You’ve probably heard the lawyer jokes. According to many people, lawyers are no good, and we would be better off without them.
This criticism isn’t fair.
Lawyers protect vulnerable people from powerful entities and corporations every day. Why are lawyers important? Without them, we wouldn’t be able to stand up for ourselves effectively, and we would be forced to deal with bad behavior from the government, corporations, and each other. Lawyers help to protect us, defend us, and get justice for the weakest and most vulnerable.
Here are some of the lawyers we need, and why they are so important.
1. Auto Accidents
If you get into a car accident and need to defend yourself in court, you need an auto accident attorney – a specialized subset of a personal injury lawyer.
An auto accident lawyer represents clients who have suffered injuries after being in car accidents. They can skillfully navigate the complex legal landscape and work tirelessly to help their clients obtain fair compensation for their injuries. This includes compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They are also responsible for holding negligent drivers and their insurance companies accountable for their actions.
Auto accident lawyers are important because car accidents are so common, and the consequences can be severe – both physically and financially. Victims of car accidents often find it overwhelming to navigate the legal system. Auto accident lawyers can help, with their vast knowledge and experience, by getting their clients the compensation they rightfully deserve.
A prime example is General Motors (GM) ignition switch lawsuit. In this case, the defective ignition switches caused multiple deaths and injuries. The lawsuit alleged that GM was aware of the defect but failed to take action, resulting in a $900 million settlement. Without an auto accident attorneys, the company might have gotten away with it.
Without auto-accident attorneys, victims in traffic accidents would have no legal recourse, and would be on the hook for all of their own repair and medical bills, even if they were not responsible.
2. Personal Injury
A personal injury lawyer represents clients who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of another individual or company.
Personal injury lawyers specialize in a wide range of accidents like car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, and others. Why are lawyers important? They help clients get fair compensation for their injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Personal injury lawyers are important because accidents can result in devastating consequences for victims, and the entities responsible won’t always do the right thing. Victims may be disabled, and deal with lasting financial and psychological consequences. In this state, it can be especially difficult to navigate legal frameworks and get fair compensation from powerful individuals or companies.
One of the most famous cases in personal injury law is the Erin Brockovich case. In this case, a small California town was contaminated with toxic chromium-6 by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Lawyer Ed Masry and his team represented the victims and won a $333 million settlement for medical expenses and emotional distress.
Without personal injury lawyers and other disability lawyers, victims would be left to fend for themselves, without the tools to get justice and compensation.
3. Criminal Defense
A criminal defense lawyer defends individuals and organizations that have been charged with a crime. In Law & Order, they’re the ones who shout ‘objection!’.
Criminal defense lawyers play an essential role in ensuring their clients receive a fair trial and that their rights are protected. This involves investigating the case, negotiating plea deals, and representing the accused in court.
Why are lawyers important? Every individual is entitled to a fair trial. Unfortunately, the legal system isn’t always as fair as it tries to be, and can be weighted in favor of the prosecution. A criminal defense lawyer ensures their client’s rights are protected and that they are not wrongly convicted.
A famous criminal defense case was the trial of Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh was charged with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Defense lawyer Stephen Jones successfully defended McVeigh and prevented him from receiving the death penalty.
Criminal defense attorneys sometimes get a bad rep, because they sometimes defend people who are guilty. However, without criminal defense lawyers, you could be put in jail for almost any reason and be unable to defend yourself, which is why they are one of the most important varieties of lawyers out there.
4. Worker’s Compensation
Employers are responsible for their employees’ safety at work. When they drop the ball and people get hurt, a workers comp lawyer steps in. Why are lawyers important? It is their job to legally assist employees who have suffered injuries or illnesses on the job, so they get the compensation they deserve.
Worker’s compensation lawyers help their clients recover workers’ compensation benefits, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. They also provide legal support and advocacy to employees navigating the complex legal system.
Injuries at work are alarmingly common, and employers have their own legal teams devoted to fighting lawsuits by employees. Worker’s compensation laywyers are incredibly important, because they help everyday people take on big companies to get what they deserve according to the law, so they can heal and get back to work.
The NFL is one of the highest profile cases of an employer trying to dodge culpability for workers injuries. Kyle Turley, a former NFL player, sued the league for damages related to multiple concussions. Turley’s lawyer argued that the NFL failed to protect players from head injuries, leading to long-term damage and health problems.
Whether you slip and fall on the factory floor, or sustain concussions while playing football, your employer is responsible for your safety. Without workers compensation lawyers, big companies would be able to treat their workers as disposable, rather than taking responsibility for bad working conditions.
5. Domestic Violence
Violence in the home is frighteningly common. Domestic violence lawyers help victims get safe, get away, and get compensation.
Domestic violence attorneys represent individuals who have experienced domestic violence in both criminal and civil court. Why are lawyers important? They provide legal support and guidance to clients seeking restraining orders, divorces, and custody agreements. They also prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence.
