Author: Barbara Martin

Qualities of a Good Divorce Lawyer

Choosing a divorce lawyer is never an easy. It entails trusting someone with everything you have during one of your lowest points in life (parting ways with the love of your life). Getting the best family law attorney for the process determines your chances of success in this legal battle. There are some qualities of divorce lawyers, which can guide you during the selection process to help you land the best.

Qualities to look for

Mastery of family lawbooks

A lawyer who has devoted his legal practice to family law is better suited to handle your divorce process. Family law is a complex field in legal practice, and getting someone with the right skills and experience in tackling the intricacies of the process will work greatly to your advantage.

Has excellent communication skills

Effective, clear, and timely communication with your lawyer is very critical. The first stages of your consultation can play a good role in determining the communication skill set of the lawyer. Communication involves the ability of the attorney to listen to you well and explain everything in a way that you can understand.

Availability

A good divorce lawyer should always be available to you, particularly in the key points of your case. Whenever you get any questions or concerns, he or she should be able to address them immediately or within a reasonable period. A lawyer who is very busy with other cases might not be able to give the deserved attention to your case.

Has support and resources

A good divorce lawyer should have a professional support staff to assist in the process. The lawyer might not always be readily available, and the support staff can help you with any emergencies. The attorney should also have enough resources available to prepare for your case within the shortest time possible.

 broken heart graphicHas a good record of accomplishments

A good divorce lawyer should have an excellent track record. You can find out more about the previous divorce cases that the lawyer has handled and see how he performed to determine this.

Charges reasonable fees

The amount of money charged for legal services usually varies from lawyer to lawyer. A good lawyer should be able to offer his services at very reasonable prices, depending on the magnitude of the case. He should not take advantage of your situation and overcharge you. On the other hand, when the fees are unusually low, it might be an indication of incompetence.…

Reasons To Hire Immigration Attorneys

The law as many folks calls it is a set of rules designed to govern. While many people are appreciating the idea of having jurisdictive laws, there are a few who still haven’t eased into the idea. The entire topic of governance is quite broad, and each set of laws is put in place to help achieve order and cohesion between the public and the administration. In between the public and the administration, we have the attorneys or lawyers.

Attorneys are the craftsmen/women who have studied the law and achieved the required certifications to back their profession. They are common to handling ‘legal issues’and often give guidance towards how the law should be interpreted and approached in case of a crisis. In this particular piece, we shall look into the immigration attorneys and a couple of reasons they are very important.

Who is an immigration attorneyJustice Scale Graphic?

With the vast and changing immigration laws you need an immigration attorney to stand by you and the people you care for. Immigration laws are laws put in place to give immigrants some scope of direction and making their settling efforts easy. Immigration attorneys are the best pick to help you achieve a smooth run through of this process.

Three reasons why you need an immigration attorney

To keep the case clean and simple

Immigration issues can be complex, and if ignored you may run the risk of being deported. Because of their complex nature, some people often choose the easy channels that offer a quick way out. If you are caught in the channels, you may get arrested for fraud, well, we all know that being jailed is the least of eventualities you should expect especially when you are in a country that you are not legally settled in.

To get proper guidance on how to proceed

It is quholding behind barsite tough to live in a country as an immigrant. As I had mentioned earlier, immigration laws are complex and prone to alterations. You may wake up, and a new set of laws has been put in place. If you are actively involved in this process, you will need an urgent briefing to ensure that you are always aware of what’s new and what’s not.

To detect problems before you act

Each move you make in the immigration process should be a keen and cautious move. You need someone to guide you before you make any moves to avoid problems with the immigration bodies.…

Why You Need An Immigration Lawyer When Moving To The UK

Annually, millions of people come to the UK. There are set laws that explicitly define who should come, and the requirements for admission. Gaining citizenship is not always easy for everyone. As such, immigration attorneys specialize in helping immigrants settle comfortable in the UK. The main reason why there will always be people trying to come is to the UK is for the search of greener pastures or quality education. GB Immigration lawyers play an essential role in making your application successful.

