Like physicians and other highly trained professionals, attorneys specialize and so there are many a type of lawyers as per their specialization. Although the bar exam covers every area and aspect of the law, no attorney ever could expect to retain all the subtleties and nuances in every area. The complex body of knowledge we know as “the law” spreads too far and goes to deep for one attorney to excel at all of it. The one-stop legal assistance websites easily may confuse you, making it appear that you could wander into any downtown law office and find the same array of services. Hence there are many a type of lawyers and in order to represent clients “with zeal” as the canon of ethics requires, attorneys choose single areas of expertise and stay with them. In order to rise to the top of the legal profession, an attorney must practice the type of law that excites her passion and inspires her wholehearted commitment.

Here we will discuss some of the most common type of lawyers.

Type of Lawyers – I: Criminal law

All of your favorite crime dramas show you slightly exaggerated pictures of criminal practice. A criminal lawyer does not re-enact powerful, ripped-from-the-headlines episodes of “Law and Order” every day; in fact, the ordinary criminal lawyer very seldom takes a case to trial, because litigation runs-up costs beyond most defendants’ ability to pay, and it renders the outcome far too uncertain. Criminal attorneys become far more proficient at negotiating plea agreements than dazzling juries with brilliant closing arguments.

Even within the bigger province of criminal law, attorneys specialize. Many skilled litigators specialize in DUI and traffic law defenses, and many others manage nothing but drug cases. Their specialized training, continuing education, and everyday courtroom experience equip them with tools, tactics, and techniques for protecting their clients’ rights and securing just outcomes in their cases. Moreover, when a criminal attorney specializes in just one kind of proceeding, he or she naturally develops powerful working relationships with prosecutors and judges, so that plea and sentencing negotiations become far less contentious and far more businesslike and productive.

Type of Lawyers – II: Family law

The practice of family law stands out as by far the largest and also the most emotionally taxing of all the legal specialties. One experienced family attorney claims, “The average garden variety divorce has more drama, complication, and heartbreak than a six-pack of standard manslaughters and homicides.” 90% of family law practice deals with divorce and especially with child support and custody issues, but in extreme cases, family law specialists represent children in proceedings against their parents, guardians, or educational institutions. Some experts predict that child advocacy will become more prevalent as educators develop standards of malpractice.

Type of Lawyers – III: Personal injury

Personal injury attorneys are probably the most notorious members of the legal community, the ones most likely to earn the moniker “ambulance chaser.” “Torts” are the core of personal injury practice: when a person suffers as a result of another’s negligence, recklessness, or malfeasance, the “bad guy” may or may not have committed a crime, but he has committed a “tort,” literally a word for “wrong.” Personal injury lawyers file suit in the civil courts, petitioning for compensatory and punitive damages from “the bad guys.” In very serious personal injury cases, judges and juries may award damages “for the loss of the enjoyment of life.” The headline-grabbing stories usually come from those cases.

Originally posted here: Types of Lawyers – Choose an Attorney According to His Or Her Specialty

Declaring bankruptcy is possibly one of the most important financial decisions a company or an individuals can make. The decision of declaring bankruptcy can be difficult at times. Thus, opting for a bankruptcy attorney who specializes in advising and implementing the complicated process is extremely essential. If you live in Atlanta and are considering this alternative, you must consult with a reputable bankruptcy attorney in Atlanta.

Consulting with the state bar and seeking for recommendation from a business associate or friend is one way to find a well experienced and reliable bankruptcy attorney.Every year, a lot of people file for bankruptcy. According to the statistics, divorced women are most probably the group of people who declare bankruptcy. Usually, individuals tend to file either Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 type of bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer in Chicago

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is quite different from Chapter 7 bankruptcy. By opting for Chapter 13 bankruptcy alternative, you will still need to pay off your debts over a specific period of time. Under Chapter 13, before filing bankruptcy, you have to initially visit a court approved credit counselor and disclose the entire information about every debt that you owe.

You will also need to give details about your monthly expenses, including car payments, mortgages, etc to the counselor. The left over money is designated for repaying all your other debts. For example, if you owe child support, the back taxes are personally accountable for debts to employees. Such debts have high priority status.

Next, debts that can result in losing your property due to nonpayment generally have second priority (excluding mortgages). Lastly, all the unsecured debts, mainly credit card debts get the lowest priority. If you are able to complete your repayment plan successfully, you may have a few of these debts forgiven.

