Haharskyi Artem

A fair question - why, indeed? All laws are publicly available, anyone can read and study them. There is also the internet, and friends with extensive life experience.

The division of people into professions arose a very long time ago. Yet from time to time we try to be jacks-of-all-trades: some out of a desire to save money, others for self-affirmation. We attempt work in fields where we are not experts. Trying to solve legal problems on your own, especially when court proceedings are involved, often leads to negative consequences that are difficult to correct. Why? Because litigation is a struggle between two sides, each trying to convince the court it is right. Your position must be proven competently, with proper arguments, while also skillfully countering the opponent's claims. Sometimes a single seemingly insignificant mistake is enough to lose the case. In the best case, you lose time. In the worst case, you lose everything.

Even when everything seems obvious and you feel no further proof is needed, court requires more than just submitting evidence. You must know procedural nuances and understand how to use them. It is not enough to know your rights - you must assert them correctly and on time. For example, if a procedural deadline is missed, the court may refuse your claim even when you were substantively right. And how many improperly drafted lawsuits, appeals, and cassation complaints are filed only to be returned for revision?

No matter how broad a person's outlook or how strong their intellect, if they are not a specialist in the relevant area of law, an attempt to apply legislation independently in real court proceedings may end in defeat. You cannot become an ace in jurisprudence overnight simply by reading articles online or asking advice from a well-informed neighbor or artificial intelligence.

That is why, to avoid irreversible mistakes, once legal problems arise you should immediately seek advice from an experienced lawyer who works specifically in the area of law you need. Perhaps a consultation will be enough. If not, the lawyer can provide practical assistance: draft a statement of claim, request, or complaint, challenge a court decision, and protect your rights and interests in court, before regulatory authorities, or before law enforcement bodies.

A lawyer's advantage lies not only in knowledge of the law, but in experience and the practical ability to use it, including the nuances and even imperfections of our legal system for the benefit of the client. An experienced lawyer knows the established judicial practice in the country and region and can choose the most effective strategy and tactics to achieve the goal.

A lawyer's work is similar to a doctor's work: the earlier you seek help without letting the problem worsen, the greater the likelihood of resolving it quickly and successfully. That is why you should not go to a lawyer only after the case has already been lost, although even then the situation can often still be corrected. It is better to contact a lawyer as soon as the problem arises.

Unlike an ordinary legal adviser, an attorney guarantees confidentiality of the information received from the client. They have no right to disclose it to anyone. For an attorney, the client is always defended to the fullest extent of the law. Attorney-client privilege, like the secrecy of confession, is inviolable.

So are people right when they turn to a lawyer with their problems? And are we right when we go to a dentist with a toothache instead of trying to pull the tooth or place a filling ourselves? The answer is obvious.

I wish you never have to face legal problems, but if they do arise, make the one correct decision.

Almost everyone has experienced toothache at some point in life, which forced them to go to a dentist. The dentist examined the tooth, explained the cause of the pain, and outlined the treatment options. Legal assistance works in a similar way.

The importance of legal consultation is hard to overestimate.

Consultation and legal clarification can be conditionally divided into the following stages.

1. Preliminary consultation. At this stage the client gets acquainted with the lawyer, outlines the essence of the issue, and the relevant branch of law is identified: administrative, criminal, civil, and so on. If the matter falls within the lawyer's specialization, the process moves to the next stage.

2. Clarification of the factual circumstances of the case. At this stage it is very important for the client to define the subject and objectives of the inquiry in greater detail. The more specific and complete the description, the better the legal assistance. At the same time, the lawyer must remember that the client may have no legal education and may not know which facts are relevant. Therefore, the lawyer needs to ask a series of clarifying questions and determine whether certain documents or circumstances exist.

3. Providing legal consultation and explanations on legal issues. After clarifying the subject and goals of the client's request and the factual circumstances of the matter, the lawyer provides a thorough and substantive legal consultation. Within that consultation, the lawyer explains possible ways to resolve the dispute, points out what evidence should be collected, and objectively outlines the client's chances of obtaining the desired result.

After a meaningful conversation with the lawyer, the client may conclude that there is no need to pursue the dispute, or conversely, that certain actions should be taken: filing an application, complaint, lawsuit, and so on.

Please remember that a lawyer cannot give a 100% guarantee of success or create unfounded hopes for the client.

It is advisable to develop the good habit of consulting a lawyer before filing a lawsuit or taking other important actions.

An improperly drafted statement of claim, a groundless lawsuit, filing in the wrong territorial jurisdiction, and other mistakes may later lead to negative consequences.

You should approach a lawyer not when the case is already lost, although even then the situation can often be corrected, but as soon as the problem appears. And it is always better to stay one step ahead. To prevent the problem from arising at all, it is advisable to consult a lawyer before taking important actions.

When communicating with clients, questions often arise about the cost of legal consultation - whether it is paid or free.

There are many cases where a person immediately begins describing the issue, problem, or dispute and asks for a well-grounded answer, sometimes even with references to legislation, without first asking whether the lawyer provides legal assistance on a paid basis.

On social media, some lawyers provide free legal consultations, while others charge a certain fee, arguing among other things that they did not spend five years studying at law school and several more gaining practical experience only to later share their knowledge entirely for free.

Personally, I believe that legal consultation, except for the preliminary consultation, should be provided exclusively on a paid basis.

1. Providing consultations and explanations on legal issues is a form of legal practice. Put simply, giving legal advice is work just like drafting applications, complaints, procedural documents, and other legal documents.

2. By providing legal consultation, a lawyer spends time - and time is money. Defining the client's issue and objective, clarifying the circumstances, asking follow-up questions, and then giving substantive advice all take considerable time.

3. Receiving professional legal advice is the most important stage in resolving a legal problem or dispute. Choosing the wrong method of protecting one's rights, failing to mention the need to gather evidence, misapplying the law, or following other incorrect recommendations may all lead to negative consequences.

Moreover, in our reality one thing is the law itself, and quite another is how it is applied in practice. That is why a lawyer giving legal consultation must analyze not only legislation but also Supreme Court practice, which changes constantly.

4. By receiving legal consultation, the client obtains a real benefit: answers to important questions, ways out of a difficult situation, and recommendations on how to protect rights in the future. In some cases, a well-grounded consultation alone is enough for the client to protect their rights independently afterward.

Considering all of the above, if the client's issue is clearly simple from a legal point of view, it is advisable to answer it free of charge. In other cases, however, legal consultation should be provided on a paid basis.

A fee is the form of remuneration paid to a lawyer for defense, representation, and other types of legal assistance provided to the client.

When determining the amount of the fee, the complexity of the case, the client's financial situation, and other significant circumstances are taken into account.

The fee must be reasonable and reflect the time spent by the lawyer.

Given this, it is impossible to determine the cost of all legal services in advance and create a fixed price list.

The exact cost of services can be determined by the lawyer after receiving detailed information about the legal issue.

However, it is possible to define the minimum cost of legal consultation, which is 500 hryvnias.

I work by appointment. To do this, you need to call me or write in a messenger (Telegram, Viber, Facebook, Instagram) or by email and briefly describe the problem you need resolved. After that, I will contact you to clarify the details and agree on the terms of cooperation.