Fresh Man Laws

As any civil or trial litigation attorney knows, whether he practices in Palm Springs or Palm Desert, CA, San Diego, California, Orange County, CA, La Jolla, Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Irvine, Ventura, Anaheim, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, Riverside, San Bernardino, the Coachella Valley, La Quinta, Indio, Yucca Valley, or Joshua Tree, depositions can make or break a case. A good defense attorney can make even the calmest deponent nervous. And then there are some deponents who can drive a litigation lawyer nut.

Many times, clients want to know how to answer deposition questions.  First of all, I tell my clients to answer truthfully.  Then I advise clients not to watch how politicians answer questions.  This is what can happen if a client ignores that advice.

“You said to the policeman investigating the scene of the accident that you weren’t wearing a seat belt yet today you state that you were wearing one,” the defense attorney stated to my client.

My client smiled sweetly at the news commentator, just like Sarah Palin did to Charles Gibson in her first television interview.

“Would you care to explain this discrepancy?” the attorney asked. The attorney had introduced himself as Charles Johnson.

“Well, Charlie, I believe everyone should wear seat belts when they are in a car.

“Okay, but can you explain why you told the police officer at the scene that you weren’t wearing a seat belt?”

My client smiled sweetly again, giving the attorney her best impression of a political candidate.

“Charles, I believe in a woman’s choice, however I feel even more strongly about the sanctity of life.”

“You’re not going to answer the question, is that what you’re saying?” the attorney asked, looking over his own eyeglasses.

“Well, I really think that there are much bigger issues to discuss,” the client answered, putting the attorney on the defensive.

“Don’t you think it’s important for us to know if what you say now is different from what you said earlier?”

My client looked directly at the attorney. “Charlie, I believe what is important here is that your client ran a red light.”

“Lets move on to the fact that you claim you never had a back injury before this accident.. How do you reconcile that with your treatment for back pain prior to this accident?”

“Charlie, as you know, you can have a visit to a doctor without it being for an injury. I have to say this type of questioning borders on being sexist.”

“Did you or didn’t you have treatment for a back condition prior to this accident?” the attorney said, raising his voice.

“It’s not what you go to for a doctor, it’s what the doctor does for you, Charles, and when you realize that women are different from men, you’ll learn that women doctors do things differently than male doctors.”

“You’re refusing to answer my questions.”

“I’ve answered all of your questions,” my client said.

“No,” the attorney said. “All you’ve done is give me stock answers to the questions you want me to give and not answer the questions I’m asking.” The opposing attorney turned to me and realized I hadn’t made a single objection.

“Please, ask me your question, and I’ll be as honest as I can.”

“Is it true that this has been your third accident this year and that each time you’ve been rear ended.”

My client smiled and the attorney asking the questions knew he would not be getting an answer to this one that he could use.

“I believe that God has a plan for each of us and sometimes he tests our resolve.”

“That’s your answer?” the attorney asked. “You might as well be speaking in tongues right now.”

“God has a plan for all of us, Charles, even for you,” my client said.

“If it’s to drive us nuts, it’s working,” the attorney said. “I’ll give you one last chance to answer a question. Did you cause this accident?”

“Charles, what may be interpreted as a cause could sometimes be otherwise viewed as simply trying to avoid the, you know, impossibly difficult or, trying to prevent that kind of thing, then again, even when you are driving carefully, these accidents…and this could be viewed as one of those situations. Does that answer your question?”

Two hours later when the deposition had ended, the attorney was looking frazzled.

“How did I do?” my client asked me after the deposition was over.

I smiled sweetly like any good politician. “It’s not how well you did,” I said. “It’s how many psychiatric treatments that attorney is going to need before he is able to attempt another deposition.”

Note – Refusing to answer questions can lead to having a motion filed against the party who refuses to answer deposition questions, and an imposition of a fine against the deponent who abuses the discovery process in this way. Sadly, many deponents and attorneys abuse the deposition process when they think the other party’s attorney won’t take the time to file a motion to compel. An attempt to evade questions as a politician often does, or answering with stock answers instead of providing answers responsive to the questions is clearly improper. And politicians who answer questions in this manner are not setting a good example. On the other hand, some of Sarah Palin’s answers to questions put to her by Katie Couric, similar to this deponent’s last answer, were so incomprehensible it is hard to know how a judge might view answers such as hers if the attorney fails to follow up with additional questions.

