Engage your right to
due process in an
adversarial system.
Have an attorney on
your side for limited or
full representation.
For Law Day 2017, we are celebrating the
14th Amendment of the Constitution
which guarantees us due process of law
and equal protection.
Due process guarantees include the
requirement of notice, the opportunity
for a fair hearing and to present evidence, and to appeal an initial decision.
The legal system in the United States is
known as an adversarial system. Both
parties seek to persuade a neutral,
impartial party — a judge or a jury — that
they should prevail.
The processes of the law can be very
complicated, and an attorney can be your
advocate in the legal system.
There are some parts of the legal process
you can manage yourself, but a lawyer can
ensure that your efforts are directed
properly and can be a resource if you have
special needs, such as a court appearance.
Small business owners can often benefit
from a legal check-up, and if you already
have a relationship with a lawyer, you
won’t have to scramble to find one.
For this system to work best there will be
two adversaries of equal ability and
resources, and the resulting clash should
uncover truth and allow justice to prevail.
Be cautious with paid lawyer listings on
the web and verify recommendations
from your office or church with the new
directory from the entity that regulates
attorneys — the Bar.
The Utah State Bar wants to ensure that
everyone benefits from a level playing
field in the law and has created an online
directory to help you find the appropriate
representation.
LicensedLawyer.org/directory includes
sliding-scale fees, flat fees, and pay-pertask (limited scope) options. (Lawyers, if
you haven’t completed your profile yet,
visit licensedlawyer.org/login.)
Learn more about the 14th Amendment,
including the equal protection clause, at
LawDay.UtahBar.org. Watch for the April
30 Law Day Special Edition in the Deseret
News and The Salt Lake Tribune. Please
contact Ken Stowe for advertising
opportunities at 801-204-6232 or
[email protected].
Utah State Bar
®
LicensedLawyer.org/directory