Link: Bankruptcy Attorney – Get Professional Help in Bankruptcy Proceedings

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The purpose of filing for bankruptcy is to give a person who is overwhelmed with debt, a fresh start by wiping out his or her debts. Many people seek bankruptcy because they are unemployed, have large medical expenses, have marital problems, or have another unexpected expense. Filing for bankruptcy can be a very emotional time, and many people have questions about bankruptcy procedures in Texas.

The first step when considering bankruptcy is to identify an experienced Texas bankruptcy law firm and work closely with them to set a strategic financial plan. The law firm should offer a free consultation meeting to discuss the credit problem and decide if bankruptcy is the right option. If it is, the firm will begin drafting the petition and ask for your signature. Then a 341 Meeting is scheduled about 30 days after the petition is filed. This meeting is help with a trustee appointed by the court and is usually a fact-finding meeting in which the trustee makes sure everything is in order. Usually about 60 days after this meeting, you can expect a discharge letter, which formally discharges your debts.

There are several types of bankruptcy that can be filed in Texas. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is sometimes referred to as a straight bankruptcy because it is a liquidation proceeding. In Chapter 7 the debtor will surrender all non-exempt property to a bankruptcy trustee. The trustee will sell off this property and distribute the cash to the creditors. In return, the debtor is discharged from all debts within a few months. In most cases of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, the debtor has no assets to loose, so it provides the debtor with a quick fresh start.

Another type of bankruptcy is a reorganization of debt called a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. This type of bankruptcy allows debtors to pay off their debts over a span of three to five years. Chapter 13 is set up for debtors with non-exempt property that they want to keep, or for a person who’s income is sufficient to pay their expenses and pay off their debts.

Usually the way to decide if Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is to look at the non exempt assets of the debtor. In a bankruptcy, the trustee will liquidate any assets that are not exempt. There are several Texas specific exemptions that you can claim when filing for bankruptcy, or you may choose to use the Federal exemptions in your petition. The state exemptions include the following: homestead, personal property, insurance or government benefits, property of a business partnership, tools of trade, and wages or commissions. Consult a Bankruptcy Attorney in Texas for specific information on exemptions.

Read the original post: How a Bankruptcy Attorney Can Help You in Filing For Bankruptcy

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Law Firms can save money by using a call center or lawyer answering service. Since you may frequently find yourself out of town or simply away from your office, you will most likely be unavailable to answer all incoming calls. Unanswered calls can result in missed opportunities and create poor impressions upon your client base. Attorney reply services help save you time and effectively recruit new and potential clients. Clients who have a positive experience with your firm throughout all phases of the legal process may refer friends or colleagues to your practice and generally help improve its credibility.

Attorney reply services save lawyers valuable time and money by providing specialized response services in many areas of legal practice including criminal, business, and family law. Lawyer answering services provide the specialized reply service programs to meet your law firm’s needs. Attorney response services ensure that all incoming calls are answered day and night, that all your appointments are properly scheduled, and that other calls are appropriately routed to the requisite person or voicemail. With all calls, messages, and voicemail accounted for, your firm will have access to all information as needed.

How can attorney reply services save your legal practice money? Compared to hiring a traditional receptionist, attorney response services are far cheaper. Receptionists require you to pay a salary, employment taxes, benefits, recruitment and retention costs, as well as training fees-not to mention the expense of office equipment, computers and software, the ongoing maintenance of said equipment, office space, and additional costs associated with bringing on new personnel.

Specialized attorney reply services improve the first impression your practice makes on potential clientele and in time can deliver new positive referrals. If you’re torn between hiring a general answering service and one that specializes in attorney response services, opt for one with experience and you’ll find yourself handling fewer calls.

Personal Injury Practices: Let a lawyer answering service field your potential client calls and fill out intake forms in CSV format. They can then forward these forms to you to be imported into your case management software.

Criminal Defense Attorneys: Hire an attorney response service and retain clients on the first call. Virtual receptionists connect you with client callers and then remain on the line to transcribe the conversation. They’ll then forward a transcription of the call to your email, complete with fees, credit card information, and all relevant case facts.

Immigration Attorneys: Specialized lawyer answering services offer multi-lingual and Spanish response services to provide your clients with answers and legal support on their first call.

Despite your best efforts to field all incoming calls, long phone ring cycles and those calls left unanswered can deliver the impression that your practice is unable to take on new clients. Attorney reply services effectively provide answers and transfer phone calls to individuals who deliver the answers callers are looking for. Take advantage of specialized and experienced lawyer reply service to provide service that’ll improve client satisfaction and serve as a tool to help you grow your legal practice.