When should you hire an immigration lawyerjustice balance icon

Usually, most students on scholarships do not need an immigration lawyer. However, if you are relocating for employment reasons, you might require the services of an immigration lawyer at some point. This applies in particular if you are looking for a residence permit. Here are some instances where an immigration lawyer could be of help.

When your application has been rejected

In most instances, individuals that submit their applications end up failing. This is not because they are not eligible; it is mostly because of some discrepancies in their request. If you have had an unsuccessful application in the past, you may be required to hire a lawyer. Immigration attorneys have a professional eye or experience that will improve the chances of having your application approved.

No response

Another setback for your application can be delayed or lack of response from the relevant authority. In case there is a delay somewhere, you might be forced to do nothing but wait. In most instances, applicants are forced to wait for long without any tangible reason. With an immigration lawyer, you are almost assured of a timely response considering that most of them have contracts with USCIS employees.

Complicated process

body armorApplying for permanent residence in the UK can be quite complicated for someone without the right experience. However, with a lawyer, you can swiftly find your way. They will help you file all required documents and explain every step. With a lawyer, you do not have to struggle to find your way. You only need to make your concerns known and let them do the rest.

Lack of help

Some employers apply permits for their employees. However, others leave employees to work out their way, which is often challenging considering that you are new to this part of the world. An immigration attorney can help you find a residence permit for employment reasons.…

All You Need to Know About Intellectual Property Attorneys

You probably read about intellectual property or IP in different contexts including news reports, company briefings, and white papers. The important of the resource in the 21st century is often not apparent to many people with vibrant business and other moneymaking ideas. On the other hand, large firms go out of their way to safeguard what they consider as their intangible but quite important assets.

In fact, in the last ten years, mergers and acquisitions occurred in most industries partly because of the associated IP assets in those deals.  The following points give you all you need to know about intellectual property attorneys.

They handle client representations

preopertyThe IP lawyers represent a client in all types of matters dealing with the IP assets. They can represent individuals or multinational corporations. They can be the guys that negotiate on your behalf when you are trading your inventories or using other parties to protect your ideas as you await patents. They can represent you in court and business meetings regarding your property.

They practice IP specialization

Lawyers may offer a blanket service on the type of intellectual properties in different industries. They may also only provide services in niche industries where they are deep knowledge of processes, risk, affairs of most of the players in the market and connections to help them win cases and advise clients appropriately. The specialization of IP lawyers can be in pharmaceuticals, consumer products, entertainment, media, franchising and many more.

The prevent unforeseen loses

Sometimes people lose money because of not putting their ideas in a watertight protection mechanism. You should benefit from the idea when other people are using it, or you could prevent them from using it. The IP attorneys work day and night to make sure you understand and exploit the opportunities available for earning money.

You can find new ways to earn royalties for your ideas and expand your enterprise. Your attorneys will be evaluating any deal you enter because they are your representatives and due to the service that you will be paying for. In return, you save yourself from loss of income and keep the fraudsters away.

No need to keep explaining what you do

lawyersThe IP lawyers work round the clock to offer an excellent summary and detailed description of your intellectual property for other people to consider when they are negotiating with you. The documentation also gives you an upper hand when you go to defend your idea in court.

They will draft the documents based on the legislation, tax, and corporate laws. They will adhere to any customs enforcement, antitrust issues, and employment concerns. They also cover business and finance matters at domestic and international law levels. You can be sure of having the right footing for dealing with government contracts and bankruptcy issues.

Conclusion

The laws cover everything that has a legal perspective under the sun so that you have no stones left unturned. Consequently, you will be benefiting from their collaborative approach that gives you an upper hand to decide what eventually happens to your intellectual property assets.…

Why Your Law Firm Should Have A Document Management Software

Document handling is the responsibility of any legal practitioner. In the life of any law firm, the volume of records in their custody is bound to keep increasing. Managing these documents effectively is not always easy. This often raises the subject of having an elaborate document managing system. When should one have a document management system in place? As much as most firms know the value of having a document management system, a good number do not know when exactly to make this move.