Visit our website at http://www.sebastiangibsonlaw.com if you are involved in litigation in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County or anywhere in Southern California. We have the knowledge and resources to represent you as your California Litigation Lawyer and Palm Springs Litigation Attorney, or your civil litigation attorney or civil litigation defense lawyer in Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Coachella, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, and throughout Southern California.

Train Accident Attorneys, personal injury lawyers and accident law firms in California can be found in every corner of the state. They can be found in cities in San Diego, CA such as Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Escondido, in Orange County, in cities such as Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana and Yorba Linda, in the Inland Empire cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino and in Palm Springs and Palm Desert as well as in Ventura, Oxnard, and Simi Valley.

 

If you search for train accident attorneys today on the internet or on new sites, you will see how personal injury attorneys have either added train accident pages to their websites, or added information about the Chatsworth Metrolink train crash to existing pages.Attorneys who take such action are quick to recognize that taking such prompt actions can result in their being retained by victims of the train crash and their articles often provide useful information.

 

Often, however, victims of such a crash are wise to take a breath and wait before immediately retaining any such attorney, or even this law firm. Why? Because the investigation of the accident will be performed best not by such attorneys but by the NTSB, the National Transportation Safety Board.

 

Once that report is made public, you can bet that the entity for the party or parties at fault will seek to settle all of the cases in much the same way, whether the injured victims have an attorney or not.

 

The trouble with waiting for such reports however, is that you only have six months to file a claim against a public entity in California. The investigation report may take longer that to prepare.

 

Keep in mind an attorney can help ensure that an injured victim receives a fair settlement for his or her injuries or for the loss of a loved one, is in being organized in preparing what attorneys call a “demand package” that contains all of the medical bills and records and an analysis of the injured person’s claim.

 

If a family has lost a loved one, a demand package is still put together by the attorney representing the family members, only the demand package will also provide an analysis of the loss of economic benefits i.e. the earnings of the loved one and what that loss means to the family members such as the wife and children of the loved one.

 

An attorney can also prevent you from making serious mistakes such as allowing a recorded statement taken by an experienced risk management adjuster.

 

If an injured person or the family of a loved one is unable to put together such a demand package on their own, and it is not a simple task, then it is usually wise for the injured party or the family members to retain an attorney to represent them.

 

What injury victims and family members should not do, however, is rush to hire the first attorney who’s website pops up when searching for information on a disaster such as the Chatsworth Metrolink train crash. Take your time, meet with a sampling of attorneys who handle such cases, and then hire the attorney you are most comfortable with and with whom you have the most confidence. While expensive offices can mean a measure of success on the part of the law firm, an attorney with the drive and energy to focus on your case can be worth more than a law firm full of attorneys in comfortable surroundings.

 

You needn’t be concerned that your case may be affected by new legislation now being considered to require positive train controls into effect that would automatically stop trains which are on a collision course.

 

The fact that such a system was not in place at the time of the accident and the fact that, as announced by Metrolink, that their engineer failed to see one or more red lights, will all undoubtedly be considered by and utilized in determining fault for this tragic train crash. If as has been reported that one of the train engineers was texting on a cell phone at or shortly before the time of the accident, this will also be a major piece of evidence in determining fault on the respective parties and in determining what entities pay what percentage of the settlement amounts.

 

Keep in mind that it is also a good idea to have an attorney that is not representing other claimants in the accident. This is to ensure that there is no conflict of interest and that your interests and not those of an attorney’s other clients, are the attorney’s first and foremost concern.

 

News notes – On October 2, 2008, Federal Regulators issued an emergency order banning the use of all cell phones and other electronic devices by rail workers in view of the determination that the commuter train engineer in the Metrolink accident was texting only seconds before the crash in September 2008 that took the lives of 25 people.

 

On October 16, 2008 President Bush signed the Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requiring Positive Train Control automated braking systems for Class 1 railroads and passenger railroads by the end of 2015.

