There are many ways, though, to educate yourself about legal issues. For example, let’s say you plan to invest in a rental property. Before you do so it would pay to go online or visit the library to learn more about being a landlord. Some good questions to ask are: “What is the best way to protect yourself from liability? What are the housing and anti-discrimination laws you must follow? How do you exercise your right to evict non-paying tenants? What about special accommodations on your property for the hard of hearing, physically disabled, or other special needs tenants?” These are just a few examples of the information and legal advice you can find on your own.

Legal self-help is a great solution when you need information but are not ready to retain a lawyer. The motivation is simple. Rather than paying $100 $200, $300 or more per hour for a teacher in the area of law you are looking into, this can be a much less expensive way to get information you're after, or even to draft a complete legal document. It is a fast-growing area on the internet, where a simple search will net you web site after web site offering easy access to free information, searchable article archives, and a variety of egal aid services.

Some sites want a fee for legal services and information. These legal self-help resources often used the strategy of giving you some helpful free information to ultimately sell their services. They might offer to send you an informational video tape or report and provide a glowing quote or other testimonial from clients, so you can get a better sense of them before you spend money.

Many are very good and can save you a substantial amount of money. However, that said, before you spend any money with an online site you should do your homework. Do you have confidence that the site is reputable? Will the site provide you with references or some other method to verify the quality of their services?

Elderly Estate Planning

(A Legal Self Help Example)

A growing focus for legal self-help relates to estate and end of life planning as more and more people become responsible for care of their aging parents. Caring for the elderly can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to legal issues like power of attorney, health care directives, estate planning and management, and writing a will.

The psychological impact of loss of a parent or older loved one is usually significant. Emotions like anger and sadness can run high among family members when these subjects arise. This can truly test the patience and good judgment of everyone involved. It helps to discuss the issues in advance before the aging parent is gone.

Legal Consultation

If you plan to consult a lawyer, it is helpful to prepare a bit before that first meeting. The relationship between you and your attorney should be based on trust and confidence. You must have trust in his or her skill, and be comfortable enough to be completely open and honest. One way to prepare is to check with your local or state legal professionals group or the Bar Association. They will likely have information about how to establish a solid attorney-client relationship and may even offer an online forum for asking questions.

Regardless of whether you choose legal self-help, consultation with a lawyer, or a combination of both, understand that one of the best things you can do for yourself is to deal with legal issues in an informed manner.