Do I Need an Attorney
Yes, you will need an attorney if you get sued or when you're arrested or charged with a crime. But keep in mind that people hire attorneys for advice and expertise all of the time, in all kinds of situations. While you may be able to get through a legal problem without hiring an attorney, you should always remember that when you represent yourself, you might have a "fool for a client," as the saying goes.
One of the first things to ask yourself in deciding if you should consult an attorney is: "What's at stake?" When your finances or liberties are in serious jeopardy, the obvious answer is to get legal help. But what is serious? An ordinary parking summons is a brush with the law, but you need not consult with an attorney to pay the fine or even to fight it. However, if you've accumulated a number of unpaid parking tickets and a warrant has been issued for your arrest, you would probably want to hire an attorney to help you best resolve the situation, and perhaps save you money or even keep you out of jail.
Choosing the right attorney to help you in your divorce is hard work. But it's important and worth taking the time to do it right.
First, ask yourself what it is you're trying to accomplish. Do you just need an uncontested divorce? Is mediation a possibility? Or has your relationship with your spouse deteriorated to the point that what you really need is simply a warrior to go forth and do bloody (and frightfully expensive) battle on your behalf in an adversarial divorce?
