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Legal Rights
There is no area in your life in which the
law does not intrude. New laws are constantly being
added to the books, at the local, state and federal
levels, and often you are not aware of them until you
inadvertently run afoul of them or someone else does
something to make you seek out the laws regarding their
actions. It's then that you want to know your legal
rights.
The intention of the law is to ensure that
we all have equal rights, that we are all seen as the same
under the law. This is a noble idea in theory, but
we all know that in reality, not everyone is treated the
same under the law.
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If you find yourself in a legal situation,
do you need a lawyer? In many cases, you may
not. There are self-help legal books, websites
(including this one) and even law books that may shed
enough light on your legal issue that you may be able to
resolve it yourself. If it is complicated, though,
or if the risks are high (jail time, losing your home or
your children, etc.), then you are better off hiring an
attorney with expertise in the area in which you need
help. Many offer free consultations. There are
also legal resources, most notably Legal Aid, for low
income residents in many cities. Keep in mind, too,
that not all lawyers are the same. They have their
specialties (you do not want a probate lawyer to handle a
landlord-tenant issue), and their experience varies
greatly. Remember that lawyers
need to make a living like anyone else, and they have a
service to sell. Before hiring any attorney, do some
research about your legal rights. Read the self-help
books, read websites and maybe even visit a law library
(these are usually found on college campuses). Law
libraries may issue day passes and they often have someone
at the front who can help you find the appropriate volumes
you need. In short, be prepared to ask questions
when you go about hiring a lawyer. Not just his
fees, but his experience, his track record and his
workload (will he do the work or will his
paralegal). Remember, he will work for you.
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