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Good Lawyers and Client Relations
Why a Lawyer?
Many people just do not understand why they need a lawyer. And by lawyer we mean a trained, competent, experienced lawyer with respect to your matter. Surely there is some way to prudently avoid lawyer assistance even in significant transactions. The fact is that there is no prudent path around lawyer need. Even lawyers need lawyers. The most successful business and business people do not breathe without legal review. Somebody who handles their own legal matters, is a collision in progress.
A normal person would not think of taking out their own gall bladder. Yet that same person often thinks that he/she has the knowledge to do a Lease or other significant business transactions. Such transactions are beyond the capabilities of most people. People who do not recognize that fact, learn the hard way.
How does a lawyer help you?
A lawyer is trained in the law. A lawyer is trained in how business transactions are done. Experienced lawyers have done what you intend to do many, many times. The lawyer knows the risks as well as the benefits. The experienced lawyers is a skilled negotiator. The lawyer has seen and studied the failures and knows how to avoid them. The experienced lawyer has seen and studied the successes and knows how to repeat them. And of course, the lawyer knows how to draft documents and supervise transactions to completion.
The good lawyer objectively views the matter. The client often has personal agendas which cloud objectivity.
Given the requirements and training to become a lawyer, most lawyers I know are pretty darn smart. In fact, I learned long ago to respect opposing counsel.
So your lawyer brings a whole lot to the table. Perhaps that is why knowledgeable, successful business people have close relations and communication with their lawyer.
10 Common Legal Myths
Lawyers are taught to have thick skin. So for the most part, we accept the lawyer jokes and unkind remarks. However, there is a danger here lurking. The danger is that these jokes and remarks provide some people with a false rationale for not seeking legal assistance with consequent adverse consequences. Ten legal myths to avoid are as follows:
- Lawyers are sharks. The truth is, with few exceptions, lawyers are ethical and understanding.
- Lawyers are too expensive. The truth is that lawyers are often underpaid in that they are usually solving unpleasant disputes, problems etc. which others can not resolve. And in any event by any fair measurement lawyer benefit usually exceeds cost.
- Lawyers do not want to resolve matters because they want to keep the meter running. The lawyers I know, like everybody else, want to accomplish the task as quickly and economically as possible.
- Lawyers ruin deals. This is rubbish. Lawyers in the business arena thrive on making deals happen consistent with client interests.
- “All you need is a hand shake.” I will not insult anybody’s intelligence by making a remark about such an absurdity.
- You can do your deal and then get a lawyer if problems arise. My 35 plus years of legal experience is that eventually every involuntary major legal expense could have been avoided by consulting a competent legal counsel from the “get go”.
- Lawyers are all the same. This could not be further from the truth. Lawyers like everybody else vary in terms of education, training experience, areas of expertise, legal networks, wisdom, communication skills and on and on and on.
- All you need is the “standard form”. First off there is no standard form. And in the second place, there are no standard situations, needs, interests, etc. So notions about standards miss the mark even when we are using industry forms because even these forms need modifications, additions, deletions, etc.
- Lawyers do too much on a given matter to create more billing. Usually, what seems like too much is required in order to accomplish what the client wants. And often the “too much” is required by the standards of practice imposed on lawyers. The lawyer like the doctor, sees potential issues, etc which the client or patient does not perceive.
You need a lawyer as a trained, experienced legal ally who will help you build and protect your wealth. Actually that is no myth at all.
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