By Patricia Reynolds
    A reporter outside of a courtroom asked a defendant clad only in a barrel: “Oh, I see your attorney lost the case!” The defendant answered, “No, we won.”
    Popular lawyer jokes such as this commonly poke fun at the high cost of obtaining an attorney’s services.  In many cases, however, the joke just might be on people that decide to take legal matters into their own hands.
    Paul Scheele, Litigation Attorney with Modesto-based Curtis & Arata, a full-service Modesto-based law firm, says getting expert advice is often financially advantageous.
    “Often, whether in an injury case, a business dispute, or otherwise, people believe that it is more economical to try to handle matters themselves,” Scheele said.  “However, many times they end up seeking the advice of an attorney after months or even years of frustration.  Seeking legal counsel early on in the process can result in a better outcome and less frustration to the client.”    
    Scheele says that utilizing legal professionals is no different than hiring the services of, for example, a pest control company.  Exterminators are trained to eradicate unwanted bugs and other nuisances.  Likewise, individuals, businesses, and organizations legally benefit from the experience and expertise a well-seasoned law firm such as Curtis & Arata offers, Scheele says.
    “The many laws and regulations that govern almost all areas of life are often, unfortunately, so complicated that the layperson simply does not have the knowledge to deal with them,” he said.  “At Curtis & Arata, we have taken the time to become educated to work in the legal profession, and we have 55 years of experience providing legal help to those in our community.”
    Another local attorney, Brian Haddix, Attorney at Law with Haddix Law Firm, agrees.
    “In my opinion, people should use attorneys more often – especially before entering into contracts,” he said.  “Most of the issues I deal with result from people not consulting with attorneys ahead of time and then something goes wrong.  I have to unravel what went wrong, correct it, and put my client back on track.” 
    Haddix says it only makes sense for clients to take advantage of his knowledge and experience.  He equates helping clients the same way a medical doctor helps patients.
    “I usually describe it like this; you go to the doctor to get a clean bill of health, right?  Well, that’s essentially what I do, I give my client a clean legal bill of health,” he said.
    Both Scheele and Haddix provide legal advice for clients in the Central Valley, with practices based in Modesto.  While Haddix owns and operates his own private legal practice, Scheele is an attorney with long-established Curtis & Arata.
    Founded in Modesto in 1953, Curtis & Arata now employs over 30 attorneys and provides legal service throughout Northern California.  As a full-service firm, Curtis & Arata handles personal injury, business formation and incorporation, civil and commercial litigation, real estate law, estate planning and probate matters, bankruptcy, employment law, family law, and criminal defense cases.
    The firm serves a broad-based clientele that includes individuals, families, governmental and public agencies, and businesses of all sizes and complexities.
    While Curtis & Arata has grown tremendously over its 55 years of operation, maintaining a close connection with the local community is a priority.  According to firm’s website, maintaining small-town values by assisting neighbors through good and bad times is a cornerstone of the company’s philosophy.  Building close attorney-client relationships helps accomplish this objective.
    “We offer a personal relationship with a professional attorney, skilled in his or her specialty, coupled with the security that comes with the knowledge that you are doing business with a long-established, well-regarded firm with deep roots in the community,” Scheele said.  “In my opinion, this is an unbeatable combination.”
    Scheele himself is testament to the firm’s link to the community.  He grew up in Modesto and graduated from Thomas Downey High School.  After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from UC Davis and a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the University Of Miami School Of Law in Coral Gables, Florida, Scheele returned to Modesto.  
    His wife also is a Modesto native and Downey High graduate.  The family’s roots keep Scheele grounded in the local community, which is an advantage, he says, when working with his clients.
    “I grew up here, my family and friends are here, and I know many people in the community.  That gives me a perspective that other attorneys do not have,” said Scheele.  “Perhaps more importantly, we plan to raise our children here.  I am not planning to use my position as a stepping stone to a bigger pond.”
    Scheele says that many of Curtis & Arata’s senior attorneys have similar stories.
    “We have many outstanding attorneys, who I am privileged to work with, who could have successfully moved on to bigger markets years ago,” he said.  “Instead, they chose to stay in the Valley and build Curtis & Arata into what it is today.”
    Brian Haddix also has Central Valley roots.  After spending eight years in the United States Army as a military intelligence analyst, Haddix earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.  He then pursued a law degree at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law where he focused on business-related transactions and litigation with a concentration in international law.
    After furthering his studies in Europe at the University of Salzburg’s Faculty of Law and working for Denmark’s largest law firm, Bech Brunn, Haddix headed back to California and worked for a Modesto-based law firm for 3 years.  
    This year, Haddix fulfilled a life-long dream and launched Haddix Law Firm, focusing on those who may have difficulty affording legal help.
    “My clients are everyone but are generally someone who doesn’t have the money to pay larger firms,” said Haddix.  “I work with my clients because I realize how expensive litigation can be – my goal is to provide competent legal services cheaper.”
    On his own, Haddix believes he has the flexibility to adjust to his clients’ budgets.  He also utilizes technology in helping to keep costs down.
    “The Haddix Law Firm’s core service is to provide competent legal services faster by utilizing technology to economize the litigation process,” he said.
    Haddix Law Firm focuses on contractual disputes and related litigation for individuals and businesses.  He is particularly interested in Consumer Advocacy and representing consumers who are challenging large businesses as well as handling debtor/creditor issues such as negotiating with credit card companies and collection agencies to reduce and resolve debt.
    “Unfortunately, due to the credit crisis, I do consumer bankruptcies as well and can assist with foreclosures,” he said.  “...With the Central Valley being ground zero for the credit and mortgage crisis, the impact has caused an increase in business.”
    Whether with the resources and experience of a larger law firm or through the technological efficiency of a privately owned business, these Modesto attorneys encourage people to seek legal help when they need it.  
    As Brian Haddix puts it, an attorney’s job is to utilize his knowledge to educate clients about their legal rights.
    “I always say, law is not hard, there’s just a lot of it.”