A lot of lawyers do not like to
take up debt-collection cases.
Just imagine it from their point of view:
The client
chasing the debt is all worked up. Often he has not chased a debt in court before, so he
does not have a clue abut the procedure, the economics of doing it, or anything else. He
expects legal miracles, not realising that the case will be tried by an impartial
magistrate who will listen carefully to both sides. And because the scale of costs is
fixed by the rules of the Magistrates’ Court, the lawyer has to go easy on costs and
preparation, otherwise the client might be fainted when he sees the bill.
Is it
worth it for the busy lawyer? Many say no. A lot of big law firms would not touch
Magistrates’ Court cases. Some of them would not even handle Session Court cases. For
them, it is the High Court or nothing.
Some medium -sized law firms
will take Magistrates’ Court cases, but the job will probably be given to an
chambering student or legal assistant. For the sake of experience, older lawyers look over
his shoulder now and then, to make sure things are going all right.
Lawyers
who are sole practitioners will often accept Magistrates’ Court cases. Often they are
like the general practitioners of law. They will help you whether you have a flu,
headache, blindness, a broken limb, or
something worse. These lawyers are street-smart and have developed ways of coping with
overworked, debt-chasing clients. But they still do not ‘like’ these cases. Who
would?
So if you
go into their offices with an orderly pile of documents, a cool head, a smile, and a clear
understanding of what to expect, they will
put you in a different class. They might not mind doing it for you. And that is pretty
good.
|
FINMART FreeAdvice® is the leading
business advisory site for business people doing business in Malaysia. It provides advice
relating to most common business problems and to help business people to understand the
way how business should be properly conducted, but is not a substitute for personal
business advice from the respective professional and experts. You are welcome to view FINMART
FreeAdvice® for your own personal, non-commercial purposes, and subject to our legal
disclaimer and conditions of use. |