When to have a document management system

When you have many documents

It might be great to have a document management two woman using computersystem in place when you do not have a huge volume to deal with. Considering that most people wait until the need for a document management tool is real. With a vast amount of legal documents, you have every reason to embrace this modern way of managing your documents. With this, inconsistencies in document handling will be a thing of the past as everything will be simple and clear.

When you cannot find your documents

The main reason to store a document is for future use. If you realize that finding any document in your custody takes time, it is high time you try a case management system. Delays in finding legal documents or even misplacing them can be a huge threat to your reputation as a legal practitioner. You need to prove to your clients that they are in safe hands by how you store and retrieve documents in your custody.

Choosing a document management software

signing in paperThere are many case management software to choose for document management. Some of these systems are server based where others are cloud based. Ideally, you need to choose a software that is easily integrated into your system. In does not have to be integrated but it can make your life easy when it can. If you are looking for case management software, you also need to look at other things like the cost and ease of use.

Searching for a misfiled document can be frustrating. Having a document management system can put an end to these frustrations and loss of revenue. The return on investment linked to attorney case management software is less frustration and happy clients. Therefore, if you are still waiting for the opportune time to buy a document management software, it should be now!…

Qualities of a good personal injury lawyer

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where you feel that your legal rights are violated in one way or the other. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need a personal injury lawyer, you should make sure you find the best one. This is because not all of them are capable of giving you the quality defense that you need. For you to achieve this, you need to have a proper understanding of the qualities that are associated with great personal injury lawyer. Some of those qualities are discussed in this article.

Intelligent

Gavel beside law bookIf you want to win your case and therefore be compensated in a good manner, then you need to find an attorney who is intelligent. Winning the case requires one to be smart and know which weak points to exploit. The best way of measuring the intelligence of a personal injury attorney is looking at the past work that they have handled. Look at the complexity of the cases that they handled and how they were able to overcome it. It is also good that you read the reviews so that you get to know what those people who have used their services before think about them.

Timely

Another quality that is associated with great attorneys is that they are very keen when it comes to time management. Failure to manage time properly can result to you losing the case. This, therefore, tells you that you should find a personal attorney who can respond to your queries on time. This is a sign that deadlines will never be an issue in your case as it has been used on many occasions to disadvantage the complaint.

Research oriented

A good personal injury attorney should someone who has a better grasp of legal research. This is because the law is very wide and this, therefore, means that for a good lawyer, expansive research is mandatory. It is the one that one that will help the lawyer to get all the relevant legal information that is needed for you to win the case.

Eloquent

Man signingYou also need to find a personal injury attorney who is eloquent. After collecting all the necessary legal information and putting it in writing, the attorney should also know how to present it before the court. Apart from present legal facts before the court, the way those facts are articulated plays a significant role in convincing the judges to things from your perspective. You can visit ledgerlaw.com for more information.…

Benefits Of Using A Lawyer During The Divorce Process

It is very unfortunate that people have to go through a divorce after being married for some time and probably having kids. The process is usually emotional, and therefore, the couple may need guidance and assistance. A divorce lawyer plays a great role to help both parties settle their differences amicably. If you are a man and in need of a divorce lawyer who is specialized in men divorce law, then you can visit for more information. This publication will discuss the general benefits people get when they use a lawyer to take them through the divorce process.

Benefits of using a lawyer during the divorce process

They understand divorce law more than you

Gavel in between man and woman paperEither you or your former spouse may not understand much about the divorce law. Therefore, advice on how to handle the legal aspect of the process is crucial from beginning to the end. A divorce lawyer plays the role of the one to guide through the needed legal steps and help avoid any challenges in future. All questions and clarification that you have may be directed to this legal expert.

They take care of all the paperwork

The divorce process is more detailed than people think. It entails detailed paperwork which can be confusing if people were working by themselves. However, a divorce lawyer takes up these process and walks from the one legal office to another on your behave. This means you will have an easy time to cool off from the emotional process.

They help in property sharing

One of the major conflicts that can come up is the sharing of property. However, an experienced lawyer will take the couple through all the legal procedure for handling such matters. It may not be necessary there will be a court battle. However, if one party wishes to contest the divorce, the same lawyer can represent them if they are favoring them.

