Here are some lessons that I've learned along the way.Lesson #1 - Be creative. Sometimes a little bit of creativity will go a long way towards resolving a dispute. Look for win-win solutions. Becoming more creative is something that will help you regardless of your profession. Being creative can save you thousands of dollars in legal fees by avoiding fighting disputes out in court. Lesson #2 - Do your homework. Contrary to what you see on TV, cases aren't won in court room theatrics. They are won by hard work -- careful investigation, gathering of facts - combined with good writing and presentation skills. Hard work and a positive attitude is what causes "lucky" breaks.Lesson #3 - Choose the right lawyer for the job. A case isn't won or lost at court. It is won or lost when you hire your lawyer. If you have an important case, make sure you have the right lawyer handling it. An "expensive" lawyer can sometime save you a ton of money and a "cheap" lawyer can cost you a ton. Get referrals and don't be shy about asking for references. Lesson #4 - Resolving disputes doesn't need to get personal. The best lawyers are those that can keep their cool under any circumstances. Don't lose it, ever. Staying calm increases your confidence and helps you make the best decision possible, regardless of the circumstances. My toughest negotiation was with opposing counsel that was extremely polite, but not shy about renegotiating. Lesson #5 - There are always two-sides to every story. Don't get too invested in a situation early on. Ask a lot of questions and really listen. And make sure what you are told matches up with what the documents say. Be slow to form your opinions, waiting until you have a good grasp of the evidence. Don't give too much weight to personal relationships when the documents reveal
Here are some lessons that I've learned along the way.Lesson #1 - Be creative. Sometimes a little bit of creativity will go a long way towards resolving a dispute. Look for win-win solutions. Becoming more creative is something that will help you regardless of your profession. Being creative can save you thousands of dollars in legal fees by avoiding fighting disputes out in court. Lesson #2 - Do your homework. Contrary to what you see on TV, cases aren't won in court room theatrics. They are won by hard work -- careful investigation, gathering of facts - combined with good writing and presentation skills. Hard work and a positive attitude is what causes "lucky" breaks.Lesson #3 - Choose the right lawyer for the job. A case isn't won or lost at court. It is won or lost when you hire your lawyer. If you have an important case, make sure you have the right lawyer handling it. An "expensive" lawyer can sometime save you a ton of money and a "cheap" lawyer can cost you a ton. Get referrals and don't be shy about asking for references. Lesson #4 - Resolving disputes doesn't need to get personal. The best lawyers are those that can keep their cool under any circumstances. Don't lose it, ever. Staying calm increases your confidence and helps you make the best decision possible, regardless of the circumstances. My toughest negotiation was with opposing counsel that was extremely polite, but not shy about renegotiating. Lesson #5 - There are always two-sides to every story. Don't get too invested in a situation early on. Ask a lot of questions and really listen. And make sure what you are told matches up with what the documents say. Be slow to form your opinions, waiting until you have a good grasp of the evidence. Don't give too much weight to personal relationships when the documents reveal