There’s an unfortunate trend taking place across the connected population of America today.
From individuals who make their own wills and contracts, to those who take more elaborate legal matters into their own hands, access to readily available information online and through mobile devices is inspiring a multitude of Americans to become “smartphone lawyers,” a pejorative term for formally unschooled do-it-yourself wannabe barristers who think they can do for themselves what attorneys normally would competently.
“It’s a reckless and dangerous practice,” explains legal news blogger Brian McCartwin. “It’s just like going on a website instead of going to the doctor to treat a serious medical condition. It’s asking for trouble and a bad, potentially devastating outcome.”
According to McCartwin, aside from access to information and legal information online (some of which is inaccurate or absurdly out of date), a common reason cited for “doing it yourself” in legal matters is the desire among many Americans to stop “grossly enriching” lawyers.
“Again,” says McCartwin, “this is an uneducated opinion and a poor excuse for deciding against professional legal counsel when matters warrant such.”
Although millions of Americans perceive attorneys to be excessively fattening their wallets at the expense of even the lowliest of clients, the criticism is entirely out of touch with reality.
A recent infographic shared by Adams Davis, a well-respected legal firm named among the Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Utah by Utah Business Magazine, illustrates how the myth of overpaid attorneys is grossly blown out of proportion.
Check it out below.