When searching for the best lawyer answering services, consider the following questions:

Can the attorney reply service provide 24/7 support?
Do they provide lawyer response services in both Spanish and English, i.e. multilingual or bilingual support?
Do they provide their virtual receptionists with specialized training?
Can the lawyer response service deliver customer referrals?

A lawyer reply service is one of the best investments you can make for your practice. Although more costly then a general response service, specialized lawyer answering services deliver professional call handling and the positive results your practice needs.

More here: How Can Lawyer Answering Services and Attorney Answering Services Save Law Firms Money?

If you are a new lawyer, or you’ve been practicing for some time you’ll want to add the following books to your library, if you haven’t got them already:

Lowering the Bar by Marc Galanter – While there are tons of books available that bash lawyers, this is not one of them. Instead, just like a modern Shakespeare, Galanter takes lawyer jokes and draws similarities to trends of society in America. There are thousands of jokes including cartoons that mock lawyers and the legal system, and he shows how it is all influencing the way relationships are changing between individuals, as well as between citizens and the American government, and also between corporations and their customers. Lawyer jokes remain popular because they’re still out there fighting for the little guy. This is a great read if you’re starting out in the world of law.

The Creative Lawyer by Michael Melcher – This is a book that is written with lawyers in mind. It is also pretty useful if you want to find more satisfaction from your life or career. It is written well, in an articulate and entertaining manner. It provides insight that actual works when attempted in the real world. It will give you a new perspective on how you feel about yourself, and your job. Like many books similar to this one, it is an interesting read, but you’ll find the most benefit by actually trying the suggestions made in it. It’s time to stop thinking about the life you want and get a success coach, a career mentor, or whatever you need to get it to happen!

The Unhappy Lawyer by Monica Parker – The American education system is outdated. Since the 50′s the entire American population has been brainwashed to go to school and when you finish get a job. This is very true in the legal field where it is seen that becoming a lawyer will fulfill all of your goals in life. If you are feeling pigeon-holed after passing the bar, you need to realize that you don’t just have to become a lawyer, you can do anything you want to do. You could be a speaker, a writer, a great thinker, a business man, and you’ll have a leg up since you already know the law. This book will help you explore all of your potential.

Plus one for good measure:

How Lawyers Lose Their Way by Jean Stefancic – Most lawyers don’t have the time to read books outside of all the books they need to read for the job. You should do yourself a favor and find some spare time and read through this book. If you’ve been feeling disenchanted or that you’ve taken the wrong path, this book will get you back. If you feel that your life is governed by formality and materialism, you need to start reevaluating things. This book will help you find new meaning in all the sacrifices you made to get where you are.

Read more here: Books For Attorneys – Three Resource Books For Every Lawyer

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The most famous lawyers and with whom term “lawyer” is associated by the people are criminal defense lawyers. They are often called on TV shows; discussion programs and during court hearing they are under the media eyes. But few people know the importance of a good professional criminal defense lawyer.

Representing a person who is accused of a crime, which can be a simple theft or a killing. Criminal lawyers and criminal attorneys make sure that their client gets a fair trial and relief from the charges. With their expertise they try to create arguments and defend the accused against all charges. By all legal means criminal defense lawyer tries to help their client against all the charges and accusations. This is a very difficult and laborious job, which they understand and perform professionally. Reviewing the case thoroughly with evidences and reporting, criminal defense lawyer targets the key points, prepares the case and proceeds in the court on those points.

There are different crimes in law like aggravated assault, arson, assault, burglary, fraud, robbery, killing and many other but there are two different classifications of crimes in law, a misdemeanor and felony. Felony is the more serious crime then misdemeanor. In felony, a person can get a sentence of more then a year and loss of rights for that jail time. He or she does not have right to vote, holding of licenses, run for public office, serve in jury and others according to the nature of crime. In misdemeanor, sentence is for less then a year. If the prosecutor and defense lawyer or criminal defense attorney reach a plea agreement, defendant appears in court and explain the facts of crime on which judge passes the negotiated sentence to the accused.

Difficulties faced by a Criminal Defense Lawyer

It is a very difficult and time taking procedure to defend any accused person. It takes weeks, a lot of money and brain storming to build a strong and favorable case. The other side lawyer, also use his or her resources to win the case. They also collect evidences and key points for conviction. The guide lines for a criminal defense lawyer and criminal attorney are very thorough and limited. So criminal defense lawyer has to handle the case in a way that he or she cannot ask the defendant about guild or innocence, but they have to produce the documents or evidences in the case which should be good enough for a success. Convincing the judge or a jury with his skills, experience, case followings, presentation, attitude, legal aspects, days and nights of work and effort because he or she is the last hope for the client against all accusations.

