Each country has its own legal system, comprising a distinct set of rules, principles, processes and structures designed to ensure and impart justice to citizens, but despite the discrepancies, there’s something they all have in common: they’re incredibly complex and therefore very difficult to comprehend and navigate for those who don’t have legal training. Anyone who has ever been met with a legal issue can attest to the intricacy of the legal apparatus and the challenges of deciphering its inner workings.
And as it happens, most people get their legal knowledge from movies, social media, stories they’ve heard from friends and acquaintances, and basically any other place that doesn’t represent a trusted source of information, instead of consulting with a trusted professional in the field. Unsurprisingly, the low level of legal literacy among the general population has led to the emergence and perpetuation of many myths, misconceptions and stereotypes regarding the industry over the years.
While some of these erroneous beliefs are harmless and at times downright hilarious, others can negatively impact both legal professionals and citizens by spreading misinformation and disinformation that gets mistaken for truth and putting people in a very vulnerable position, should they find themselves involved in any legal matters.
This also means that a lot of the things you know about the legal system and have taken for granted so far might in fact be false. So, instead of persisting in ignorance and potentially putting yourself at risk for some costly mistakes, you might want to uncover the truth behind these common myths and save yourself some trouble.
Lawyers are expensive
Lawyers don’t work for free and contracting legal services can lead to hefty bills in some cases. However, the costs associated with these services depend on a variety of factors such as the nature and complexity of the issue you’re dealing with, the length of time it takes to solve it, the lawyer’s experience and expertise, and the final outcome. If you do the math, you may come to realise that working with a lawyer is well within your budget and can also help you save money.
Unfortunately, many people simply assume that hiring a lawyer is above their financial means and dismiss the possibility of legal representation from the get-go, without even bothering to research what legal fees involve or make an estimation of these expenses. As a result, they choose to take matters into their own hands and try to fend for themselves, and in doing so they often end up spending more money than they would have had they hired a lawyer.
Lawyers are rich and striving to get richer
Since we’re talking finances, let’s review the widespread myth of extremely wealthy lawyers. While activating in the legal field does come with a high earning potential and there are lawyers who make a lot of money, that is definitely not true for the entire profession. Only a select few are living the flamboyant lifestyle portrayed in movies and can be considered wealthy. They didn’t get rich overnight either but had to work hard to sharpen their skills and amass years of experience under their belt to achieve the financial success they’re enjoying.
Directly related to this misconception is the idea that lawyers are only interested in making money and don’t care about their clients or the cases they take on. No one can say that money doesn’t represent a big incentive when deciding to join the industry, but that is true for almost all professions. There are plenty of lawyers who chose this line of work because they want to help people and make a positive difference in their lives. Moreover, some of these professionals also work for non-profit organizations or pro-bono, hoping to make a positive impact in people’s lives.
All litigations can be adapted into successful movies
There’s no denying that many legal battles and the stories and characters surrounding them can make for great movie material. In fact, lawsuits make the subject of more successful Hollywood productions than we can count and many of them are based on true stories and real-life events. However, that doesn’t mean all litigations are as entertaining and sensational as the ones you’ve seen on screen.
Movies would have you believe that legal disputes are a thrilling rollercoaster of complicated intrigues and unexpected events unfolding at a fast pace and plot twists that take you by surprise. But we all know, or should know, that movies have a way of glamourising reality. That’s why we watch them in the first place.
The truth, however, is much less exciting. Lawsuits, especially the ones that are complicated, involve a lot of research, paperwork and all sorts of dull and cumbersome procedures that no one gets to see in a movie. Most cases move quite slowly through the court system and are not in the least interesting or exhilarating. It can take weeks, months or even years to make any notable progress. So, the tension, twists and turns that you might expect to take place in a legal battle are not always part of the picture.
The aggressive approach wins the case
Another myth that originates in the wonderful but often deceiving movie realm is related to the aggressive approach that lawyers often display when they argue a case. The common belief is that a lawyer has to be argumentative and engage in verbal fights with the other party in order to win a case.
Certain professionals might be a bit more confrontational than others, but that’s certainly not a requirement or a determinant for success. Lawyers have to possess in-depth knowledge of the law, they need to be assertive and build their case with logic, reason and solid arguments. If they manage to check all these boxes, they have higher chances of winning a case whether they are argumentative or not.
Legal myths abound and distort our perception of the legal system and the professionals who work in the field, so it’s important to spot them and stop them from spreading misinformation and preconceptions.
