Mortgage or Free and Clear?

[Brady Hurs]

I am a beginner investor (0 properties) and I listen to a lot of podcasts. 

One thing I'm struggling with is whether or not to get a loan to buy property (that's called leverage, right?) or pay cash out right.

One side says pay in cash if you can.

The other side says don't ever buy all cash. Their reasoning was that lawyers foam at the mouth if a tenant gets hurt and YOU own it. They are less likely to go after you if the bank owns it. 

I've learned that if you put an LLC on the place, then you don't have to worry so much about that.

Is there a good cash/loan ratio to have?

Wanted to see what my BP buds have to say about it. 

Thanks in advance!

The Confused Beginner