Ask New League

Q: What are the reasons the average person might need legal assistance?

A: Based on what you see on TV, you might assume you’d only need legal help if you experienced some dramatic and life-altering event. But the truth is most people will have a legal need at some point in their lives – usually under fairly common circumstances. In fact, many legal needs don’t involve ever setting foot inside a courtroom and revolve around tasks like document preparation or contract reviews. ARAG, a global provider of legal solutions, offers 10 examples of common situations where you might need legal help. 1. When purchasing or selling a house, you may need a lawyer to review the purchase agreement and contract. 2. Your college-age son or daughter has moved out of a rental property and needs legal help in getting a security deposit returned from the landlord. 3. Someone in your family experiences identity theft and needs help recovering assets. 4. You are working on a major home remodel and need someone to review the work agreement you’ve established with your contractors. 5. You’re drafting or revising your will. 6. You need legal advice during an IRS audit. 7. A car breaks down while under warranty, and you need help getting the manufacturer or dealer to honor the warranty. 8. You’re adopting a child and need a lawyer to help you complete the necessary paperwork and guide you through the adoption process. 9. You notice a mistake on your credit report and need help getting it corrected. 10. You believe you were issued a traffic violation in error and decide you want to fight the violation. Because many routine life events require legal assistance, enrolling yourself in a legal plan can help lead you in the right direction when you need legal help. Some employers offer legal plans as part of their benefits packages, giving employees the option to enroll. When you are enrolled in a legal plan like those offered through ARAG, you gain access to a network of attorneys who can provide legal advice and help with everyday legal issues. If you need representation, your plan may also allow you to hire a lawyer for a reduced out-of-pocket rate or no fee – which can result in significant savings considering the average rate charged by an attorney with 11 to 15 years of service is $312 per hour, according to The National Law Journal and ALM Legal Intelligence. For more information on how legal plans work, visit www.araggroup.com.

ask ilene

A WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW

Ghosting. Do you know what it is? If so, have you been ghosted or did you do that to someone else.

Ghosting can be work related or personal. This article is on the personal level when you have been communicating with someone and out of nowhere, the person stops answering your calls and text messages. Ghosting is basically rejection, without the finality. It can leave a person feeling confused, hurt and paranoid.

Since modern day technology and dating apps, this has become an all-too-common practice. If someone is ghosting you, this is due to not wanting to communicate or the expectation of a “difficult” conversation. Change your perspective. It’s only a confrontation if you allow emotions to take over. Communication gives clarity. Opens the door to an interchange of opinions. Instead of being selfish, it considers the other person’s feelings. Don’t let the selfish acts of others consume you.

If you have had this done to you or have another topic you want to discuss – send me an email about your experience askilene@newleaguemag.com