What is the Role of a Civil Litigation Attorney and How Can They Help You

A civil litigation attorney has only one role, and that is to act in the best interest of the client! The civil litigation attorney is hired as an agent of the client and is there to advise, direct and represent that client. The attorney will help the client navigate the tricky legal world of potential litigation and actual lawsuits. Whether the client is a defendant or a plaintiff, the civil litigation attorney will advise the client as to the strength or weakness of a potential lawsuit. The attorney will draft any necessary paperwork to get a ruling in favor of the client or gather the necessary information to present a strong defense. If you are faced with the need to bring a lawsuit or defend yourself in a lawsuit, you should know that it always is in your best interest to retain an attorney that has many years of negotiating practice. Negotiation is one of their most valued skills of a civil litigation attorney.

Even a litigation attorney fresh out of law school has basic negotiating skills, as the art of negotiation is taught, as a much-needed skill, while still a student. An attorney that specializes in litigation can advise as to whether a suit has merit or is without merit. You should know that, in general, most litigation professionals will not take a case if they do not think they can win or come to some agreeable settlement terms. It is important to know that 90% of all lawsuits settle out of court, most in favor of the plaintiff as civil litigation does not require the same standards of proof as criminal proceedings.

In choosing a civil litigation attorney, there are many resources that can help you narrow down the field so that you can select a few attorneys that fit your specific needs and area of law. A good place to start could be your state’s bar association. The state bar association, along with other legal sites, can be found easily with a Google search. This database will show the practice areas for each attorney and the location of their office as well as contact information. If the attorney you wish to use has a website you will be able to gather further information about the attorney and many websites contain client testimonials and even some legal blogs written by attorneys within the practice. Many attorneys can also be found on professional sites such as Angie’s List, that can also provide valuable client feedback. You should also consider the fact that you may lose your case and may have to file an appeal. Sometimes it is a good idea to at least talk to an appellate attorney and see what they have to say about your case.

Many litigation attorneys will provide initial consultations for free so it will be important to use the free consultations to talk to at least three attorneys to get a feel for your legal situation. Just call and request an appointment as it will be well worth your time if you are getting sued or thinking of suing someone. A litigation attorney will help if there has been a car accident, slip and fall, or even medical malpractice accusations. The term litigation is very broad and covers many areas. It is very important to secure an attorney that specializes in the legal area concerning your specific situation. If you find yourself involved in litigation or want to initiate litigation as a means to amend a wrong talk to a lawyer. Attempting to pass through this territory unguided can wreak havoc on you both mentally and financially. It is always best to treat any legal situation as you would a medical one, consult the trained professional!