Be Tough, Not Uncivil

Brian V. Lee

Litigation isn’t for the weak of heart. Opposing counsel will seek any advantage to exploit, and a case can be won or lost by small margins. But you do not need to be rude when litigating a case. You must be tough, not uncivil.

Let the facts rule

Get your story straight and let the facts tell the story. When you’re sure about what happened, there’s no reason to be discourteous. Let the story tell itself. 

Let your lawyer do his job

If you are the client, be the client. Let your lawyer decide how best to litigate your case. After all, that’s what you’re paying him or her to do. Asking questions is smart, but second-guessing which arguments to make or how to interpret the law will force counsel to withdraw.

If you are called to testify, use your own words. Do not try to speak “legalese” or gratuitously complicate the matter. This usually does not help your cause and simply wastes the court’s time.

The same is true for written pleadings. In most cases, less is more. Get to the point quickly.

Act respectfully at all times

Your lawyer deserves your respect. Opposing counsel deserves your respect, regardless of what you believe of your opposing litigant. Treat everyone in either law office with courtesy. 

When you enter a courthouse, be respectful of everyone you encounter, from the security guard, to the bailiffs, to the clerks, to the judge. To act otherwise is not only unnecessary. It could also be detrimental to your case. 

In addition, respect is costless. You surrender nothing by respecting others.

Prepare!

If you miss a deadline, you may be out of luck. Court procedural rules are ruthless for a reason: they even the playing field between litigants. Missed deadlines are usually the result of a lack of preparation. Civility requires diligence: be prepared and be on time.

Be tough, not uncivil

Everyone who comes into court wants to win. Some cases are easier than others, but most serious litigation requires a degree of intestinal fortitude. But you can be tough without being impolite. If you win, you want to win graciously. If you lose, you don’t want to be a sore loser. 

They Called. They're Glad They Did.

Brian Lee from Lee Legal was an amazing attorney to work with. He took his time, reviewed my documents and we discussed my situation thoroughly. He explained the process and my options as well as gave his recommendation. Not only did he assist, but he ensured that I knew this...

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Brian handled a legal matter for me and he was fantastic. He kept me informed of all updates and resolved all issues that were presented. I highly recommend Brian to all seeking legal advice and services.

Barry C.
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I was very nervous and scared about going through this process. But Brian was very knowledgeable and helped me through it. I was notified about any and all updates to my case and he was very responsive when I had questions regarding any concerns I had. Although a bit nerve...

Regina L.
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I've had the pleasure of working alongside Brian V. Lee for several years, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most knowledgeable bankruptcy attorneys in the DMV area. Brian's command of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 practice is exceptional, and his clients in the DC...

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I wanted to share my sincere appreciation for Brian and the support he provided during a very difficult time for my grandmother. We were not wealthy, but Brian treated us with genuine kindness and respect, making sure we felt comfortable throughout the entire process. He took the...

Jessica R.
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Still several years from Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness and saddled with significant student loan payments in proportion to my income, I came to Lee Legal to explore the bankruptcy path. Through his counsel, Brian took the fear out of the process and helped me to...

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Brian provided me with a very detailed analysis about my potential case after our first consultation. He promptly responded to all my complex questions, especially navigating student loans and some tax discussions. He is very professional and experienced at what he does, I would...

Eliane R.
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I had the opportunity to work with Brian at a time when I was challenged by a professional setback and forced with the challenge of making some very difficult legal decisions. Additionally, I worked with him again as I was dealing with some financial issues pertaining to my...

Daniel W.
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Brian has the amazing talent of taking complicated legal matters and distilling them down to seamless, frictionless resolutions. He is a phenomenal problem solver and a trusted advisor.

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I came to Mr. Lee in a panic when I was experiencing health problems and the walls seemed to be closing in on me. Initially, I interviewed four attorneys seeking assistance with my situation. He was one of the most thorough and thoughtful people I’ve ever met. His kindness and...

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Brian is both warm and professional. He helped me navigate a financial issue that I had not been looking forward to working on and he made the entire experience non-stressful, receiving a lot of anxiety I had around the matter. He is straight forward and a fantastic problem...

Martha B.
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Brian is an amazing lawyer. He was referred to me by a friend who was also pleased with his work. I found him to be affordable, efficient, understanding, and easy to talk to. He really cares for his clients and is very committed to doing his best. He is very knowledgeable and...

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This is your last stop in your searches for an attorney. After numerous research and interview with many lawyers, I decided to hire attorney Brian Lee. He is extremely knowledgeable, personable, attentive and diligent. He went above and beyond to file my ch 7 bankruptcy and get a...

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