Share:

From litigating a personal injury dispute to drafting new business contracts, and from fighting workplace discrimination to appealing a family court’s decision, the team at Williams, Hall & Latherow, LLP of Ashland, KY, know that there are several situations that require an attorney's expertise. However, there are just as many—if not more—that do not warrant the need for a lawyer. If you find yourself asking, “Do I need a lawyer to help me through this?” the least you can do is give your situation the in-depth consideration it deserves before making a decision.

4 Signs That Indicate It’s Time To Hire an Attorney

At Williams, Hall & Latherow, LLP, our lawyers want to help you resolve your disputes in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible. Sometimes that means hiring a lawyer; other times, it means walking away. Here are four questions to ask yourself when trying to determine whether or not an attorney is a worthwhile investment:

1. When Is A Lawyer Necessary?

While this answer will vary from person to person, there are common scenarios that typically necessitate a lawyer’s expertise. Those situations include:

  • Any Situation Involving Handcuffs: If you are arrested for any reason—whether for driving under the influence or evading taxes—it is time to call a lawyer.
  • You Have Suffered Bodily Harm, Were In An Accident, Or Caused An Accident: If you are injured in an accident or abused by another individual, a lawyer can ensure that you see justice for the wrong done against you. If you caused an accident, a lawyer will protect you from fines and possible jail time.
  • You Need An Estate Plan: A lawyer will help you draft enforceable and effective estate planning documents. Because estate planning documents dictate where all of your worldly possessions go upon your passing, they are not documents you want to draft with an EZ Form or other free form building tool.
  • You Are Dealing In Contracts: Whether you are asked to sign a contract, or need to draft an enforceable contract, an attorney can ensure that there are no clauses or stipulations that could come back to bite you in the butt a few years down the road.
  • You Are Going Through A Divorce: If your marriage consisted of all the trappings of a normal marriage—kids, debt, marital assets and marital issues—you will need a skilled attorney to help negotiate a fair divorce settlement in a timely and cost-effective manner. Attorney

2. Do The Benefits Outweigh The Costs?

While it is true that attorney’s fees are not cheap, sometimes the benefits of working with a lawyer far outweigh the costs. To figure out if this is the situation for you, contact a few different lawyers near you and request an honest assessment of your case. 

3. Is Your Opponent Working With An Attorney?

If your opponent collaborates with an attorney, you will find yourself at a severe disadvantage in negotiations and, if it goes so far, at trial.

4. When Is A Lawyer Not Necessary?

As a law firm, we have a lot of people come to us with disputes that have no real legal merit. We turn away these cases because we do not want to waste a person’s time or money on a dispute that cannot be won. Some instances of “non-cases” include:

  • Matters Of Principle: Suing a person "on principle" almost always ends up badly for the plaintiff, as matters of principle typically do not have legal standing.
  • Un-Wrongful Termination: Just because you were fired prematurely for no apparent reason does not give you grounds to sue your former employer. Employment in the U.S. is at-will, meaning an employer can hire and fire as they please without justification. If you try to sue, not only will you be wasting your own time and money, but you’ll be hard-pressed to explain the suit to future employers when they learn of it through the grapevine.
  • Your Contractor Went Over Budget: Projects go over budget all the time. Unfortunately, so long as the contractor wasn’t sneaking in extra work or buying materials for other jobs on your dime, you cannot sue simply because you did not like the final price.

There are many instances in which a lawyer is necessary, and just as many in which one is not. If you are on the fence about whether or not you need to hire an attorney, call one or two and schedule a free consultation. Share with them the details of your case and seriously consider their opinions. Most attorneys have nothing to gain by taking on a non-case (even money cannot make up for a tarnished reputation), so if they say you do not need an attorney, take their word for it. If they offer to take on your case, then you know you have a strong case and should seriously consider investing in legal support.

To learn more, contact our attorneys at Williams, Hall & Latherow, LLP at (606) 393-4790, or visit our website.

tracking