Personal Legal Crisis Tips

First Steps

Dealing with a personal legal crisis can be a stressful and complicated experience. It is common to feel overwhelmed and confused, as legal issues are often very complex, can take a long time to be resolved, and many times are confrontational.

Remember, despite the stress and complexity of your situation, you have a life to live, a business to run, and other issues to address. Hiring experienced professionals does not insure you an ideal outcome, but you should rest assured that you will achieve a solution you can live with.

The following tips will help you proceed during your legal crisis.

Maintain Confidentiality

While friends and members of your family may have some idea of your legal situation, it is important to manage the spread of (often incorrect) information. Make sure you speak privately with everyone in-the-know and pledge them to complete secrecy until you have developed a firm handle on the problems and issues at hand. Avoid conjecture and excessive discussion. It will increase the stress of those involved and the spread of incorrect information can directly harm your cause.

Prepare Your Strategy

When holding your first strategy meeting, explain clearly what is happening and introduce all key stakeholders in the situation. Point out any specific areas of concern or caution - choose directness over politeness. Talk about the adversary if there is one, the claims and issues as you see them.

Secure all relevant files relating to the dispute, and establish retention and handling protocols. Your files should be assembled in locked file cabinets and secured computers. Do not delete, modify, erase or update any electronic material. Regardless of your motives, any changes to relevant material will be seen by your opposition in the worst possible light.

Accept the fact that your position will not be perfect. Deal with your situation as honestly as possible - now is not the time to 'make your case', you need to develop a crystal clear picture of the situation as it stands.

Be Polite!

Whether your legal crisis involves family members or close friends, or a conflict with a 3rd party, it is important to remain civil. If your crisis is between family members you will most likely see and interact with the involved parties after the crisis has passed. Don't say things that will later make it impossible to maintain a civil relationship.

Be particularly careful about statements you make to other people, whether in conversation or correspondence. You may be emotional, and from your point of view, what you say might seem true, but it is entirely possible negative remarks or statements could be seen as slander or libel.

Keep in mind that there are at least two sides to every story, and your perception of events might not match up with others. Try to remain calm and open minded during the process, and your relationships will not suffer needlessly.

Follow Through & Follow Up

Remember that the legal process can take a long time, so it is important to remind stakeholders of the importance of confidentiality, and controlling your message.

Commit to your strategy, and stay involved with the process. All plans change as new circumstances appear, but your primary objective and approach should remain the same.