Preventative Law

Successful people have lawyers and good relations with their lawyers.  That is a fact in spite of all the lawyer jokes. 

I think back over 35 plus years practicing law and representing of clients in thousands of matters.  In every single instance where a person was faced with disastrous potential liability, that potential liability could have been avoided or largely avoided had the person obtained legal review and advice before getting involved in the matter giving rise to disastrous potential liability.

In spite of the fact that most people know that preventive law is just as important as preventive medicine, many people do not obtain legal review and advice until the horse is already out of the barn.  My experience is that people ignore seeing the lawyer because of one or more of the following misconceptions:

1. Lawyers are too expensive.  Note that they are not too expensive for the vast majority of successful people who do take advantage of preventive law.  And they are certainly are not too expensive in comparison to the protection and benefit provided to the client.


2. Some people actually believe they know as much as the lawyer about legal matters.  That of course is delusional.


3. Some people believe they do not need the lawyer because their buddies don’t like lawyers and their fee charges.  Perhaps these buds will share in the liability.  Yeah, you bet!


4. “We just do what is fair and right”.  You bet on that notion.  I will book the bet.


5. “A hand shake is all we need”.  If somebody really believes that, I suggest a visit to the nearest mental facility.
   

In summary if people want to fool themselves they can’t be helped.  For those who prefer to build and protect their wealth, see your lawyer before not after you have committed to a course of action.