[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]E THINK IT’S TRUE to say that most people don’t think about the law all that much. It’s just something in the background of society. They know it’s there, they know it protects them, and they know they abide by it. Unless you’re a criminal or involved in the legal profession that’s probably your view of it. It’s there, it protects me as long as I don’t do anything illegal. But, the situation isn’t that simple and even if you’ve never committed a crime you might have a run-in with the law. After all, you shouldn’t forget that an estimated 120,000 people currently serving jail time in the USA are thought to be innocent. Let’s just dissect that number for a while. Thousands of people are currently sitting in jail, completely innocent. Of course, there is the old argument that where there’s smoke there’s fire. Essentially what this means is most probably had committed some form of a crime, just not the one they were charged with.
That said, you might not even be arrested and still need a lawyer. If this happens, it’s important to know a few things.
How To Find A Lawyer?
The best way to find a lawyer is to ask someone you know or someone you work with. That way you’re likely to find a legal professional who has helped them in the past. You can also be ensured a quality service from someone that you trust. You may also want to think about searching for a lawyer online. There are sites that can help you find the right lawyer based on the type that you need and how much you are willing to pay. Most of these will be independent lawyers and won’t be part of a big legal firm. For this reason, you might find they are cheaper, and we’ll discuss that more a little further down.
You might also find that a lawyer introduces himself after they find out that you need one. This can happen if your case is widely publicised or before you even know that you need legal representation. It’s not uncommon for a lawyer to witness an accidental injury in a public place and offer their assistance.
You can also try your local law referral service. They will be able to recommend the type of lawyer that you need and may give you the names of a few good firms. Again you can find this online.
If you find a lawyer, you shouldn’t necessarily go with the first one you meet. It’s best to treat it as a type of job interview. Remember, they will be deciding on whether or not to take your case. So, you should decide whether it’s in your best interest to hire them. You can base this on their experience, their history and how much they are charging. It is possible to get cheap legal advice and representation.
How To Get Cheap Representation?
While you may have heard the stereotype that lawyers cost an arm and a leg particularly the top dogs, it’s not always true. There are a number of different ways that you can find low-cost legal help. First, you should shop around a little because different legal firms and private lawyers offer different rates. You should be able to find one that is within the price range you can afford. Secondly you may want to think about looking for a firm that has a personal interest in the cases they represent like the Law Office of Keith L. Magness. They offer top legal representation for those who have experienced injuries due to reckless driving at low rates. The reason? Mr Magness has personally been affected by a car injury.
It’s also possible to get a free legal consultation. A lot of firms offer this so that you can get advice without paying a dime. You can also find sites online where you can write your queries to legal professionals. They will help you find out if there is a case against you or if you have a case against someone else.
You might also want to try and get a lawyer to take on your case pro bono. Essentially, this means that they won’t charge you for their services. It is usually offered if you can’t afford to pay, but the case could result in huge publicity for the firm. This might be because the case itself is interesting or if it affects the public. If you want to encourage a lawyer to take your case pro bono, try and get as much interest from the media as you can. This will encourage lawyers to come out of the woodwork.
How To Know If You Need A Lawyer?
There are lots of reasons why you might find that you need legal representation. For instance, it could be that you have been charged with a crime. If that’s the case you can represent yourself, but it is better to have a lawyer present, at the very least advising you.
You might also find that you are being sued. If you’re being sued, you will need a lawyer to protect your rights. Otherwise, you could end up having to pay hundreds of thousands in damages.
Or you might want to sue someone who has wronged you. This could be a corporation or an individual. Suing a corporation is exactly the type of case that will attract lawyers who will take on your case pro bono. Assuming that they believe you have a strong claim.
Speaking To Your Lawyer
When you hire a lawyer, the first thing that you will get is a consultation. They will talk through your case and discuss the merits. If you have been charged they will advise you on whether you have a good chance at escaping a conviction. But a lawyer should never promise a verdict because this cannot be guaranteed. If a lawyer does promise you a verdict it might be best to walk away. This could mean that they are just confident in your case. But you could also view it as evidence that they are not to be trusted.
It’s important that you tell your lawyer everything and give them all the information. You may want to write as much as you can down so that they find it easier to dissect. This is a particularly important in something like an AI case. During an AI case there will be two parties. You will be trying to show that someone else is responsible for your injury. To do this you must gather as much information as you can. It’s crucial that you put forward the best defence because they will be trying to show you caused the accident yourself or that no one is to blame. A lawyer can only defend you in this situation if they have all the facts.
That’s one of the reasons why you should never lie to your lawyer. Remember once you hire a lawyer you have attorney-client privilege. The can not reveal anything that you have told them to the police or anyone else. If they did, they would be breaking the law themselves. So, if you do think you were responsible, or you did commit a crime, you can tell your lawyer this. They do have the right to decide not to represent you, but they can not divulge any of the information that you tell them.
Also, when you speak to your lawyer, you should feel comfortable around them. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell them when you don’t understand something. In their work life, lawyers are often speaking what can seem like a completely different language. They’ll be using legal terms and they can fall into this trend when talking to a client. But, if you ask them to explain what they main they will be able to.
Common Cases Of Law Breaking
As we said, most of us are law abiding citizens but there are instances where you might break the law and need the help of a lawyer. For instance, you might get on the wrong side of insider trading. If you have been investing, and you don’t understand the proper laws of trade, this is a dangerously easy law to break. You might think that you are just taking a tip from someone that you know. But if they have inside knowledge then you are actually using confidential information to make a profit. If you think you have done this, it’s best to tell the authorities before you get caught and of course, contact a lawyer.
You might also find that you have broken traffic laws. Depending on how serious they are you might find that you need the help of a lawyer. For instance, in recent years public opinion has shifted on using a phone while driving. The public is demanding action and the sentences are becoming more severe.
Lastly, you could get in trouble at work. Typically, when you work for a company you will sign a contract that says you can not reveal confidential information. If you do you have broken a contract and thus the law. You can be prosecuted. That’s why if you become a whistleblower, even if you think you are in the right, you must contact a lawyer as soon as you have released the information.