 

If you’ve been injured in a personal injury or train accident in Orange County, San Diego, in the Inland Empire, Palm Springs or anywhere in Southern California, we have the knowledge and resources to be your California Train Accident Lawyer and Palm Springs Train Accident Attorney on your case. Be sure to hire a California law firm with personal injury lawyers who can serve areas such as Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Del Mar, San Diego and Indio so you are properly represented and get the compensation you deserve.

 

If you have been injured in a train accident or personal injury accident of any kind, call the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson, or visit our website at http://www.sebastiangibsonlaw.com  and learn how we can assist you. You can also call us to speak directly to Sebastian Gibson on the phone about your legal matter.

Has someone accused you of doing something criminal, something that you are not aware nor are a part of? If someone has gone ahead and legally accused you of a crime that you did not commit, you require a criminal defense attorney to save you and also get you out successfully of the accusation. Criminal defense attorneys specialize in defense of their counsel; these are therefore highly qualified and smart attorneys which their job requires them to be.One of the unwritten rules for criminal defense is that you need to be absolutely truthful to your attorney so he can work accordingly to prove that you are absolutely innocent of the crime that you have been accused of. Your attorney will be able to provide you quality service only if you have provided him with all the facts. This way you also gain the trust of your attorney.Criminal defense attorneys are one of the most highly paid attorneys. This is because the nature of the job requires them to be tough and ultimately they will save you from an impending disaster. You will require paying good fees to these attorneys. You will find them as sharp people who are willing to work diligently for days and hours for the work they put in for you.Criminal defense attorneys’ lists can be found over the Internet. You should check out legal information websites. These websites can provide with all information about all attorneys. You can also check out their successes and failures. You will also need to find out what their previous clients have to say about them and their services also whether or not they were satisfied with them.Your success, which is so important, certainly depends on how much hard work is done by your attorney. A hard working attorney will never miss anything much, this is the reason why you need to hire only the best when it comes to saving yourself from punishment for crime that you most probably did not commit.If you have not committed a crime, the chances are you will be freed, if you hire a good criminal defense attorney. You will also need to pay you defense attorney, the fees can be quite substantial; you will need to pay it from your pocket. Many times, attorneys charge according to the hours worked. At times, if the client is not in a position to pay the fees, it is possible that they could provide you some time to pay the fees. However, in no way do they stop your case from proceeding.Criminal defense attorneys are one of the capable attorneys. Some choose working for clients who are poor however, innocent, such people are also absolutely unaware of legal proceedings. It is one of the most important duties of criminal defense attorneys to prepare their client for the legal trials inside courts and also the possible outcome of their case. Therefore, these attorneys are extremely good communicators, they can also be your teachers.

The Lasting Power of Attorney was introduced by The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and came into effect on the 1st October 2007. It replaces the Enduring Power of Attorney although EPA’s made prior to the 1st October 2007 will continue to be valid.  You may make two types of LPA – the Property and affairs LPA and the Welfare LPA.  As the name suggests, the Property and Affairs LPA deals with financial matters whereas the Welfare LPA covers personal and healthcare decisions.

Choice of Attorney

The person making the LPA (the Donor) should appoint an Attorney they trust and in whom they have complete confidence. The Attorney must be over 18 and must not be an un-discharged or interim bankrupt person.  More than one Attorney can be appointed to act either together, independently or together in respect of some matters and independently in respect of others. If the LPA is silent on how two or more Attorneys are to act they must act together. Under LPA’s it is possible for the person making the LPA to appoint a replacement Attorney.

Role of Attorney

An Attorney’s role to make all the decisions (subject to any restrictions or conditions contained in the LPA) that the Donor would have made himself and in reaching these decisions the Attorney must comply with The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Code of Practice. Under a Property and Affairs LPA the Attorney will commonly be able to pay bills and expenses, collect income and benefits, manage Bank and Building Society Accounts, buy and sell property, complete and submit Tax Returns and make gifts within the statutory limits. Under a Welfare LPA the Attorney is likely to be given power to consent or refuse particular types of healthcare, including medical treatment and may even be able to consent to or refuse life sustaining treatment on behalf of the person that has made the LPA.  The Attorney may also be able to decide whether the Donor remains in his own home or moves into residential or nursing care and also more day to day decisions such as the Donor’s diet, dress or daily routine.  LPA’s can be restricted or contain conditions limiting the Attorney’s authority.  The Donor can also, if he wishes, include guidance for the Attorney in the LPA.  This guidance is not legally binding but could be invaluable to the Attorney.

