While there are no hard and fast rules as to when someone should engage legal counsel or speak to a lawyer to get legal advice, the reality is that if you’re unsure, it’s probably best you speak to someone before the fact, rather than after. Whilst lawyers cannot claim the old adage “prevention is better than cure” (we’ll leave that to the medical professionals), the same really is true in our profession.
If you receive a call from the police station or a letter from court, a legal letter from an ex-lover, an ex-employer/employee, a legal letter from the store that sold you your kitchen or bathroom tiles, then there are already legal implications and clocks that have started ticking. It is imperative to consult a lawyer in any of these cases, so that they will be best prepared to guide you on when and how to proceed, and prevent you from making mistakes that could cost you a lot of time, money and hassle further down the line.
Once you’ve made contact with a lawyer, the next step is that you are upfront about what the situation is. A legal professional can only guide you on the facts that you present to them, and it is your duty to ensure that you present as much as you possibly can and try your best to include everything that may be pertinent to the case at hand. Collect all the documents that could bolster the case, a police report, photographic evidence, screenshots, links, whatever may be relevant. It’s important to remember that your lawyer is bound by professional secrecy, which ensures that what you say to them - all of the embarrassing, salacious and mundane details - remain between you and your lawyer. The more honest and truthful you are about the facts at hand, the more accurate and helpful the advice you receive will be.
At PB&C our initial consultation meeting is free, and we pride ourselves on being as available as possible to all of our clients and ensuring that all your questions - no matter how small or big they might be - are answered. With PB&C you can rest assured that your case will be handled with the utmost professionalism, confidentiality, empathy, efficiency and understanding, whilst keeping you in the loop from beginning to end.