The victims of domestic violence are very vulnerable, and need special care and protection. At the same time, these cases can be complex. Domestic violence lawyers play a critical role in protecting victims of domestic violence and ensuring that they receive justice.
Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Why are lawyers important? Domestic violence lawyers help victims protect themselves and their children from abuse.
An infamous domestic violence case is the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, the ex-wife of O.J. Simpson, who was killed by Simpson in 1994. Simpson’s defense team attempted to use domestic violence as a defense, claiming that Simpson had been abused by Nicole. However, the prosecution argued that Simpson had a history of violence and aggression.
Without domestic violence lawyers, victims would be left to defend themselves and navigate a complex legal framework in order to find safety from violent partners – a dangerous position.
6. Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are common, and like auto accidents, finding fault can be complex.
A motorcycle accident lawyer specializes in representing clients who have been injured in motorcycle accidents. They help clients recover compensation for their injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and hold negligent drivers and their insurance companies accountable for their actions.
Why are lawyers important? Motorcycle accident lawyers are vital because motorcycle accidents are common, and can cause severe injuries and fatalities due to the lack of protection that motorcycles provide.
An example of a prominent motorcycle accident case is the one involving Jay Leno, who was injured in a motorcycle accident while filming an episode of ‘The Tonight Show’ in 2006. Leno’s lawyer successfully negotiated a settlement with the production company and helped Leno recover compensation for his injuries.
Without motorcycle accident lawyers, victims wouldn’t be able to get compensation from the motorists that injured them and would face steep repair and medical bills and lost wages.
7. Antitrust
Big corporations aren’t allowed to monopolize the business world and shut down their competitors. That’s why we need antitrust attorneys.
These lawyers offer advice on competition, mergers, and acquisitions, and monopolies to their clients. They also work with government agencies to investigate and enforce antitrust laws.
Antitrust laws protect consumers and promote fair competition in the marketplace. Antitrust attorneys play a vital role in ensuring that businesses operate within the bounds of the law, which, in turn, shields consumers from anti-competitive practices that could result in higher prices, reduced product quality, and limited consumer choice.
An example is the United States v. Microsoft antitrust case. This case revolved around Microsoft’s bundling of Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system, which was discovered to be anti-competitive. The antitrust attorneys working on the case helped the government win the case, which led to Microsoft being forced to alter its business practices.
Why are lawyers important? Without antitrust lawyers, we would all need to pay higher prices for goods and we would get less choice on the free market.
8. Child Support
During divorce and separation, child support is a major issue. When someone can’t or won’t pay for child support, lawyers get involved.
Child support lawyers specialize in helping parents receive or pay child support payments. They assist with establishing child support orders, modifying existing orders, and enforcing child support orders through the courts. These lawyers also aid clients in navigating the legal system when dealing with child custody and visitation issues.
Child support payments are essential to the well-being of children, especially in situations where one parent has primary custody. Why are lawyers important? Child support lawyers are necessary in ensuring that parents fulfill their financial obligations and that children receive the necessary financial resources to thrive. Without child support, many children would be at risk of living in poverty.
A famous case that child support lawyers handled is the case of Terrell Owens, a former NFL player, who was ordered to pay over $45,000 per month in child support payments in 2012. Owens’ child support lawyer argued that the amount was excessive, but the court ultimately upheld the order.
Without child support lawyers, some parents would be able to withdraw support and leave their children living in poverty.
9. Legal Malpractice
Sometimes lawyers screw up too, and they need to be held to account. If someone gives bad legal advice that is damaging, they can be sued. That’s what legal malpractice lawyers do.
A legal malpractice lawyer helps clients recover damages for losses resulting from legal errors such as missed deadlines, incorrect legal advice, or breach of fiduciary duty. Additionally, legal malpractice lawyers assist clients in filing complaints with state bar associations against their former attorneys.
Attorneys have a duty to provide competent and ethical representation to their clients. When attorneys fail to meet this standard, their clients may suffer significant harm. Therefore, legal malpractice lawyers are instrumental in holding attorneys accountable for their actions and helping clients recover compensation for their losses.
A famous case that legal malpractice lawyers handled is the case of Jean and Scott Adam, a couple who were killed by Somali pirates while sailing off the coast of Africa in 2011. The Adams’ legal malpractice lawyers argued that their former attorneys had failed to properly advise them about the risks of sailing in the region, which led to their deaths. The case was ultimately settled for an undisclosed amount.
Without legal malpractice attorneys, lawyers would face no negative consequences for providing bad legal advice, and the victims of this bad advice would have no legal recourse.
Lawyers are Essential
While lawyers sometimes get a bad reputation, they do what they do for a reason. Why are lawyers important? They help vulnerable people stick up to the powerful, make sure that our laws are honored, and help bring victims of injury and violence the financial support and compensation they deserve. Before you tell another lawyer joke, think about the next time you might need one!