As we’re sure you may have already guessed, the process of going to Court can be long. It can also be complicated and costly. When taking legal action (also called litigation), you’ll always want to be as prepared as possible. This means talking to your lawyer and making some swift and intelligent moves prior to going to Court.
If you’re new to the processes of dispute resolution or even class action suits, here are a few things to consider when taking legal action. These are the sorts of things that will hopefully make the process as stress-free and smooth as possible. Let’s take a look at some key considerations below.
1. Can you fit litigation into your schedule?
Off the top, one thing to keep in mind is that heading to Court requires a significant time commitment. You’re going to want to be sure that you can attend all Court dates, but also work with your lawyers and litigators to get the process dealt with or under control. As you’ll know, these types of proceedings and meetings can be exceedingly lengthy and if your work, family life or personal commitments require a lot of your time — then Court may not be the best option for you. Always be sure you have the time to dedicate to litigation before moving forward. You want to be able to persevere rather than back out at the eleventh hour due to commitments.
2. Did you consider an alternative solution?
Another key consideration is looking toward other routes for resolution. Again, Court is expensive and takes a lot of time. If you’re moving forward with a suit against someone or taking legal action, there could be other more affordable ways to do this. If you’re unsure about Court, you may be able to make use of a third party who can work alongside you to dissolve or at the least resolve the issue in a way that works best for both parties.This could be a mediation process, an arbitration process or even a conciliation conference. Always do your research when it comes to different avenues for dispute resolution.
3. Can you afford it?
When it comes to the cost of litigation, you’ll likely be aware of just how expensive the whole process is. This means you’ll need to plan your finances and be prepared for what you’ll have to pay. You’re going to want to make sure you can afford your legal bills for starters. If your proceedings require you to miss a whole lot of work, you might also have to consider other arrangements when it comes to your legal issue.
To get a little more insight you can make use of calculator tools like this one to get a deeper understanding of how much things will cost and whether taking out a loan for expenses during a trial is the best option for you. Adding to this, you may also need to continue working during off hours whilst you’re in litigation, which could upset your day’s routine. That in mind, we always suggest being well-prepared and financially ‘ready’ to move forward with legal action.
4. Are you sure of what you want?
We all go into litigation with something on our minds that will give us a form of closure or at least resolution.
It’s never wise to step into Court without a good understanding of what you actually want to come out of your proceedings. It’s always a good idea to mull over this for a little before making the decision to go to Court. Think about things such as apologies, compensation, formal acknowledgement and other similar ways of achieving justice. If you’re not one hundred per cent certain of the outcome you want, you’re going to be making the process a lot harder and more complicated if proceedings get underway.
5. Is your reputation at risk?
To end, our final consideration for you is to think about how Court will affect your reputation and whether you’re able to take this sort of ‘hit.’ For our readers in industries or fields that rely heavily on personal image, going to Court may cause irreparable damage that you can’t pull back from. Court provides an open platform for sensitive information to enter the public arena. You will have to disclose information – both of a financial and personal nature to the party you’re litigating against. The same goes for businesses in Court. Sometimes the damage caused to these brands is so severe it takes years or even decades for them to fully bounce back.
