General Litigation Lawyers in Calgary, AB, Providing Sage Advice for Clients
Litigation lawyers are those with particular experience in alternative dispute resolution, mediation, negotiation, and dispute arbitration from general personal or business law disagreements between two individuals or entities. These may be contract disputes, car accidents, property claim proceedings, employment litigation, or other litigation between two parties. Every time someone is sued or summoned to court, the situation is different. It may require simple services or a matter of alternative dispute resolution. However, no matter what your particular law proceedings need, our experienced litigation lawyers are ready to provide their assistance. Call Getz Collins and Associates today at (587) 849-4470.
The approximate costs for the services of litigation lawyers can differ wildly depending on the proceedings required by clients, so call the team at Getz Collins today to discuss your initial consultation. Our law team is ready to litigate on all of our client’s behalf.
Today, we will discuss typical situations that litigation lawyers will be expected to understand and what clients should understand about their interests before they discuss their litigation with lawyers. The basics will include:
- Overall phases of litigation
- The discovery phase of litigation
- What litigation solves
- The desired outcome of litigation
- Benefits of hiring litigation lawyers
What Is Litigation?
The Phases of Litigation
While every lawsuit is as unique as a fingerprint, they tend to follow a similar trajectory:
- Plaintiff files a complaint and serves copy and summons to the defendant
- Defendant files answer and serve a copy to plaintiff
- Both make an initial appearance before a judge
- Defendant files motion to dismiss, claiming the complaint is erroneous
- The judge sets a discovery schedule
- Each side files for a judgment summary, and the judge decides who wins based on the law
- Both sides present their case at trial before a judge, jury, or both
Some cases skip some of the steps, especially small claims. But you can count on the rest like clockwork.
What is the Discovery Phase?
The most crucial part of the litigation process is the discovery phase. This is when you can learn information that you may not have had before from the other side. Both sides present the facts of their case, meaning you may learn details to strengthen your argument.
Different lawyers treat discovery differently. They may ask the other side for documentation relating to the case for the lawyer to inspect. Like in a case where one person is suing for damage to a property, that person may be asked to show pictures of or produce the damaged item, where the defendant would be allowed to inspect for proof the damage had happened at another time.
A lawyer may also request the other party admit facts about the case or ask them a limited number of questions under oath. This may be asked to be brought to a deposition, where it is recorded by tape or with a court reporter present. A lawyer may subpoena documents from a third party not participating in the case, such as cellular records or bank statements.
What Disagreements Can Be or Tend to Be Litigated?
General litigation is the primary legal argument solution in the modern world. The limits to litigation are as varied as the disagreements people have. But some of the more common reasons for litigation are:
- Personal injury
- Real estate disputes
- Contract disputes
- Medical malpractice
- Insurance disputes
- Product liability
- Business disputes
As a lawyer, you can have a specific focus on any of the above practices, but a general litigation lawyer can help with pretty much any litigation. Think of the general litigation lawyer as your general practitioner. They don’t specialize in one particular field of law but can be helpful in many different types of cases.
What is the Desired Outcome of Litigation?
As with most disagreements, the most desirable outcome is to win. But how do you win litigation?
If you’re the plaintiff, you want to be given what the defendant owes you. Whether it is owed child support, compensation for damages, or peace of mind after a heinous crime, you probably want to achieve the goal you brought to court.
If you are the defendant, you want to prove to the court that you did not do what you were accused of doing. And you may wish justice for having been brought to court on a charge you didn’t commit.
Why Do You Need a Litigation Lawyer?
The prospect of saving money tempts many people who try to save money by choosing to represent themselves during litigation rather than hiring the proper lawyer. While this is a perfectly legal thing, it isn’t advisable. Litigation is complicated and, when mishandled, can drag on for years. Lawyer fees may be expensive, but the court isn’t free. The longer a court case lasts, the more the court fees increase. You have a big chance of losing much more than the lawyer fee you were trying to save.
And that is simply the economic reasoning. A lawyer trained in any litigation can be crucial to formulating a strategy and helping you understand what you want to achieve and what evidence is necessary.
Reasonable lawyers will not wish for you to empty your bank account. They will help you save money during the case because it is their job, and if they do it well for you, they will win a client for more issues.
How Do I Find the Right Lawyer?
An essential step in finding the right lawyer to help you with your case is to set up an appointment with a lawyer you think may be the right fit for you. Just get in touch with one and begin asking them questions. The right one isn’t just going to fall in your lap. You have to meet with them and determine whether or not it is the right fit. Ask questions like, “have you participated in a lawsuit like mine?” or, “how much experience do you have in a live courtroom?”
At Getz Collins and Associates, we believe in communicating to match the right lawyer to your case. Call and set up an interview with one of our lawyers today. You can reach us at (587) 849-4470.