Representing yourself in a court of law can go wrong in a lot of different ways. Some things are better left to the professionals, including the law. Here are five strong reasons you need to hire an attorney.

1. Documents

There is an endless list of documents in the legal system and filing the right one in the right place is crucial to your case. Lawyers know the ins and outs of the filing system with the courts so they can make sure your document gets to the right place at the right time. Improper document filing can bring a world of problems for the handling of your situation.

2. Has the other party retained a lawyer?

If the other party has a lawyer, you absolutely need one. Forgoing a lawyer in a situation like this is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Your attorney can make sure you are represented positively in court while counteracting any tricks the other party’s lawyer might try to pull.

3. No Clean-Up

If you try to represent yourself, you run into issues such as improper or late document filing or, depending on the situation, saying exactly the wrong thing. Lawyers help to keep things running smoothly and reduce the chances of your case not going in your favor.

4. Access to Experts

At times, you may need witnesses or a specific expert in order to tip the odds in your favor. Lawyers have access to experts in various fields to help improve your odds of winning.

5. Lawyers Negotiate

In the event that you don’t want to take your case too far, or things aren’t going well, an attorney can help. Lawyers are expert negotiators and can assist you in negotiations with the opposing party if required.

Regardless of your reason for walking into a courtroom, it’s always best to have a skilled lawyer by your side.

James Montano