Here’s a brief explanation of what you can expect from the legal process:
First Consultation: The attorney will assess your case, review the details, and advise you on potential legal strategies and outcomes.
Attempting to Settle: During the early stages, the attorney may attempt to settle the case outside of court through negotiations, mediation, or settlement offers.
Issuing Summons: If the case isn’t settled, a formal summons is issued, notifying the opposing party of the lawsuit and initiating legal proceedings.
Pre-Trial Phase (Discovery, etc.): Both sides exchange information and evidence through discovery. This may include depositions, document requests, and interrogatories to gather facts.
Obtaining a Court Date: Once discovery is complete, the court will schedule a date for trial. This may involve additional pre-trial motions or hearings.
Court Appearance: On the trial date, both parties present their case before a judge (and sometimes a jury), and the judge will issue a ruling based on the evidence presented.
This process can vary depending on the complexity of the case, but these are the basic steps you’ll encounter.