It finally happened to you: you need to hire an attorney. Whatever the reason, now you’re stuck either protecting or defending yourself in a lawsuit. You search the internet or yellow pages, remember a commerical, or talk to a friend, and finally find an attorney who will help you out.

When you hire an attorney, you hire your own personal "bodyguard." Your lawyer will do what he or she needs to do to protect your rights. The problem is, like I’ve discussed here, some people don’t want to listen.

I’m dealing with a case where both the plaintiff and defendant are genuinely good people. The plaintiff alleges an injury, and the defendant denies the injury occurred. We’ve conducted the initial portions of working to resolve the case, but both sides seem determined to "win." The problem is, each party’s attorney is recommending a compromise, but neither the plaintiff nor defendant wants to change their position.

This type of stubbornness costs  money and time. Sometimes, despite your honest and sincere beliefs, the case is worth more or less than the amount of money you think it is. If your attorney advises you to settle the case, it’s in your best interest to carefully consider the recommendation.

The same is true outside of the realm of lawsuits. Some time ago, I consulted an individual regarding a bankruptcy. The individual had a sizeable amount of debt, which bankruptcy would relieve. The prospective client ademently refused bankruptcy because of an alternate "solution" I had already advised was fruitless. By ignoring my suggestions, the prospective client ended up in an even worse situation, before he accepted my second recommenation to file bankruptcy.

Remember, your attorney is watching out for your best interests. If he or she tells you to pay some money to resolve the case, most likely it’ll save you in the end. Similarly, if his or her recommendation is to accept a lesser amount than you’d originally hoped, it’s to save you time, costs, and extra fees.