Is consulting a lawyer through online safe and worthy?
No doubt the internet has revolutionized everything, especially your life style, your business, your way of banking and above all it has even changed your method of availing legal service from a lawyer. The net result is that you get all your problems solved at your fingertips, by sitting before a computer; going a step further, if you are a busy man always on the move, you get your problems solved, wherever you are, by having a laptop with you.
It is true that by virtue of availing all these services in the on line, your precious time, travel and money etc are saved, besides avoiding mental and physical strain to your body. Having said that it does not mean everything that you are doing in the on line through internet is Ok; it also does not mean that you are safe and you can be rest assured in all your ventures. In particular, the legal service that you avail in the on line needs special mention.
No doubt, if you are a business magnet, each one of you may be a standing client of a particular lawyer in the vicinity of your residence according to your convenience and familiarity with him and you may be frequently in touch with him before you embark upon in each and every one of your business venture. Still, you may across some unique problem in your business or a problem may arise at a remote branch that is not easily accessible to your regular lawyer. In that event, you may have to contact a lawyer, in the place where your branch is located.
You may not be a businessman; you are an employee in a company or an organization; you are a small businessman or self-employed and you are not used to avail the services of a lawyer frequently. You are aged, ill and bedridden and so you are physically unable to move. In other words, due to all the above mentioned problems, you are totally unfamiliar and handicapped from availing the legal services from a lawyer.
Beset with the problems mentioned above, you may also come across a new legal problem that may be personal or in connection with your movable or immovable property or in connection with your business; due to your preoccupations and time constraints, you may be immediately prompted or tempted to consult a lawyer, from the place where you are. Then, the easiest and the fastest way of finding a lawyer and getting access to him are in the on line. Now the moot question is whether consulting a lawyer in the on line is safe and worthy.
There are hundreds of legal web sites and personal web sites of lawyers you can keep in touch with. But you can not consult each and every lawyer you come across; that will be not only time consuming besides making a heavy toll on your purse or bank account. Hence, before proceeding to consult a lawyer in the on line, you should be clear enough about your problem, where your property is situate and what is the exact remedy you require etc. Since, jurisdiction of a court is very relevant in deciding the subject matter of your dispute, it is always better to consult a native lawyer, who resides within the jurisdiction of your court.
When you consult a lawyer in the on line, though a web site may have adequate particulars about his legal expertise, area of specialization etc, still you cannot vouchsafe for his expertise and his actual age, his capacity for handling your case etc.
Lawyers offer legal advice and consultation to a prospective client, from a remote destination by a two way method: 1) By telephone and then 2) through on line chatting.
1)Consulting a lawyer over Telephone:
Consulting a lawyer through telephone is quite expensive, because, he charges as much as Rs 1200/- for 25 minutes, Rs 1,600/- for 45 minutes and Rs 2,000/- for 60 minutes.But the lawyer offers his advice only based on your verbatim account, not on the basis of the contents of any of your documents in your possession. Even, if you read out the contents of your documents over phone, there is no guarantee that the entire contents of your document are understood by the lawyer at the other end, with its legal implications.Therefore, it is always advisable, to use your telephone for fixing up the appointment with a lawyer and consult him in person leisurely.Compared to the charges incurred by you for a telephonic consultation, the personal consultation is cheaper, full fledged and above all as a client you have an opportunity to meet your lawyer in person and you can be damn sure to get all your doubts cleared. Moreover, before engaging a lawyer for a telephonic conversation, you have to pay his legal fees in advance in the on line for the relevant time say. 25 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes etc.If you choose to pay only for 25 minutes, sometimes your consultation may end abruptly without fulfilling your object or purpose.If you choose to make payment by demand draft, you can consult the lawyer over phone only on receipt of the demand draft by him. Hence, your consultation is delayed and you cannot have any emergent solution.
2)Consulting a lawyer in the On Line :
When you consult a lawyer in the on line by chatting with him, though you can have a full fledged consultation with him by even sending the contents of your documents in the on line, still it is risky because, you never know, if the lawyer at the other end is having any personal interest at the subject matter of your dispute. It is also unknown, whether the same lawyer has been consulted or approached by your opponent. However, if you consult a lawyer in person, the movements of your opponent can be watched. Such things are not possible in the on line consultation. Again, the on line consultation is quite expensive than the personal consultation. Hence, it is always safer not to divulge about your case fully in the course of an on line consultation; the bare contact information alone should be provided to the lawyer in the on line and if need be an appointment can be fixed for a personal consultation, in the course of the on line chat.
Moreover, when you make payment through credit card in the on line, there is always the risk of your identity is being noted down and even stolen by some unknown persons. In that event, your legal problems get compounded and complicated.
Therefore, it is always good to use your telephone or the on line facility, only for fixing up the personal appointment with a lawyer according to your convenience, besides being less expensive and risk free.
Established in 1958, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is a private, non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization that ensures equal access to justice through free legal advice and representation for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Service areas include domestic violence, child abuse, consumer fraud and social security. Free classes are offered in bankruptcy, divorce, custody, small claims, guardianship and foreclosure mediation. Funding is provided through private donations, government grants and pro bono hours donated by local attorneys. Please visit [ www.lacsn.org ]www.lacsn.org for more information or to make a donation.
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