Be Truthful with Your Lawyer
The law can be confusing. If you are suing another person or business, being sued, or facing administrative suspension of a license to work in your job or if you have been charged with a crime, talk to a lawyer. For instance, in a civil case or a license revocation proceeding, if you miss court-imposed deadlines or other legal deadlines, you may lose your case without ever having a hearing. If you fail to appear in criminal court, even for a minor matter, you may face more serious charges, such as failure to appear. A lawyer can determine the key facts, assess the likelihood of success, and give advice about the choices that an individual must make in light of the law, the risks and possible rewards associated with said choices, and the consequences for choosing a particular course of action.
In order for a lawyer to competently represent you, you must communicate with your lawyer, provide him or her with any relevant communications, documents, and witness names, and state the facts clearly and accurately. Some individuals wish to sugar-coat facts that hurt their case, so they do not tell their lawyer the key facts, or misstate the key facts. Unfortunately, not providing complete and truthful information to your lawyer actually is counter-productive and hurts your case or matter. Thus, being truthful and forthcoming with your lawyer is critically important. If a lawyer knows a fact that hurts your case, he or she can determine if the opposing side will know about it or use it. If the other side does try to use a negative fact against you, then with knowledge of that information, your lawyer may minimize the sting. Sometimes, an individual purposely chooses not to be forthcoming with his or her lawyer, and typically this choice hurts the client and his or her case. As a result, that you trust your lawyer and have confidence in his or her judgments and opinions is critical.
Remember that every word spoken, every thought written, and every action taken concerning your case may be used and often is used in courts or other legal proceedings. So, tell your lawyer about the “bad facts” early, so that he or she is prepared to rebut the bad facts and/or defend against them. If you omit major or minor facts and details, your lawyer will be blindsided, which often will setback your case significantly.
If you or a loved one is facing legal trouble, know that you have rights and that you often have remedies or defenses. If you have questions, talk to a lawyer. To have your questions answered and/or to get legal advice, contact Nashville Attorney Perry A. Craft.
