Five Reasons A Licensed Attorney Should Represent You

If you find yourself in a courtroom as a plaintiff or defendant, you are involved in a serious situation that could cost you money or force you into some form of incarceration. While fighting a traffic ticket or going through a small claims process can usually be handled by representing oneself, most legal proceedings are best handled by a licensed attorney.

5 Reasons A Licensed Attorney Should Represent You
Truth be told, there are a lot of reasons why you should seek legal representation for both civil and criminal matters. In fact, it would be hard for you to justify walking into court proceedings without a licensed attorney as your advocate because of the possibility of unwanted outcomes. The following represents the five most compelling reasons to hire an attorney.

1. The Law is Complicated – Whether in federal or state court, the laws of the land are contained in stacks of books that form the basis of the legal system. As a layman, it would be nearly impossible for you to understand the idiosyncrasies found in almost every law on the books. With a licensed attorney, you are securing representation from an individual who has been educated and trained to understand many of these idiosyncrasies. Remember, the slightest misinterpretation of a complicated law could damage your checkbook or land you in jail..

2. Rules of Evidence – In a legal matter, both sides will usually be presenting evidence. When it comes to the testimony of witnesses and physical evidence, there are rules of evidence guidelines related to how the evidence is to be obtained and subsequently handled. As a layman representing yourself, you could be vulnerable to astute attorneys presenting damaging evidence that would typically be disallowed for a variety of reasons. You need a licensed attorney to make sure all evidence presented follows prescribed guidelines.

3. Court Documents and Legal Procedures – Court proceedings are based on a long list of formal procedures. Almost every matter that goes before a judge is going to require the following of said procedures and the filing of proper documents. Not only are you required to file the proper documents, you have to make sure they are complete and correct to avoid having to start over. Given the serious nature of filing proper documents, it’s best left to those who are trained to do so, your attorney and their staff.

4. Plea Agreements and Settlement Offers – The high number of cases that never reach a courtroom is astonishing. While you could be lost in the dark while trying to negotiate a plea or settlement offer, your attorney has most likely been through the process enough times to know how to target the best deal possible.

5. Operating at a Disadvantage – Most if not all of the time, you will yourself up against a plaintiff or defendant who has secured a licensed attorney to represent their interests. You would put yourself at a huge disadvantage to try to go up against them on your own. In fact, most judges work diligently to discourage people from representing themselves.

If the time comes that you need to appear in a courtroom as either a plaintiff or a dependent, you need to protect yourself by securing the best legal representation you can afford. Anything less will expose you to risks you don’t want to take.