired a lawyer before and often experience the “sticker shock.” Litigation is expensive. That is a known fact. However, trying to “tipid” by representing yourself or hiring a cheap lawyer are risky. There is a reason why celebrities and rich people hire lawyers. Potential clients tell me, I can’t afford a lawyer. I usually tell them, you cannot afford NOT to have a lawyer in your circumstances.
Even though I, myself, am a lawyer, I have paid and hired my own lawyers. I have never represented myself including on my own real estate deal (and I do real estate!). Below are my reasons for hiring a good lawyer.
1. Hire a Lawyer If There is Any Potential for Jail Time. If there is any potential (even if you think it is a remote possibility) that you could be serving jail time, invest the money and hire a good lawyer. Serving jail time, receiving any sort of sanction, and/or being convicted can have consequences for your employment, pension, and future earning potential. Most employers run background checks on potential employees. Even if your issue does not involve a criminal conviction, employers seeing arrest records, loss of licenses,
orders of protections, or any public grievance may give them pause about hiring you because they can hire someone else without a blemished record. Even if you have to make a $50,000 investment to defend yourself in a trial, keep in mind, it is better than an annual loss of earnings of $50,000 every year because you cannot find a job.
2. Representing Yourself Can Cause More Harm than Good. The most difficult cases I have had involved people doing things themselves. I have had people write their own contracts or even worse, just shake hands on a deal. I have also had people
trust the opposing side’s attorney and signed documents they did not fully understand and later realized the terms were not favorable. It is harder and more expensive to try to “undo” an action in court than to invest in an attorney in the beginning to assist you with the process.
3. Good Representation Pays For Itself in Many Ways. Hiring a good lawyer is not a cost, it is an investment. If your mindset is to only consider good representation as a cost, you will never be able to understand and value the return on your investment. The stress and sleepless nights associated with an unhappy marriage, an unpaid debt, uncertainty about your home, or any other potential lawsuit can take a toll on your health, your ability to focus on your work, your piece of mind, and your general happiness. All of these things are priceless. With my divorce cases, I have had clients lose 50 lbs, obtain better employment, and just look radiant after their divorce. With my other litigation cases, I have had clients tell me about how great it felt to feel heard, mend broken family relationships, or just not have this issue on their mind constantly. For clients involved in criminal cases, good representation could literally mean life and death. Good lawyers are not just providing legal services. The benefits can truly be lifechanging.
In summary, a great lawyer provides tremendous value when you are in need of legal assistance. Sometimes clients are not always aware of the value lawyers provide because great lawyers make things look easy. However, I have had many clients try to navigate the legal system on their own which can be incredibly stressful and time-consuming.
If you are in need of good legal representation, please visithttps://pinaylaw.com/ or call 312-546-5077. Even if we are not able to help you, we can point you in the right direction.
Thank you for reading. Until we meet again, love one another.