The Certificate Provider

Not only must LPA’s be signed by the Donor and Attorneys and witnessed, a Certificate must also be given by a third party, the “Certificate Provider”. A Certificate Provider is an independent person chosen by the Donor to complete a Certificate contained in the LPA to confirm that in his or her opinion the Donor:-

The Certificate is vital and without it the LPA is invalid and cannot be registered. The Certificate Provider can either be someone who knows the Donor personally and has done so for at least two years or a person with the relevant professional skills and expertise to certify the LPA eg. a Solicitor, Barrister, Doctor or Social Worker.

Registering the LPA

An LPA, whether it is a Property and Affairs LPA or a Welfare LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before it can be used.  The registration fee is £150 and the registration process is likely to take between 6 and 8 weeks. Once registered, a Property and Affairs LPA can be used immediately but a Welfare LPA can only be used once it is registered and the Donor has lost his mental capacity to make decisions. When making the LPA the Donor can nominate up to 5 people to be notified of the application to register.  Those notified will have an opportunity to object to registration if they have concerns for example regarding the integrity of the Attorney.  It is not a requirement that persons are nominated but it is advisable. A registered LPA will be added to the OPG database and searches can be made by third parties to see whether an LPA is in existence.

Revoking an LPA

An LPA can be revoked by the Donor at any time provided he has mental capacity.  The Attorney can also disclaim the appointment.  There are also circumstances when an LPA will be revoked.  These are:-

It is therefore advisable to consult a Solicitor who is a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner with considerable experience of dealing with these types of matters if you are considering granting a Lasting Power of Attorney. 

While selecting the attorney, some care and considerations are necessary. Most attorneys have been educated by law schools, law firms, and the individual attorneys with whom they have had collaborations. Most State Bar Associations require not only the successful completion of law school, however they also need to qualify the special bar tests to be sure that attorneys are aware of both the basic precepts of the law which apply to various fields of law and also the suitable ethical considerations. The Bar Associations assist in the policing of its members to make sure that attorneys act in accordance with ethical considerations, and correctly apply the practice of law. Lawyers are also allowed to publicize in the yellow pages for an area of specialization. This specialized area is regulated by the Bar Association. The Bar Association wants the practitioners to uphold a skill level which mandates the annual conclusion of supplementary study in the area of expertise under which each attorney is listed. For example, if an attorney lists his area of proficiency to be Corporation Law, then that attorney must, maintain continuing legal edification for a set number of hours each year in that area of law. This is often true of other areas of specialty such as Domestic Law, Bankruptcy Law, Trials/Litigation, Administrative Law, Criminal Law, etc. Some of the areas are internally protected by the government agency which administers a particular area of law. For example Securities Law, wherein government agencies regulating securities will require attorneys to meet certain standards and objectives. Some watchfulness should be worn while viewing most of these publications since such ratings may be politically motivated. A number of services look at the number of years an attorney has practiced. Every now and then special ratings are given to attorneys who are members of large firms. As a result, if an attorney is not rated as highly by some of these various services, it does not necessarily mean that the attorney is not extremely skilled or well qualified for that particular purpose. These sources of attorney rankings may be helpful, but should be a secondary matter in the process of selection. Primary considerations while selecting an legal representative should be whether the client feels at ease with the attorney chosen and if he is convinced that the attorney is proficient in his field of expertise. Much depends upon an individual’s verdict, and a lot of times an attorney is hired on the basis of referrals from other individuals who have for one reason or another experienced an attorney/client relationship as a result of work performed. The client must feel very comfortable with the attorney and must feel confident that the attorney selected is the one who can capably handle the client’s needs. Some of the questions that would be helpful to most individuals in selecting an attorney include the following:

