How to Deal with a Legal Dispute - Sunshine Coast Lawyers

Are you involved in a legal dispute or have a legal issue and are looking for means to control and resolve it?

If you are, then you are likely feeling a lot of pressure to make the right call and you might not know how you can go about resolving it. You are not alone in this!

Disputes and legal disagreements/issues can be a stressful time for anyone and controlling them effectively is key to ensuring you walk out of the situation unharmed.

It can, however, be difficult for you to navigate how exactly one would go about dealing with a legal matter like this, especially if it is your first time being involved in one of these circumstances.

This article will discuss the 4 general steps to dealing with a legal issue or dispute and how using these methods can help you to get the situation under your control.

Look for how to deal with a legal dispute in Qld? Be referred to litigation lawyers on the Sunshine Coast

Legal Dispute Step 1 – Create a Plan

The first step towards dealing with a legal dispute or issue is by taking the time to create a plan for how you are going to proceed with the matter.

Every good legal matter (for you at least) starts with a good and informed plan.

Without establishing a plan, as well as doing the required research to develop a good plan, things can easily slip away from you, and you may feel like you are entering the matter blindly.

Having a plan in place means that you are prepared for the twists and turns that come from a legal matter.

Remember, anything can really happen throughout a dispute or legal issue and having an effective plan behind you can make sure that you are ready for anything.

You may wish to plan quite far ahead from the beginning of your professional relationship with this person, which can mean that you include a way to manage a potential dispute, or a dispute resolution clause, into your contract.

Legal Dispute Step 2 – Review the Terms

The next step towards ensuring that your legal issue or dispute is dealt with effectively is by carefully reviewing the contract or your agreement.

This is especially relevant if the dispute or problem the two of you have is directly related to the contract or the terms within but having a good and clear understanding of your contract terms is important regardless.

A key example of where this is an absolutely vital process is when your contract may potentially include a dispute resolution clause.

A dispute resolution clause can help the involved parties to agree upon a management plan prior to any disputes arising so that they can be dealt with the best they can be if one happens to occur.

You should also observe the terms that relate to the matter, meaning the particular terms that have become the topic of dispute.

There also may be a termination clause included in the contract, which will discuss the action that should be taken by both parties in order for their contracted agreement to come to an end.

Legal Dispute Step 3 – Seek Legal Advice

Another important element in making sure that the legal issue or dispute that you are currently involved in is dealt with appropriately is by seeking the assistance of a lawyer to help to guide your matter.

As someone simply involved in a legal issue, you cannot know everything surrounding the legal aspects and possibilities in your matter.

This may be your first time being involved in an issue of the law, which can be a very stressful and overwhelming experience for anyone.

To take some of the pressure off you, consider hiring a lawyer to help you to resolve your matter.

A lawyer is a legal professional and, therefore, will have significant knowledge surrounding matters of the law.

They can give you clear and accurate legal advice on how you should proceed and, if your matter ends up in court, they can represent you.

Representation is a near necessity in a court matter, as the decision is no longer up for debate once the judge makes their call.

A lawyer can push your point with much more experience and knowledge.

Legal Dispute Step 4 – Try ADR strategies

Another important step to take to make sure that the legal issue or dispute that you are currently involved in is dealt with appropriately is to try to engage in alternate dispute resolution, or ADR, techniques.

ADR techniques are the several options available to the parties involved in a dispute in order to resolve their matter outside of the court.

A method that you may consider using is referred to as arbitration and can be an effective means of resolving a dispute for the involved parties.

Arbitration involves the involved parties meeting with an uninvolved third party who will discuss and eventually come to a decision on how the matter will proceed.

This can be extremely effective for parties who wish for a court-like experience but are looking for a more affordable and time-efficient manner of doing so.

Another method that you may wish to use to settle your dispute alternatively to court is to mediate.

Mediation is, again, the process of the parties meeting with an impartial third party to discuss their issues, although it is conducted and managed in a different manner from arbitration.

Mediation involves a mediator directing the conversation and ensuring that both parties remain calm and civil, but they are not responsible for making a decision for the parties.

Instead, they help guide them towards coming to a decision on their own.

Other Strategies

Another strategy is trying to settle with the other party to the dispute.

If you settle, then this will take away the risk of litigation, cut the costs considerably, and will mean that your legal dispute will be finalised.

Key Takeaways

Managing a legal issue or dispute can be a trying time.

It can seem quite overwhelming and be a lot to balance, especially if this is a new experience for you!

Consider employing the help of a lawyer to make sure that you are getting the best possible result from the experience; it can help you a lot!