To many people the legal system is complex and intimidating.  We feel we must hire lawyers because they’ve invented their own language and only they can speak it.  Certainly there is a place for attorneys in our country, but far too much money is spent needlessly on legal fees and far too many people fail to assert their rights and unfortunately are taken advantage of.  The truth is any person can represent themselves in any court or forum (with very few exceptions), file lawsuits, defend lawsuits and perform a myriad of tasks which are normally done by attorneys.  I know, because I’ve done it.

Who Should Read This Blog?

Eventually, everyone is going to deal with legal issues.  Whether you are dealing with landlord/tenant issues, trademark issues, employment issues, corporations, lawsuits, or debt collectors you can help yourself tremendously by doing a little research being your own “in-house” counsel.  Before we go any further, let me say that there is no substitute for competent legal counsel.  If you need an attorney and can afford an attorney you will save time and grief by hiring the right lawyer (which I’ll teach you how to do in this book).  Regardless of how little or big your legal woes, by reading this book, you will at least be able to manage lawyers much more efficiently and reduce your legal fees.  Or perhaps actually perform many of the same tasks yourself and save the $200 -$300/hour.  It has been said “a lawyer who represents himself has fool for a client”.  I think that was written by the lawyer’s retirement fund.

What this blog is

This blog is the result of over twenty years of business experience.  It is written from the perspective of a business person, consumer, husband, and father.  It is designed to help you make use of your own resources.  After all, the only thing law school does is teach an attorney how to find and make use of his legal resources – oh and pass the bar!

We will discuss many of the legal issues you are bound to encounter during your life, or perhaps people who are close to you.  In each case we will cover what you should do, where you should look for answers, and we will always exhort you to consult an attorney.  We do that because it is good advice, but we know what some won’t, or can’t so its better to do something rather than nothing.  With the advent of the Internet, an enormous amount of research can be done from your living room.  Knowledge is power.  In the legal world it is called leverage.  Almost all legal dealings involve leverage, who has it and who is using it. The better informed you are going into any situation or confrontation, the more leverage you’ll have and the less intimidated you will be. Take for example a simple police interrogation.  You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.  However, if you allow them, the police can continue their interrogation in an attempt to break you down.  If, on the other hand you know your rights you can insist on having an attorney present and say nothing.  You may also know that they can only hold you for a certain period of time without charging you.

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