This probably won’t come as any great shock, but it’s never a good idea to go into an IRS office by yourself if you discover that you are being audited or that the IRS is looking upon you with suspicion. In such a case, you’re always better off taking a tax attorney with you. And while hiring a tax attorney may seem like a financial burden, it’s a burden that you need to shoulder. The cost of using a tax attorney is far less than the potential cost of not using one if you end up having to pay dearly as a result of an audit.
Here are five reasons you need to hire a tax attorney:
1. The main reason to hire a tax attorney is peace of mind. There are few things in life more frightening than finding out that you are the target of an IRS audit, but hiring a tax attorney can keep you from being completely overwhelmed and filled with dread. You should never attempt to represent yourself in such a situation as tax law is a complex field and should be left to a seasoned professional.
2. A good tax attorney has lots of experience dealing with the IRS and knows how negotiate with them. They know all about tax liens, levies, and tax debts, and can ensure that you end up with as little tax debt as possible.
3. There exist two different kinds of tax attorneys. The first kind is a personal attorney. A personal attorney can help you if you are personally audited by the IRS. And, as the name suggests, a corporate attorney will assist you if your business is audited by the IRS. Be sure to hire an attorney that can help you with your specific needs. Hiring a personal attorney to help with a business audit may provide some benefit, but you won’t get the expertise from a personal attorney that you would get from a business attorney. But whether you need a personal attorney or a corporate attorney, an experienced IRS attorney will make sure that you avoid the maximum penalties that the IRS can issue to you.
4. The auditor is not your friend. No matter how friendly and helpful he or she may seem, the job of the auditor is to get as much money out of you as possible while still following the law. The job of the IRS attorney, as much as possible, is to keep the auditor out of your money. Stand back and let them do their respective jobs. You’ll sleep much better at night.
5. Seasoned tax attorneys know tax law inside and out. They know the loopholes, they understand the legalese, and they know how to negotiate. Don’t be tempted by the prospect of quickly studying tax law. You’ll never be as effective in your own defense as a tax attorney will be.
While it’s true that hiring a tax attorney can be an expensive endeavor, in the end, you can’t afford not to hire one. Given the amount of money that you can save by using the services of an experienced attorney, and given the peace of mind that comes with knowing that a professional is looking out for your best interests, the price of a tax attorney is well worth it. When you have a tax attorney on your side the first time you walk into the office of the auditor, you’ll realize just how much you’ve saved in anxiety and, if all goes as it should, penalties. So get recommendations from friends and families and hire a reputable local tax attorney. You’ll sleep better!

Whether you’re a business owner or a regular old Joe needing the assistance of a tax attorney, you need to be ready to invest some time into finding the one that’s right for you. Tax attorneys not only have special training, but good tax attorneys also have extensive experience interacting and negotiating with IRS auditors. The job of an IRS auditor is to get as much money as legally possible from you so that the government can have it. They are relentless and often intimidating, so if you find yourself the subject of an audit, you should immediately find an advocate in the form of a tax attorney. Here are five steps to getting the best tax attorney to work for you.
1. Find a tax attorney with experience. Find out what kind of formal education she has and what kinds of certifications she has. How long has she been a tax attorney? Another important factor to research is whether or not she has worked for the IRS in the past. Former IRS agents are invaluable as tax attorneys, and if you have the opportunity to hire one to represent you, you should take advantage of it. Tax attorneys who have worked for other financial authorities are also valuable, so if you can’t find a former IRS agent to work for you, find someone who has worked for another large financial authority.
2. Find a tax attorney with quality education. The minimum degree that your tax attorney should have is the LLM in taxation (Master’s of Law in Taxation). This is evidence that the attorney completed at least one year of study in tax law. Ideally, you should find a tax attorney who not only has an LLM, but who is also committed to continuing education in the field of tax law. This is critical since tax laws change regularly. One way to find out whether a tax attorney is well-versed in tax law is to conduct an internet search for articles about tax law that this person might have published. This is an indicator that the tax attorney is potentially an authority in the area of tax law.
3. Find a tax attorney that specializes in the issue you’re facing. When you interview a potential tax attorney, tell him your unique situation and ask him if he has ever handled a similar situation. While the attorney is prohibited from sharing identifying details about other clients, engage him in a conversation that provides ample evidence for you to determine whether or not he has enough experience with your type of situation to help you effectively.
4. Find a tax attorney who is a skilled communicator. Part of a tax attorney’s job is to negotiate with the IRS agent on your behalf. This means that the attorney needs to return phone calls promptly and conduct himself in a professional manner. He should be clear and articulate, and should be able to discuss your particular case in terms that you can understand. If your potential attorney has difficulty expressing himself or doesn’t communicate with you in a prompt and professional manner, move on to the next candidate.
5. Find several attorneys from which to choose. When you’re on the hunt for a qualified tax attorney, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Get several different recommendations from friends and family members, or from other business owners who have been audited in the past. Part of managing an audit is timeliness, so if your first choice of attorney doesn’t pan out, you don’t have time to start a new search from scratch. You should already have a list of three or four and be ready to pursue interviews if your first few aren’t going to be able to do a good job for you.
Choose your tax attorney wisely and you’ll be pleased with the results!

