It’s an unfortunate truth that things do not always go your way. You’ll want a lawyer for the rough patches in your life. A drinking while driving charge, a divorce, or a messy incident involving drugs are certainly times when you should not take a do-it-yourself approach. The reason why is simple: your money, property, and reputation are on the line.

People are wary of attorneys. The suspension of their personal morals while arguing in persecution of or in defense of a client strikes many people as unsavory. The average person is not often in contact with an attorney, much less knows a personal one to call in times of crisis.

And yet, a good divorce attorney is in high demand when a marriage falls apart. An attorney knowledgeable in family law is appreciated during a bitter custody battle, such as for the 1 million children who are fought over in their parents divorces each year. Essentially, no one necessary says they like lawyers, until they need one.

Lawyers, like doctors, have areas of expertise. It makes perfect sense when you remember that legalese is notoriously complicated. Cases are decided according to what has been decided for previous cases under similar circumstances. A good lawyer knows how the case will go as a result and can advise the best course of action for their client.

Because an attorney will likely have an area of specialty, there are divorce lawyers, and drug lawyers, and DUI lawyers, etcetera. As you might imagine, a drug lawyer is well-versed in the latest rulings, debates, and previous cases and their settlements. A drug lawyer knows to examine every piece of evidence provided, because a misstep during the arrest or cataloging the drugs could result in a mistrial.

The same goes for a DUI case as well. Each part of the arrest must have been done correctly. For example, the police officer must have had just cause to pull over the defendant. Then the test for alcohol must have been correctly administered, by breathalyzer, blood, or urine test. With about 40,000 drunk drivers being pulled over each day according to Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that is quite a lot of cases in need of a little guidance.

No one likes lawyers, because to have need of a lawyer means that something has or might go wrong in your life. But remember, this is perhaps one of those times when DIY just doesn’t apply. At least seek counsel before making a final decision.