For days after Hurricane Sandy I was inundated with calls from disgruntled, furloughed or terminated employees seeking legal advice. I guess they were stuck at home and decided to call a lawyer and discuss their issues. For the most part, the employees who call me should have sought legal help much sooner than they did. I am of the opinion that given the current work environment, all employees need to have an attorney on call. If a lawyer is hired soon enough, he may be able to save an employee’s job, and if that’s not possible, for one reason or another, some sort of severance agreement can be negotiated that may or may not involve money, a neutral employment reference and/or an agreement that an employee may apply for unemployment compensation benefits without the employer challenging the benefits. An attorney can help with a disability claim, or perhaps devise some other remedy.
In addition to helping with the above, an attorney can give a client a considered, unemotional opinion as to whether they have good legal grounds to pursue their claim, and even if they do, what their chances are of prevailing on their claim. with a government agency or in litigation, and whether it is in their financial interest to even proceed with your claim. Even if the only benefit is to avoid the stress, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, and depression that often accompany potential job loss, it is worth seeking legal assistance. Therefore, people should not be sensible and foolish. If one were to balance on a scale the cost of hiring an attorney versus the loss of a job and/or other benefits, it is usually worth it financially.
Despite all of the above benefits that clients can derive from an early consultation with a knowledgeable attorney, many people think they can serve as their own attorney, or listen to non-lawyers, many of whom work for government agencies, they are told they do not have to hire a lawyer. Even if one is not required to hire an attorney, it is never a bad idea and is usually a very good idea. Time and time again I speak or meet with people who have not hired an attorney, missed filing or appeal deadlines, and been intimidated into giving up benefits or their legal rights by their employers or their representatives. human resources or their union representatives. .
We live in an age where vast amounts of information are available to us through the Internet. All of this information sometimes makes people think that they can become jacks of all trades. However, it is often preferable, and often cheaper and less frustrating, to hire a trained professional rather than attempt to do something yourself. Lawyers are trained and experienced in how to handle matters, yet many people think they don’t need lawyers.
An example of another type of profession that deals with DIY is interior design. Of course, one can select their own paint colors, fabrics, or furniture. If people have the time and money and aren’t worried about making mistakes, they might find these activities fun. As for me, I have worked with interior designers since I was a young woman for many reasons. First of all, I get overwhelmed when faced with a wide variety of choices and would rather have someone else narrow down the options to my liking. I know a lady who knocked wallpaper samples off her walls where they sat for years, because she was too confused to do anything. I also know a business owner who went to a store many times, finally tried 26 paint samples, and even had to repaint the walls when he didn’t like the results over a large area. This was an expensive process in time, gas, and sample prices.
Second, an interior designer can find reliable, qualified, and reasonably priced suppliers, such as painters, carpenters, and other craftsmen. And, the interior designer can make sure they get the job done right and on time.
Third, an interior designer can save you time and money in the long run. As a professional, who charges by the hour, it really isn’t worth spending hours looking at samples, etc. I did this a few years ago with drapery trim that seemed too expensive so I decided to look for cheaper trim. It took 3 trips to fabric stores located in an area where roads were under construction, in 100 degree weather, and in the end, the trim I liked was a foot short. So when I recently renovated my office building, my interior designer and I selected paint colors, new blinds, and carpet, she recommended the painter, the blind company, and the carpet company, and re-hung the paintings and diplomas in groups. , and they look much better than before. Although I am paying for her assistance, in the end, it cost me less, less stress and a wonderful result. So, your services from her have been invaluable!