Choosing an Ohio child support attorney can be a significant decision for any individual to make. The professional who you engage will be responsible for getting or maintaining your legal interests in your children, your material possessions, and your income. In reality, engaging an Ohio child support attorney might be a significantly difficult experience. Do it right and you can relax. Do it incorrectly and you may have to spend quite a bit of time recovering from losses that might have been avoided.

There are some time-tested tactics that you should consider applying at the time you engage an Ohio child support attorney. Prior to starting, you had better determine the type of case that you will need to retain counsel for. Could you be mediating your child support matter? Could you be negotiating? Or, might your lawsuit might be the type of matter that ends up in court and turns into a knock down, drag out child support battle?

It is possible to find an Ohio child support attorney who specializes in these different means of addressing matters and you need be sure that you hire the kind of Ohio child support attorney who is best suited to the kind of lawsuit that you will be dealing with. If you are about to confront a bitter battle, you should not select a mediation attorney to enforce your rights. And, if you are undergoing amicable mediation, the last thing you want is an Ohio child support attorney who will create problems for you and force you into litigation.
Thus, the first thing you must do in the process of hiring an Ohio child support attorney is to decide the type of lawsuit that you have. The second step, ask other people for assistance. Since the rate at which we divorce in the U.S.A. remains at about fifty percent, it is probable that you know a few other individuals who have experienced a child support suit. Inquire about their litigation, how they picked out an Ohio child support attorney, and how their attorney did on their behalf.

Subsequent to receiving feedback on several Ohio child support attorneys that you were given from checking with people, go on the internet and research each attorney and any others that you discover online. If an Ohio child support attorney has a site online, you can read it and check to find out if there are any articles on their site that they composed on child support law. You should likewise check and determine if they have promoted their website on the web on the issue of child support law. You can find quite a bit of significant information about how any individual attorney approaches legal actions and deals with their clients by screening their website.

After you have studied the Ohio child support attorney websites, compile a list of a few Ohio child support attorneys who you think you might be at ease speaking with. Contact the office of each child support attorney and schedule an initial interview/evaluation. A few of those attorneys will charge a fee for an initial appointment; the greater experience the attorney has, the more probable that you will have to pay for time with that attorney.

At the time that you go to an initial interview with any Ohio child support attorney, be ready. Write up an statement of your years of marriage, your family situation and the troubles facing you at present. If you or your mate has filed any documents in court, make it a point to take them with you. Take recent income tax returns or a recent financial statement so that the child support attorney can look at some of your financial information prior to being questioned regarding situational “outcomes”.

Be sure you ask every Ohio child support attorney questions regarding how that professional’s office manages client phone calls, emails or other questions. If you will be going through a child support attorney who has no other attorney in their office, be ready to wait on those occasions when you want a reply. That attorney probably has additional clients who have demands just as critical as yours, and any attorney can take care of only one client at a time. Even regarding that drawback, there could be an Ohio child support attorney who you sense is appropriate for your situation who is also a sole practitioner. That is a trade-off that you should be able to work with.

After you have finished each appointment and considered the answers to all of your questions, identify which Ohio child support attorney you are more at ease with and which you believe will work with you to get the sort of final result that you desire.

