When should you seek legal advice on a dispute?

Disputes can occur in both our personal and working lives and can cover a wide range of scenarios. They can be with a customer over the quality or cost of goods or services that you have provided, or because the customer is refusing to pay for work done. They can be with a supplier who has supplied substandard goods or services, or claiming that you owe them money when you think you don’t. They can be with an employee who thinks that you haven’t complied with your employment obligations or is threatening a personal grievance. Failing to follow proper employment procedures in a dispute can be very costly for an employer and result in payments of tens of thousands of dollars.

People sometimes delay seeking legal advice when a dispute arises, because they think they can handle it themselves or are scared of how much it will cost. They often wait until they’re facing legal action, or have already missed deadlines, before getting help. At this stage, resolving the dispute can be complicated and costly, and much more stressful for the people involved.

Seeking legal advice early on in a dispute can actually save you money in the long run. You can get advice on your rights and obligations and guidance on the best way to resolve the dispute. Disputes are usually resolved faster when you can make informed decisions about your dispute, so you’ll waste less time arguing and have more time to spend on growing your business. If you want to reduce legal costs, try providing your lawyer with a concise summary of the events leading up to the dispute and a timeline, together with copies of relevant documents in date order, before your first meeting. This will save your lawyer time and save you money.

If you’re dealing with a dispute, our team can help you resolve it.