They help in child custody matters

couple signing papersSometimes, the divorcing couple may not understand how to handle the child custody matters if they have one. Therefore, it is up to the divorce lawyer to enlighten them on their rights and responsibilities on these issues. If there is a disagreement, the lawyer will still advice on the way forward and may also do a court representation on the matters still.

It is highly advisable that a divorcing couples considers using a reputable divorce lawyer. They help in solving various legal matters regarding divorce in the right way.…

When The Traffic Lawyer Is Very Necessary

Let us start by first getting the meaning of the term traffic lawyer. A traffic lawyer is a legal professional who has the knowledge to get you out the traffic mess that you may find yourself in. With the advancements in the world of technology where cameras are fitted in most roads, getting justice, in our roads need to be a simple process. Unfortunately, this has never been the case as there are people who would want to use their influence to mistreat others. So if you find yourself in a traffic mess, it is advisable that you find a traffic lawyer who will represent you so that you can get the much-needed justice. Here are some of the situations that a traffic lawyer will be very necessary.

When dealing with ticket

hand writingThese are some of the moments that you will need to call a professional traffic lawyer. When dealing with tickets, you need a traffic lawyer to advise you on how to handle the situation. Reckless driving, speeding and other similar charges might not sound like a big deal. If want to pay the fines and call the end, then that is fine. However, if you are a driver who makes a living from driving, then you need to be worried about your driving license. Here is where you need to get a lawyer to avoid worst possible outcomes.

Serious charges

There are many incidents that occur on our roads. Some of them are severe and can have a serious impact on your life if they are not handled carefully. If you are charged with DUID, DUI, or even DWI, it is recommendable that you find a lawyer who will help you legally to handle the situation at hand. This is the only way that you can prevent your license from being taken away from you. There are also circumstances where you might find yourself behind the bars if you cannot find the right lawyer to represent you.

Another incident that you need to take seriously is where you are responsible for the occurrence of an accident. This is an instance that can also land you in jail if you cannot take your time to get the right lawyer to represent you.

Other road incidents

police carIt is always recommendable that when you find yourself involved in any road mess, you find a legal professional to represent you in a court of law. This will help you to avoid unnecessary charges.…

The roles of a criminal defense lawyer

Criminal defense attorneys at times get a not-so-flattering portrayal. This is because most people think that such lawyers only defend people who are guilty. But, the truth is that anybody who is a defendant in any criminal proceeding should hire a highly experienced criminal defense attorney, irrespective of his or her innocence or guilty.

As the advocates and protectors of the accused, such lawyers play a critical role in the justice system to ensure that an individual who is charged with a criminal act is given a chance to defend himself or herself. Indeed, every individual should understand the roles of a criminal defense lawyer.

What are the roles of a criminal defense lawyer?

There are various roles of a criminal defense attorney. Here are some of them.

1. They protect the rights of an accused

The main role is the protection of the rights of the accused people. They uphold the rights of the accused under the Bill of Rights as stated in the constitution. For sure, they are bound by the law to help their clients by ensuring that the criminal justice systems fairly treat them.

holding behind bars

2. They defend the innocent

This is the second critical role of the criminal defense lawyer. Indeed, criminal defense lawyers can overturn criminal cases, especially where new evidence confirms the incarceration of innocent people who have been sentenced because of an incorrect guilt judgment.

Mostly, nearly all clients that hire criminal defense lawyers are somehow criminally culpable in the crimes that they have been charged with. On rare occasions, some of the clients that hire such lawyers are truthfully innocent.

3. They defend the guilty people

Most of the clients that are represented by criminal defense attorneys always fall into two categories. The first category is the clients that deny criminal responsibility. The second category is the clients who are taking responsibility for their own criminal behaviors.

gavel graphicNearly all attorneys agree that the criminal clients that are most difficult to represent are the ones who are taking the responsibilities of their crimes. This is because it is easier to establish innocence when a lawyer thinks that his or her client is not guilty. Such lawyers face moral and ethical dilemmas every day. This is because they must deal with several situations where they know well that they have facilitated the release of a person who is guilty, risking their clear conscience and reputations.