The question of how to find a good attorney is on everyone’s mind when in need of a lawyer. And it’s difficult for an ordinary person to know how to find a good attorney. The legal profession is just like any other profession where you have good, disciplined and honest members as well as bad, not disciplined and dishonest ones. And in the legal profession, unfortunately, only fellow attorneys and judges know who is who. That leaves us, the ordinary people, to learn as best as we could on ways of how to find a good attorney to represent our case.

When faced with a legal issue that requires lawyer’s participation, the only thing worse than not having a lawyer is to have a bad one. However, the “good” and the “bad” labels are a subject to a personal judgment. As mentioned above, while only fellow attorneys and judges know who is the good, the bad, and the ugly attorney, in the ordinary human world, two people could share a totally opposite opinion about one attorney who represented both of their cases. It’s all based on the results that the attorney was able to obtain for them and whether the clients’ expectations were met or not. This leads us to a conclusion that when we have a lack of resources to evaluate our prospect attorneys, we need to depend solely upon our individual judgment to pick a good attorney for our case.

On the other hand, there are ways to at least sense a bad attorney. Wait! Isn’t it the subject of this article “How to find a good attorney”? Indeed so. In order for you to know how to find a good attorney, you need to know how to at least sense a bad one. Let’s touch up on some basics.

1. Very simple. If you need to file for a divorce, would you call a criminal lawyer? Of course not. That’s a bad lawyer for your case. On the same note, if other than a divorce lawyer is offering to handle your case, you would say no. You immediately know that a good lawyer for your case would be the one who has expertise in whatever legal issue you’re facing.

2. You somehow find a lawyer that has the expertise in your problem area and you make a contact with him or her. But, it takes that lawyer a week or two to get back to you. That attorney may not be a bad lawyer but he or she may be overbooked with other clients and does not have enough time to give the needed attention to your case. That’s a bad lawyer for your case. That attorney needs to immediately tell you that because of their current work load he or she wouldn’t be able to handle your case. But if he or she doesn’t tell you that, you need to immediately dismiss that attorney and look for another one who can give you the needed attention.

3. Here comes the bad one. It is highly unethical for a lawyer to pay a referral fee or a bonus for “leads” on new cases. (Depending on state law, a referral fee sometimes may be paid to another lawyer, but it needs to be disclosed to the client). Some of the profession’s “bad apples” may still engage in the practice of paying “runners” for tips on new clients. So if a stranger (or even someone that you know) seems excessively persistent that you need to see a lawyer, or just happens to have a supply of the attorney’s business cards, look out! This is not the kind of person who deserves your trust. On the same note, if you bump into a lawyer who does not take his or her time to understand your case but is also excessively persistent that you need to hire him or her, look out!

Now, let’s cover some basics on ways of how to find a good attorney.

1. One of the best ways on how to find a good attorney is to ask someone whose opinion you trust; another lawyer, your accountant, banker, coworker, family friend, business acquaintance. These are the people that you trust and you know that they wouldn’t refer you to a bad lawyer if they happen to know one related to your legal need.

2. If the above doesn’t work for you, you could always call a company that may be represented by a lawyer of your need. For an example, if you’re looking for a real estate lawyer, call a title company and ask them who they use. If you need a collection lawyer, call a collection agency. But, if your issue is pure personal, ask anyone who you trust, who has recently been through a lawsuit, and who is very satisfied with their lawyer. Even if that lawyer is not the right one for your case, you know that you’re contacting a good lawyer. Call that lawyer and explain that you couldn’t find an attorney on your own and ask him or her if they could refer you to the appropriate attorney for your case. Lawyers are the best source of information about other lawyers. And a good lawyer will always refer you to another good lawyer who could handle your case.

3. And last but not least on how to find a good lawyer, call your local or state bar association and ask them to refer you to a lawyer who is in good standing with the bar. Also, always check with your state or local bar association if your prospect lawyer has ever been the subject of an ethical complaint or inquiry.

To sum up the ways on how to find a good attorney, the primary considerations in selecting an attorney needs to be whether you feel comfortable with the attorney selected, and if you are confident that the attorney is competent in his or her field of expertise. You must feel very comfortable with the attorney and must feel confident that the attorney selected is the one who can capably handle your needs. Make sure that you interview two or three lawyers before making a decision on which one to retain. Ask yourself when interviewing a lawyer: “Do I feel comfortable talking to this lawyer, and am I confident in his or her abilities?” If the answer is anything other than a definite “yes,” you need to keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence.

Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have done their best to give you useful, informative and accurate information. This article does not represent nor replace the legal advice you need to get from a lawyer, or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state-to-state and change from time-to-time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the issues described in this article. Thank you.

There are several ways in which you can communicate with your divorce lawyer, but some methods may be more effective than others. When a marriage dissolves there are several important topics that need to be discussed and sorted out such as child custody and visitation, division of property, and support. Communicating effectively with your attorney about such issues will help your lawyer properly gather the information he/she needs to put your case together and can reduce your attorney fees at the same time.

In-Person

Meeting with your attorney in-person when there is an extensive amount of material to go through is often a wise choice. When you meet with an attorney face-to-face there is less chance for distraction and it is more likely you will have the attorney’s undivided attention. Any material you or your attorney may have can be reviewed and any questions can be addressed. Each party will have an equal opportunity to discuss and cover any important details. Additionally, the amount of time spent in an in-person meeting is traceable and should be reflected accurately on your attorney bill.

E-mail

Assuming your attorney checks his/her e-mail regularly, email communications with your attorney can be very effective, especially if a response is not needed immediately or an attachment needs to be sent. Unlike faxes, there is usually no charge to receive an e-mail. However, there will be a cost for your attorney to review and respond to your e-mail. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep your e-mail concise and to the point. This is often a difficult adjustment for those who have a tendency to write wordy e-mails. Further, depending on how savvy your attorney is with technology, he/she may spend more time in an e-mail communication than if the message were communicated via phone or fax. Further, the amount of time an attorney actually spends in an e-mail communication is virtually untraceable, so you will want to closely monitor your bill to make sure the charges are reasonable.

Telephone

One of the most common forms of communication you may have with your attorney may be via telephone. Telephone communications can be very effective, especially when you or your attorney have a quick question. Such communication is quick and timely. Additionally, the time spent on the telephone is the most traceable form of communication. The time spent on the phone may be recorded on your phone bill and should be reflected accurately on your attorney bill. However, problems may arise when more than a couple questions need to be covered. Long telephone calls can be subject to distractions and retaining large amounts of information can become an issue.

Fax

Communications with your attorney via fax can be very useful. For example, when a lengthy document needs to be reviewed or if your signature is required on a document (and a faxed copy of your signature is acceptable), faxes can save you an unnecessary trip to your attorney’s office or the wait time associated with mailings. Like the postage fee for a mailing, there may be a cost associated with the fax, such as the call charge or the time a person in your attorney’s office had to stand in front of the fax to send or receive documents.

Mailing

Communications with your attorney via mail can be very effective when a reviewing of a particular document is not extremely urgent. Additionally, any serious issues or requests you may need to make upon your attorney may be best done in writing. Mailings are a common way attorney’s keep their client informed or on copy of all filings and communications with opposing counsel. Mailings are easy to organize and typically easy to manage.

There are several ways in which you can communicate with your divorce lawyer and choosing the right method can significantly enhance your communication with him/her. When a marriage dissolves there are several important topics that need to be discussed and sorted out such as child custody and visitation, division of property, and support. Communicating effectively with your attorney about such issues will help your lawyer properly gather the information he/she needs to put your case together and can reduce your attorney fees at the same time.

© 2007 Child Custody CoachChild Custody Coach supplies information, online materials, and coaching services to parents in the field of child custody, namely, divorce, child custody and visitation, child custody evaluations, 730 evaluations, parenting, and all issues related to child custody and divorce. “How to Win Child Custody – Proven Strategies that can Win You Custody and Save You Thousands in Attorney Cost!” is a unique child custody strategy guide written by The Custody Coach and made available by Child Custody Coach in an easy to read, understand, and apply E-Book format. Custody Match is an online consumer and family law attorney matching service to help you in your search for the right attorney for your divorce or child custody case. Custody Match can help you find the right family law attorney, divorce lawyer, or child custody attorney in your area.