Not understanding what is happening and what you can do to defend yourself you perceive few alternatives other than to hire a lawyer. After all if I suddenly had an acute appendicitis I wouldn't dally, I'd get a surgeon to operate on me pronto. Another set of reasons have to do with the emotional state most fathers find themselves in when they are hit with the divorce. Given the fact that women initiate almost three out of every four divorces it is clear that for the majority of fathers divorce is something that is being done to and thrust upon them against their will rather than something they want and are actively pursuing. For most fathers divorce is experienced as an extremely painful denigrating and demeaning experience producing strong feelings of depression, isolation, loneliness, and helplessness.
Fathers typically feel that they are being victimized by a brutal destructive system.
Many are not much more than 'emotional basket cases' paralyzed from the neck up. Hence is it any wonder that as a group they are likely to grasp at straws of hope and accept uncritically the legal professions claim that they can be protected and helped by hiring a lawyer. Like lambs being led to the slaughter they flock into the well furnished expensive offices of high priced attorneys who will mouth encouragement but who are unwilling or unable to make good on their promises. They pay the piper what he asks because they are desperate and want to believe in a savior who will champion their cause and give them comfort. But there is a viable alternative.