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Unfamiliar Legal Terms: A Whole New World

25 Mar 2015

I was recently reminded of how unfamiliar terminology in a whole new world can be daunting to folks who do not live there. I am a lawyer and I know a lot of legal terms, just like doctors know a lot of medical terms. I’m sure the doctors don’t know all of my legal terms, and I am positive I do not know all of the medical terms.

My wife and I just recently had a baby and I found myself in the delivery room asking questions about terminology the doctors and nurses were using back and forth. Now, this is my third child so I’ve been through all of this two times before. But I still find myself wondering what some of those words mean and what is the practical implication for me.

This experience is probably similar for folks who retain me to represent them in a personal injury case or any case for that matter. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been through litigation before, the terms are still new, still unfamiliar. It is my job as the professional to explain the terms and the practical implications to my clients and make sure they understand so that they can make informed decisions. This is why they hired me. This is my job as a lawyer.

There is an old tale that I heard in law school and I have no idea whether it is true, but the story, as I recall it, goes like this: On the first day of class, the professor comes in and writes on the board, “There is no such thing as a stupid question.” After speaking a bit, the professor stopped and asked if there were any questions. An eager student raised his hand and asked a question. The professor, after listening patiently to the question, turned around, picked up his eraser, and cleared the empowering message he had earlier written on the board. The professor turned back around, looked at the class, and said, “Are there any other questions?”

During this latest medical encounter, I sometimes felt stupid asking questions even though my questions were always answered and the medical professionals did nothing to make me feel that way. These folks did not make me feel the way the professor made the student feel. My feelings were self-imposed. In other words, my insecurity in a whole new world created my vulnerability and uncertainty. Even though I felt that way, I pressed on and asked questions. Once the terms were defined, I felt educated, empowered, and enabled to help my wife make good medical decisions.

The same is true in the law. If you have questions about what something means, don’t be afraid to ask. Press on. Your lawyer may not remember that these terms are unfamiliar to you because it is a word he or she uses on a daily basis. As a lawyer, I often forget that this is a whole new world to my clients. Get all of the information and make sure you understand so that you can make an informed decision. You should feel educated, empowered, and enabled when you are asked to make important legal decisions. But you may only get there by asking questions. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. And I will not erase that from the board.

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Brandon and his team at Osterbind Law are truly peerless. This is exactly how a modern personal injury firm should operate. The firm is holistic in its approach and thoughtful. It's no wonder why they get such great results for their clients. And no surprise, their clients love them. I've had the pleasure of working with Brandon on a professional level and he levels up, big time. Kudos.
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3 months ago

Very compassionate and knowledgeable people who helped us with our situation. They worked quickly and I can’t tell you how grateful I’m they were so caring. I would recommend this firm to anyone that anyone
Lori Rudder
a year ago

The entire team at Osterbind Law are incredible. They communicated with us with every step and process that was happening . They provided the knowledge, support, and empathy to us on the case. And when the curve ball was thrown, they dug in deeper. I have nothing but the highest respect for Brandon and Hannah and the entire team. They made us feel more like a family, than a client.
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a year ago

The staff is caring and very knowledgeable. They help you as quickly as possible, and worked very hard for us. I'm so pleased with the way they assisted us.
Meghan Rudder
a year ago

Brandon and his team did a great job helping me through my case. I'm so glad I chose him and stuck with him through the transition to his own firm. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They feel like family after all this! Thank you for everything!!Amber J
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2 year ago
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