Every legal incident is costly and can become significantly more expensive if not handled properly. The expenses involved include administrative fees, legal advisory fees, and compensation costs. Pain and suffering can also be considered costs, as they represent something people would pay to avoid, even if they do not directly involve money. However, legal incidents, including criminal cases, can often be resolved more affordably with one simple action: raising legal objections early.
While most people don’t know how and when to raise objections, a good legal consultant has an instinctive ability to recognize unlawful actions by law enforcement. Raising objections as early as possible can significantly reduce unnecessary costs, whereas failing to act promptly and waiting without proper legal advice can escalate the financial burden. This concept of early objection to prevent unnecessary expenses is discussed by Prof. Ward Farnsworth in his book The Legal Analyst.
Imagine this scenario: without realizing it, you are just a hundred meters away from a crime scene where a crime has just occurred. The police, searching for the perpetrators, rely on witness descriptions that happen to resemble your appearance. As a result, they arrest and accuse you of in flagrante delicto (caught in the act).
A fundamental rule to follow is ensuring that your lawyer works to secure your release within the first 24 hours. Article 19(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code states that police may only detain a suspect for a maximum of 24 hours without further legal justification.
If your lawyer does not take reasonable steps to protect your rights—such as clarifying the grounds of your arrest or filing an objection if you were detained without sufficient preliminary evidence, as required by Article 17 of the Criminal Procedure Code—your legal costs will rise significantly. Failure to raise an objection early may result in the need for a pre-trial hearing to contest your arrest. Worse, you may have to pay for legal assistance for up to 120 days of detention, or even longer if your case is delayed and does not go to trial immediately. The longer you delay legal action, the more money you will waste on lawyers, legal experts, and witnesses to support your defense in court.
This principle of early legal intervention is essential in minimizing costs across various legal areas, from criminal law and civil law to public governance. Conducting a proper legal analysis (legal review) of contracts, employment agreements, corporate policies, government regulations, and other legal documents ensures compliance and prevents unnecessary disputes or legal troubles.
It is also important to understand the distinction between legal expert and lawyer. A lawyer represents clients in legal matters, providing direct legal advice, filing objections, and arguing in court. Meanwhile, a legal expert is an expert-for-hire with specialization in a particular area of law who provides expertise, analysis, and testimony to assist decision-making.
For instance, in criminal law, expert-for-hire (expert witness) opinions play a crucial role in assisting criminal investigators (penyidik) in determining whether to proceed with or dismiss a case. Article 120 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows investigators to request expert opinions to clarify specific aspects of a case before making further legal determinations. Experts in anti-corruption law, financial law, and forensic law can provide critical insights that may influence an arrest or detainment. Furthermore, expert testimony is equally essential during trial proceedings, as stipulated in Articles 184, 186, and 187 of the Criminal Procedure Code, where expert opinions and written statements are recognized as valid forms of evidence in court.
Simply put, the roles of lawyers and legal experts do not negate each other but rather complement one another, working together to help clients resolve legal issues efficiently while minimizing unnecessary costs.
If you want to avoid wasting valuable resources on resolving legal issues, always remember this: The cost of correcting errors increases significantly over time, making it crucial to identify legal issues and raise objections early.
So, stay informed, know your rights, and consult with us to navigate legal complexities with confidence and minimize risks.
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