Defending Yourself

Occasionally I run into someone who wants to get enough free information and advice from me, to where they can do the legal work themselves. On other occasion, I talk with someone who has researched their area of law on the internet and thinks that they know all that is necessary to do the work themselves.

Abe Lincoln once said that people who represent themselves have a fool for a client. His point is that you can never give yourself good advice, because you are biased. The same is true with regard to your judgment in a legal matter. And too much that is personal finds its way into a legal matter.

And there is the people factor. You are dealing with this matter for the first time, and your lawyer, if that person has a lot of experience, has probably dealt with some of the people involved, or people who occupy the same place as in other matters like yours. And certainly this experienced lawyer has handled a few matters similar to what you want to address.

There is a certain type of skill in your interactions with others on a legal matter. Experienced lawyers have learned the way to interact with others that is especially tailored to getting a “yes” in a matter. Usually the other person has a considerable amount of discretion in a matter. And circumstances like handling a situation to where a transaction closes, defending yourself before a revenue officer and getting a good resolution, or finishing a small lawsuit in a cost-effective manner that gets you results are good examples of when an experienced lawyer adds value, reduces risk, and gets a smile on your face.