Civil Litigation Attorney: What They Do and Why You Need Them

Most of the general population doesn’t have a very in-depth understanding of how the court of law works. Because of this, they often don’t get the kind of help or treatment that they need or deserve. The best way to stay on top of your legal game is to stay informed as best as you can. Before getting into what a civil litigation attorney is here for, there should most likely be a discussion about what exactly civil litigation itself encompasses.

Unlike criminal court hearings, civil litigation hearings don’t involve an actual criminal. Instead, they come about when party feels that another party has wronged them. Examples of this include contract breaches, money owed that has not been paid, real estate boundary line disputes, etc. These problems usually arrive in court after one party asks the other party to hold up their end of a deal and they refuse. After the refusal, your only other option is to file a lawsuit and secure a lawyer for a possible upcoming trial.

“Why would I need a lawyer,” you may ask. “I’ll just explain the situation to the court and everything will be settled.” Not quite. The court system in the United States is set up in a way that makes it difficult for every day citizens to understand its inner workings. This is why lawyers spend years going to school and perfecting their trade before entering their profession.

Litigation attorneys have a variety of responsibilities including initial case investigation for ensuring your case has enough evidence to be valid, drafting complaints to begin the lawsuit, discovery of what information the other party contains, prepare for pre-trail, go to trial or settle out of court, and appeal if the verdict does not go their way. The actions above should be reason enough to convince you that obtaining a lawyer is a good idea, as very few people who are not attorneys could conduct everything needed for a trial.

It is a good idea to consult an attorney before even filing for a lawsuit. A good, honest lawyer will tell you whether or not your case has a chance in court and can save you the money and hassle it would cost you if your case were not worth it. If it is worth it, the attorney will be able to use his or her expertise and will have a much better chance at winning due to their experience.

Although a large number of civil litigation lawsuits end up settling out of court, you will still want to secure a lawyer for those negotiations, as they can get very technical at times. It is always a good idea, no matter what area of the court you are in, to get the consultation and expertise of an attorney. Just as you wouldn’t perform surgery unless you had the experience, you shouldn’t try to handle law cases on your own. Contact a local civil litigation attorney today for any further questions you may have.

Written by Kellie Bertels, an attorney with the firm Bandré, Hunt & Snider, LLC where they are the leading attorneys in Jefferson City MO.

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