Whereas many people predictably have a fear of heights or snakes or even dogs, others suffer from a more acute fear that could ultimately come back to haunt them—liticaphobia, which is a fear of lawyers or lawsuits or, simply, the law.
For most, this fear arises out of lack of understanding, which is not difficult to fathom considering the U.S. legal system is a complex animal indeed. But people who need legal assistance will be doing themselves more harm than good by going without simply because of their inability to confront a fear of the unknown.
As many locals can attest, there’s nothing quite like having a skilled attorney by one’s side in times of duress—whether it’s to help recover losses in the aftermath of a personal injury, to get through an emotion-siphoning divorce, to formulate an estate plan or to handle a pressing business matter. Competent legal representation is especially critical because, like snowflakes, every client’s case is different.
Ask any attorney his or her best piece of free legal advice, and he or she will likely have a terse, yet cleverly powerful answer: “If you think you might need an attorney, you probably do. Don’t hesitate to call someone you can trust.”
In other words, moving ahead without the consultation of a qualified, reputable and prepared attorney—simply to save a few dollars—might ultimately cost much more in the long run because the person didn’t understand the legal system’s complexities.
When hiring an attorney, trust is the key … and this goes both ways, local attorneys suggest. Clients should feel comfortable with the attorney they choose and, at the same time, clients should be completely honest with their attorneys; after all, confidentiality rules exist for very good reason—to enable an attorney to represent his or her client in the best possible fashion while still working within the confines of the law.
—Jennifer Updike
Note: The November issue of Suburban Life featured the 2011 Awesome Attorneys report, which included comprehensive listings of top attorneys in their particular area of practice, as nominated by partner Avvo Inc. The report also contained an equally thorough list of area attorneys nominated by readers—through our website, SuburbanLifeMagazine.com—as tops in their field. The list contained dozens of nominated attorneys from the suburbs and surrounding areas, though several of those nominated were erroneously omitted. Suburban Life regrets the omissions, which are listed below.
Business Law
Bob Angst
Angst & Angst P.C., Doylestown/Harleysville
215-348-5200
Joseph B. Silverstein
Green, Silverstein & Groff LLC, Philadelphia
215-972-5520
Francis J. Sullivan
Hill Wallack LLP, Yardley
215-579-7700
Civil Litigation/Corporate Law
Lance Rogers
Rogers & Associates LLC, Wynnewood
610-649-1880
Family Law
Jerry Berschler
Solomon, Berschler, Schatz & Monaghan P.C., Norristown
610-279-4300
Susan Vandergrift
Law Offices of Gregory P. LaMonaca P.C., Media
610-892-3877
Franchise Law
Lane Fisher
Fisher Zucker LLC, Philadelphia
215-825-3100
Personal Injury
Joel Feldman
Anapol Schwartz Attorneys at Law, Philadelphia
215-735-1130
Kenneth R. Schuster
Kenneth R. Schuster & Associates P.C., Media
610-892-9200
Cynthia J. Silver
Silver & Silver Attorneys at Law, Ardmore
610-658-1900
Real Estate Law
H. Kenneth Butera
Butera, Beausang, Cohen & Brennan Attorneys at Law, King of Prussia
610-265-0800