 …

Determining the Value of your Personal Injury

Personal injury is a term used in the legal sense to refer to an injury inflicted on the mind, body, and emotions of a person. These injuries can be caused by road accidents, product defects, assault, accidents at home, at work, during holidays among others. A personal injury claim is a case filed by an individual who suffered negligent damage.

For you to obtain compensation, you will be required to submit documents such as doctors report, police report, medical records and insurance paperwork to the court. Many victims get less settlement than they deserve because they do not know how the legal system works. You need to know your rights as the plaintiff, how to determine the value of your injuries, handle insurance companies and determine liability. And with all these, you need the help of NJ Personal Injury Lawyers.

Here is how to know the value of your personal injury;

The culprit in the accident should be considered

Where the liability is not clear or ambiguous and therefore cannot answer to charges in court, it will become difficult to determine the value of compensation. Availability of evidence will help to arrive at the figure.

The injury type

Find out if the injuries minor or major. If they are minor, the value will be less compared to if the damages are serious. You need a good lawyer for assistance if you have sustained fatal injuries for justice. The damage types are also considered in relation to the cost of an ambulance, treatment, therapy, lost wages and property damages which are based on the details of the accident.

Look at your criminal record and that of the culprit

Check listIf you happen to be someone with a criminal record or one who has had some law problems, then you need to expect a lower value than that of law abiding citizen.
Culprits who have had a criminal record will put you in a better place for higher compensation than someone who is spotless. It is worse if he is one of the people considered as philanthropists in the community because your case becomes less solid.

The age of the victim involved

The old will receive compensation majorly due to sympathy during lawsuits from the court members and those below the age of twelve are more likely to be compensated because of their innocence. For injury claims, it does not matter whether you are male or female but based on the kind of harm, a certain gender may be favored. A woman is more likely to be compensated a larger amount compared to a man due to injuries that cause scars as it is bound to cause more hardship to females.

The lawyer you choose

Shaking HandsHe is supposed to be skilled enough to deal with the lawsuit tactfully enough to win you a just compensation package.

Ascertaining personal injury value is therefore not an exact science but based on all these factors and most importantly, human nature being core.…

Common Conditions And Terms Mistakes

Terms and conditions will help your business in many ways. One of the main ways is in avoiding lawsuits. If you have not prepared this contract, then you should get started with it immediately. You should not take for granted the benefits that the terms and conditions have to offer. However, you may unknowingly commit mistakes on your document. If you are not sure about the mistakes you make when drafting the document, then this article will give you some ideas. This blog will help us get to know the terms and conditions mistakes that we commonly make. Here are just four of the mistakes that website owners make in their privacy policy and terms document.

Features

Not including the DMCA statement

DMCA statement in full is Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and it is crucial in the online world. As a businessmagazine beside laptop owner, you should include this statement in your terms and conditions. The act helps you against copyright infringement.

Furthermore, when you have this in your contract, you do not have to worry about being sued when you use pictures, songs, and images that your users post. However, there are certain requirements that you should meet before you get the DMCA protection.

Not putting the “check the box

Nowadays, most websites require users to agree to their privacy policy and terms before proceeding. Once a user has checked this box, then it simply means that they are in agreement with your terms and conditions. You should not miss out any opportunity to include the check the box on your website. The “check the box” option will save you from a lot of trouble.

Terminate the site or user

It is inevitable not to use other websites. You do not want to get into problems with the law. The last thing you want is to find out that your site has been closed. To avoid all these problems, you should ensure that you have a statement in your terms and conditions about terminating either a user or a site. The statement will help you avoid any problem with the law. Therefore, if you do not have this statement, then it is high time you include it.

Not including the class-action clause

Compact DiscThe last thing you would want to happen for your online business is to have a class-action clause. The class-action lawsuit is when your business is sued by many parties. If you have this clause in your contract, then you will avoid getting lawsuits. Therefore, if you go through your terms and conditions and you do not find this clause, you should update your contract.…

How long does it take to get the necessary credentials needed to land jobs as a lawyer

big library

How many years do you need to study law?

