Egg on the Face

By Samantha Hicks, Paralegal

 

One would assume, given that I’m highly allergic, I would avoid having egg on my face; however, as a litigator I recently learnt that, despite having thoroughly vetted my client, it is unfortunately part of my job description.

 

Although we’ve all experienced it at one point or another during our career - no one, least of all me, likes looking like a fool, especially in the presence of an adjudicator. There is nothing worse than walking into the Courtroom after hours of preparation only to discover that your client has fabricated his or her story (in whole or in part). Regardless of their reasoning, this can and will destroy the client’s creditability and their chance of success at trial. 

 

Knowledge is power - without it, my ability to review, assess and formulate an effective strategy is difficult, if not impossible. It is far easier to deal with/overcome the skeletons in one’s closet if I’m made aware of them in advance, rather than being blindsided in the Courtroom when it is usually too late to help the client recover from them. 

 

For those of you who think the truth will not come out, you are sadly mistaken. In civil litigation, it is always in your best interest to tell your legal representative the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!