There are plenty of reasons to hire a lawyer. It’s not a requirement every time you go to court, though. There are some cases when you can represent yourself in court without serious risk.
Still, it can be challenging to navigate the ins and outs of the United States legal system. If you aren’t sure about whether or not to hire a lawyer, don’t worry. That’s totally understandable.
After all, statistics show there were over 1.3 million lawyers employed in the year 2018 alone. All of these lawyers fall into specific categories of specialization. Even if you do want to hire a lawyer, it can be difficult to tell what kind of lawyer you should hire.
The good news is that you’ve started in the right place by reading this article. Detailed below are seven times you need to lawyer up – and three times you don’t.
1. Do Lawyer Up During a Complicated Divorce
At the end of the day, your ultimate priority when it comes to hiring a lawyer is your sense of security. That’s why it can be so crucial to hire a lawyer when you’re going through a divorce. You’ll already be going through a lot of emotional turmoil, so it can be good to have professional help on hand.
After all, it’s important to maintain stable mental health. You deserve to live your life with peace and security. Make sure your assets and your wellness are protected during a challenging divorce by lawyering up.
2. Do Lawyer Up If Jail Time Is at Stake
You also need to hire a lawyer if you are undergoing any sort of criminal investigation. The fact of the matter is that if jail time is at stake, any cost is worth the investment. There’s no need to risk spending time behind bars because you were trying to be cheap without a lawyer.
3. Do Lawyer Up for Elder Abuse
Sometimes, a lawyer is required to protect your friends and family members. When it comes to one of your elder loved ones getting abused, you know that it’s no small matter.
There’s good news, though. You can hire an elder abuse attorney who specializes in these specific cases.
It’s important to take such cases seriously. Not only do you want to stand up for your own loved one, but you also want to protect other elders from further abuse if the person is found guilty.
4. Do Lawyer Up If Your Opponent Did
One good indicator that you need a lawyer depends on your legal opponent. Whether you’re on the defense or the prosecuting side, you don’t want the courtroom to be out of balance – against your favor. Don’t be the fool who isn’t representing your own best interests.
5. Do Lawyer Up If Bodily Injury Is Involved
Often, cases involving medical expertise can be difficult to navigate. There are a lot of legal and scientific specifications that have to be considered.
In these cases, it’s definitely a good idea for you to lawyer up — especially if you were the one who was injured. Either way, though, medical cases can be particularly expensive to cover treatment. Make sure you’re covered from long-term financial responsibility.
6. Do Lawyer Up When Drugs or Alcohol Is Involved
If you get a DUI or drug charge, you absolutely need a lawyer. These cases are one of the most expensive and challenging cases. If you aren’t represented you can easily get terrible sentences and punishments.
7. Do Lawyer Up When Your Business Is Involved
Perhaps you are a small business owner caught up in some legal matter. If your business is caught, for any reason, in legal trouble, you need a lawyer to protect its assets.
In fact, it’s a good idea to have a lawyer on hand at all times when you own a business. You can never predict what kind of legal trouble can fall through the cracks, so be prepared to cover any potential mistakes. Your business is worth the investment.
You Don’t Always Need a Lawyer
Don’t underestimate the intricacies of the court system. If you’re ever uncertain, you should at least seek legal consultation. Often, though, you don’t need a lawyer to represent you at your court date.
Consider the following examples.
1. Don’t Lawyer Up for Small Civil Claims
Here’s the thing: there’s a difference between civil and criminal cases. For the most part, you should hire a lawyer when you’re criminally charged. That’s when serious jail time can be a part of the situation.
For small civil claims, though, you might not need a lawyer. If you’re only getting sued for a couple hundred dollars, for example, it might be more expensive if you hire a lawyer – even if you win.
2. Don’t Lawyer Up for Traffic Tickets
The same is true for small traffic violations. If drugs and alcohol aren’t involved, you likely don’t need a lawyer in traffic court. Just pay your speeding ticket and avoid the heavier legal costs of hiring a lawyer.
3. Don’t Lawyer Up If You Don’t Care about the Outcome
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to know when you’re comfortable with hiring a lawyer. For smaller court cases, it might not seem like a smart investment – especially if the lawyer fees will be higher than your fine. For larger, more criminal cases, though, it’s time to lawyer up.
Continue To Invest in Your Present and Future Security
At this point in the article, you should have a better idea of whether your situation requires a lawyer. Sometimes, life does require us to lawyer up – for whatever reason. When those times come, it’s important that you’re in your best condition to handle them.
As mentioned above, for example, you don’t want to waste your mental health in a stressful legal situation. You also want to avoid wasting your time and money on a court case that should have been avoided. Your personal wellness is at stake here.
We know how important it is to stay in top condition for whatever circumstances life throws at you. We want to continue to encourage your personal wellness in any way we can. That’s why it’s a good idea for you to continue investing in your personal wellness by checking out our men’s health and wellness article archives today.