It is a question often asked by people who aspire to be lawyers but are yet to begin their pursuit for the necessary credentials. There is no fixed period in which you should have completed your law studies; how long you take will depends on your mode of study and how fast you get through one level in order to qualify for the next. For instance, will you pass the LSAT examination the first time you attempt it?

Books for law studyBefore you can call yourself a lawyer, you need to have an undergraduate degree, pass the LSAT examination, and then go to law school.

Currently, you do not need any specific degree to qualify for law school.

However, it is important to consider your choices wisely. Most students take undergraduate degrees in philosophy, history, criminology, psychology and others that better prepare them for their law career. It takes two and half years to five years to complete an undergraduate degree if you attend as a full-time student. If you enroll as a part time student, it will take you longer.

After earning your bachelor’s degree, the next stage involved is passing the LSAT examination.

This generally takes a year because of the study time needed and available testing dates. Note that you can considerably reduce the amount of time you will spend earning your credentials by eyeglass and bookstudying for the LSAT examination while undertaking your undergraduate degree. Using this strategy, you can take the test when it is next available immediately after getting your undergraduate degree. This way, you reduce the amount of time you need to transition from undergraduate school to law school.

It takes three years to get through law school. You should be careful to note that you cannot learn at your own pace in Law School; you have to complete your studies within the time allocated which as stated above, is typically three years.

Here, you will earn your Juris Doctors (JD) Degree. With this credential, you are permitted to practice law in the United States. You can then take the bar exam which takes around six months of study to prove your competence and be allowed to practice law in the state where you take it.

The least amount of time it takes to complete law studies is six years. It typically takes seven but could be longer depending on the undergraduate degree you enroll for and your mode of study.

Legal advice concerning child custody cases

Girl signs silence

For centuries, most people have been struggling to attain custody rights especially when the relationship/marriage breaks down. Getting legal advice from a child custody expert is essential in order to protect your rights as a guardian. Custody laws refer to state statutes, and every state has its different law. Normally, custody cases are very complicated, and it is crucial to find an experienced lawyer who has dealt with these types of cases.

Where can someone file for child custody? (Which states have jurisdiction?)

boy covering his faceIn many cases and in a majority of the states, you can file for child custody in the child’s home state. The term home state refers to the state where the child was born in or has lived in with the parents for the past six successive months. Always note that brief absence from the home state does not affect the six-month rule. In case the child is six months or under, the home state is always considered the state where the child has lived since birth.

Granted that you and the child have moved to another new state, it may not be possible for you to file for custody in that new state unless you have been there for relatively six months. Additionally, if there exists a previous court order for custody, then you have to file the custody case in that exact court for all your future custody battles. This should be one of the reasons that it is highly recommended to seek legal child custody advice.

If multiple states are involved in the child custody case, then it can get even more complicated. It means that both the state and federal statutes will decide which court will handle your case. It largely depends on which state you are filling from especially if you are trying to get temporary custody for an emergency situation.

How does the judge make decisions about child custody cases?

Mainly, every judge makes their decision based on what they think is in the child’s best interest. Different states have different guidelines and principles as to what influences the judges’ decision when it comes to child custody cases. Some of the aspects that are put into consideration in most states when determining the child’s best interest:

1. The wishes of the parents/guardians

2. The mental and physical state of both the parents involved

3. The child’s preference and inclination but only if 13 years and above

4. Parenting history especially if there are any violence tendencies

5. How the child relates to the surrounding environment (School, home, etc.)

6. Expert advises/ witness testimonies

7. Relationship between the child and both parents

8. The environment that each parent can provide (stable growing environment and financial ability)

CONCLUSIONgirl playing

There are advantages and benefits associated with custody cases. There are numerous reasons why some parents opt not to file for custody.

This is mainly because they do not want the courts to be involved. Always make sure that the first thing you do is sought legal advice concerning child custody from experts before making any decisions that affect the ones you love.…