5 Important Facts to Teach Your Kids About the Legal System and Different Types of Lawyers
By Space Coast Daily // August 30, 2022
One of the most crucial topics you can teach your kids about is the legal system and how it works. Basic legal knowledge is a worthwhile investment as it equips kids with the information they need to understand their rights and escape risky legal situations.
If you are unsure how to educate your kids about the legal system and the different types of lawyers, here are five essential facts you can start with.
1. A Lawyer is Someone Who Can Help You Deal with Legal Issues
Your kids need to know that if someone doesn’t have the legal knowledge to defend themselves in court, they can hire a lawyer to help. So, teach them about lawyers and what they do. More importantly, explain to your child that there are different types of lawyers, such as criminal defense lawyers, personal injury lawyers, and employment lawyers.
Despite the different categories of lawyers, your kids should understand that every lawyer must meet specific requirements to practice law. For example, lawyers must attend an accredited law school, pass a licensing exam, and complete several sessions of supervised legal training to be certified professionals.
This gives them special training that helps them understand the law and assist other people in dealing with legal problems.
Many Lawyers, e.g., Personal Injury Lawyers, Will Offer an Initial Consultation for Free.
While some lawyers will charge an initial consultation fee, many will not charge anything unless you decide to hire them to represent you in your legal matter. It would help if you discussed this with your kids as they learn about lawyers and the legal system.
Besides free initial consultation, personal injury lawyers, such as those at www.wieandlaw.com, will not charge you a dime unless they help you recover compensation.
This is known as contingency-based representation, and you should let your kids know how beneficial it is to victims who can’t afford attorney fees while pursuing justice.
Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings are Different from Adult Criminal Proceedings
It is also essential to let your kids know they will not be treated like adults in courts. Help them out by explaining that juveniles are tried in juvenile courts, not criminal courts, and the proceedings differ.
Moreover, explain to your kids that children found guilty of a juvenile offense may receive probation. Probation is a type of sentence that lets juvenile offenders continue living with their families under the supervision of the court.
In some cases, convicted juveniles can also be sent to a juvenile correctional facility. The decision on which sentence suits a juvenile offender depends on many factors, including whether or not the juvenile is remorseful for their actions.
Everyone is Entitled to a Fair Representation by a Lawyer in Court
Children must know that both the complainant and the accused are entitled to legal representation throughout the proceedings. Lawyers help parties from both sides of the case (the defendant or the plaintiff) understand their legal rights and options.
While many people choose to represent themselves in court to save money, kids should know that it is crucial to talk to an attorney familiar with your case.
This is because an experienced attorney plays a vital role in helping you advocate for your rights and interests throughout the hearing process.
You Should Speak to an Attorney Before Signing Anything Related to a Criminal Case
Many people often sign paperwork related to a criminal matter because they are eager to resolve things as quickly as possible.
While that may seem like an easy escape route, it isn’t, and you need to help your kids understand that signing any legal document they don’t understand can lead to serious problems down the road.
Anyone who needs to sign any legal paperwork should consult a lawyer to help them understand the legal implications of signing the document in the long run.
