Life is complicated; the law is even more so. This being said, many people don’t immediately seek out help when they come in contact with the law. Most people know loosely what a lawyer is but have a narrow understanding of when they should seek one out. The following will look at the situations in which speaking to an attorney is incredibly important.
If You’re Starting A Business
Every industry has its own regulations, rights, and responsibilities. If you’re starting a business, you need to speak to a lawyer about what’s expected of you and what steps you should be taking to protect yourself legally if something goes wrong. There are likely several small things you can do at the outset of your business’s life that can save you a ton of money and help you avoid headaches later on down the road. There are probably types of insurance you need. There’s likely signage you need to be posting and contracts that you need to have written up. Building a thriving business is a difficult thing; there’s no need to make it any harder.
If Someone Else Has A Lawyer
If an incident occurred involving another party, and that person has an attorney, this is a huge sign that you need to get one too. You’re not skilled enough and aware enough of the law to disagree with a professional lawyer. This happens in the movies, but in real life, it’s often a terrible disaster.
If Someone’s Negligence Has Hurt You
If someone wasn’t doing what they were supposed to be doing, and you got injured as a result, you need to speak to a lawyer. Injuries are complicated things that can end up costing you a lot more than you might imagine at first glance; personal injury lawyers know how much a lifetime of medical bills costs. They know what losing out on promotions, and job growth looks like in financial terms. They understand the pleasant aspects of life some injuries force you to miss out on, like chasing your grandchildren around or enjoying walks in nature.
If Insurance Companies Are Involved
Insurance companies exist because they take in more money than they pay out. If this wasn’t the case, they wouldn’t remain in business. What this means in practice is that they’re often tough on their policyholders and claims submitters. They have teams of professional lawyers, medical experts, engineers, and other people whose sole aim is to prove that you need as little money as possible. Facing an insurance company without the counsel of a lawyer is not advised, as there’s a good chance you’re going to be massively undersold.
If Your Workplace Is Involved
If the issue that’s arisen has to do with your employment, you need to seek a lawyer who specializes in employment lay like Starpoint Law. This is because the situation is incredibly biased in two different ways. Foremost, you might not feel safe or able to do what you think is right or ask for what you think is needed because it could negatively influence your employment and, therefore, your livelihood. This makes it a lot harder to seek out your best interest because you could be pressured for financial or reputational reasons into acting a certain way.
Secondly, companies and workplaces are businesses. They need to make an income to thrive and survive, and this means they might not always be thinking about your interest. Often, individual employees come after the company as a whole. This means a business, supervisor, or employer might urge you to take a course of action that is best for them, even if it’s not ideal for you. They might even avoid telling you about additional options you have if those options don’t suit them.
An attorney can explain all your options to you and walk you through the possible outcomes of each. They’ll also help advocate for you to help you keep your job or maintain your reputation in the field enough to find an alternative job of equal standing.
If You’re Being Pressured
If anyone involved in the incident is pressuring you to act a certain way—even if you likely would have chosen to act that way without their pressure—this is an indication that there might be something extra going on. Talking through the situation with a lawyer can reveal to you some of the hidden motives that are underway and what this means for you and your best interest.
If You Want To Break A Contract
Contracts are part of modern life. You agree to terms and services before you sign up for new platforms. When you accept a job, you sign a lengthy document. When you move into a new apartment, you sign a lease. Many people are under the impression that once a contract is signed, there’s nothing they can do but obey the terms of the contract. This isn’t always the case, but breaking a contract can be tricky and can get you into trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are protective agencies that lawyers can put you in touch with. An attorney can also help you understand what rights you have that contracts cannot legally take away from you. They can also help you renegotiate contracts that currently exist but aren’t ideal.
If You’re Not Sure
Finally, if you’re not sure whether or not you need a lawyer, you need a lawyer. The debate itself implies that there is a lot of uncertainty. Uncertainty is something that needs to be navigated carefully. Not only can an attorney help you with this, but they might also be able to reduce some of the uncertainty you’re facing using their knowledge of the legal system and their past experiences to rule out possibilities you thought were likely.
The above list should have given you an idea of the kind of scenarios in which you need a lawyer. Of course, life is messy, and there are going to be situations not mentioned above that require legal help. Remember that you can always book a consultation with a lawyer and decide after that conversation that you don’t want to hire a lawyer to take on your case; this is normal and part of the legal process. You should, however, always book that initial conversation if you think there’s even a chance you might want a lawyer.
