For A Civil Case, Or A Family Matter, Do I Need A Lawyer?
First of all, if it is a criminal case or issue? YES. ABSOLUTELY. You do need a lawyer. Read why here.
Civil or domestic? Yes. No. I don’t know!
So You’re Saying It Depends?
The answer to the question, “Do I need a lawyer?” in a civil or domestic context is very specific to the case and the person. Many issues can be resolved without a lawyer. If you know what you are doing, then anything is easy. If you don’t know, then you could cause more trouble and expense for yourself.
It does depend, on the kind of person you are, what life experiences you have had, what your background is and what your issue is. You may be able to get by without an attorney but you should carefully consider the potential benefits of consulting one.
Why Is It So Hard To Make This Decision?
The main obstacle to legal services is affordability, and that can be a big obstacle in Arkansas. We have the lowest ratio of attorneys per capita of any state in the nation. Many counties have only one or two lawyers serving the whole county, and some have zero!
It is basic economics—when demand is high and supply is low, prices go up.
Arkansas is also one of the poorest states. This leaves us in a unique predicament of having a big need for affordable, effective, realistic, practical legal services in Arkansas.
Reasonable, Practical, Affordable Legal Advice
Lion Legal Services built its reputation on reasonable, practical and affordable legal advice. We avoid stirring the pot, which can make the case more emotionally difficult than it already is and run up a big attorney’s fee. Instead, we apply reasonableness and practicality to every case analysis. That’s a big part of our job. That’s how we best serve you and keep our fees affordable.
Guided By Experience And Knowledge
No matter what kind of case—divorce, custody, breach of contract, personal injury—there is history and experience to guide us. The laws, and previous cases, give a good indication of what it is possible to achieve, and what the outcome will most likely be. A thorough analysis of all the factors related to your case almost always reveals a clear, reasonable and financially prudent path to resolution.
It Pays To Be Reasonable
Being reasonable keeps costs and fees down and maintains civility. Civility is very important in cases where the parties will continue to have a relationship, such as in custody cases.
At Lion Legal Services, we will find out and discuss all the relevant factors of a case and give you, the client, clear options. We will go over the pros and cons, and the expenses and likely results of each option. With better information, you are then in a better position to decide which option to take. The guidelines for this process are your budget, your emotional well-being and what you want to achieve.
What Do I Get When I Hire A Lawyer?
When you hire a lawyer, yes, you are paying for that attorney’s time, but more importantly you are buying their talent, advice, experience, and counsel. We understand that, and we provide clear and strong guidance to our clients in all matters so they may make informed decisions each step of the way.
Is It Better To Settle Or Go To Trial?
Most cases should settle in order to save time, money and emotional damage.
Judges want to see that the principles of fairness and equity are applied in every case, and experienced attorneys can predict with a high level of accuracy what a judge is likely to order in your situation. Juries are less predictable, but the same factors of reasonableness apply. We never want your side to be the unreasonable side in the courtroom. Judges and juries can see that and tend to punish the side that is most unreasonable.
Make no mistake, we are not afraid to go to trial. We frequently do go to trial, and we play to win.
The point here is that it is usually in your best interests—financially, emotionally and legally—to resolve the case amicably. If a settlement cannot achieve your goals reasonably and amicably, Lion Legal Services will NOT let our clients get the wrong end of a deal simply to avoid going to trial.
The only time a case should go to trial is if the other side is being unreasonable. Then when we do go to court we put the stubborn, unreasonable party in his or her place.
Okay, What’s The Answer?
So do you need a lawyer? Probably. Can you get by without one? Maybe.
Would it be wise to find out what a lawyer can do for you, staying within your budget? Absolutely.
Give Lion Legal Services a call today for a free consultation to get to know us and find out if we can provide a beneficial, affordable service to you!
Call For A Free Case Evaluation
Case evaluations are completely free; our fees are flat and affordable. Call Lion Legal Services today at (501) 227-ROAR or Email Us to set up a free consultation.