Legal Brief with Alan Tate of Harris Tate harristate.co.nz

People tend to think of their lawyer as someone to go to when they are buying or selling a house or when they are in trouble with the law.

But lawyers, because of their training, skills and experience, are the best people to talk to about a whole range of other matters.

People who are in doubt about how to deal with anything in relation to their personal, financial, family or business relationships should consider talking to their lawyer about it before deciding on the best way to deal with it.

There are plenty of people out there who deal in those areas, but it is important to realise that in most cases, they make a living out of selling the specialised advice that they offer. Therefore, the advice they give may be directed more towards what is best for them, rather than what is best for the person seeking the advice.

Lawyers, on the other hand, will provide advice independent of other factors. All options and alternatives can be openly discussed and the best solution arrived at.

Everyone is entitled to the protection that the law gives them and lawyers are best placed to make sure people know those rights and use them.

Lawyers are, for example, often criticised for defending people on criminal charges where there seems to be little if any defence. That is what everyone is entitled to and it shouldn't be any other way.

If there is one piece of advice that can be offered for free, it is that an issue is much better dealt with earlier rather than later. If they are ignored, simple things have a habit of turning into complicated things. The cost of that advice will be cheap compared to the cost of sorting it out later.

The message is that if anyone who has a problem of any sort in relation to their personal, financial or business affairs should think about having an early chat to a lawyer for independent and unbiased advice.

If it is not a matter the lawyer has dealt with, they will almost certainly be able to find a lawyer for you who is experienced in that area.