There are some points to notice on appearing in the court. Come on time and well dressed which makes a good impression on the audience and the judge. You only speak, when you are asked to. Keep the court room and judges decorum in contact and keep your self focused and calm. Let the lawyer do most of the talking and explanation. Usually your answers are told to you by your lawyer in advance.

See the rest here: Duties and Obligations of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Attorneys

There is a bittersweet mix of emotions when filing for bankruptcy. It is a solution that comes with a definite weight of implied permanence. Hiring the right Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney for your unique financial circumstances can help you deal with the ambiguity you may be feeling, and set you on a sure path towards financial freedom.

Many of the legal teams of qualified bankruptcy lawyers offer levels of assistance that exceed the normal expectation. Many people dealing with consumer debt will find tremendous relief in the legal aid that some teams provide. In addition to implementing a strong plan for the restoration of your credit, they can assist in getting relief from wage garnishments and provide an immediate cessation in stressful and embarrassing collection calls that come to both your home and your place of work.

For many people this can have the effect of making the entire effort far less overwhelming. Deciding to take this opportunity to garner excellent financial advice on how to retrain your spending habits and better manage your income can help translate this experience into a positive one. The value of a good bankruptcy attorney is that he or she will have valuable learning resources to which you will gain access. These can help you reshape your financial future and restore your spending power.

A good quality in your bankruptcy lawyer is experience and a strong knowledge of bankruptcy laws. An attorney who is proficient in the legal aspects of your circumstances will offer you the best security for your current assets. Getting the best advice and legal management will give you the best in future security.

A lot of the time, you will find access to pro bono or strictly free information services that can help guide you through the process. Many times this is access to online sites or numerous documents that provide assistance in learning the ins and outs of credit correction. This means that your attorney can help you with your present financial crisis and assure that you get the knowledge you need to keep your financial future free of critical errors.

Having consumer debt should not mean a lifetime of suffering and embarrassment. In fact, feeling this way can only add further stress to your circumstances and is likely to keep you from making proactive decisions to correct the course of your credit. When you decide to file for bankruptcy, it should be a solid decision to embark in a new direction and represents more of a new beginning rather than an ending.

Choosing the right Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney can get you the guidance that you need to get the very most out of your dire circumstances. This mean educational services that help put you on the right path, and expert advice to protect what you already have. With good representation, you can begin the process of credit restoration, and restoration of your peace of mind.

Link: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer – Ways in Which an Attorney Can Assist You

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If you find yourself injured because of the negligence of someone else, it might be time to consider hiring a personal injury attorney. These lawyers work with you to seek compensation for your pain and suffering, any medical bills you are facing, and the time you are missing work. Finding the best lawyer, however, is not as simple as opening the phone book and finding the most colorful advertisement.

How can you find a quality personal injury attorney? The first place to start is by talking to anyone you know who has used these services in the past. If you know individuals who have had to make a claim, ask them about the lawyer or firm they used. Find out if they recommend the company they used, how they felt the outcome was, and what type of claim they had.

If you do not know anyone who has been in a similar situation, avoid the temptation to call the “big name” firm in your area with the flashy television advertisement and use them without any further investigation. They will be so busy through referrals that they will not need to spend money on these types of advertisements.

If you know someone who works in the legal field, but perhaps not the field you need help in, ask that individual about the personal injury attorney he or she would recommend. Lawyers and other legal professionals have an ear to the ground and know which ones have the best reputation in a particular field.

If you do not have any of these types of contacts, make a list of local lawyers in the field, and give them a call. Ask them questions about your claim. Find out how they are paid. The lawyers that are confident in their ability to be successful in your claim will offer to work on a contingency basis.

This means that they will not be paid unless the claim is successfully resolved. This is the type of personal injury attorney you want to work with, because you will not spend the entire time worrying about hourly rates or upfront costs. Your lawyer will get paid when you get paid.

Once you have narrowed down your list, find out if a particular lawyer has a type of case that he or she will not handle or a type of case considered his or her specialty. Some lawyers avoid medical malpractice claims, for instance, while others specialize in workman’s compensation. By interviewing several lawyers and learning of their strengths and personalities, you will soon be ready to choose the one you want to handle your claim.

View post: Personal Injury Attorney – Choosing a Lawyer

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There are many benefits to meeting with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney. If you are having trouble paying your bills and don’t want to fall further behind, you should set up a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer. The attorney can review your finances with you and help you resolve your financial problems.

People who have fallen behind on their payments but still want to keep their property usually file Chapter 13 bankruptcy. When a person files for Chapter 13, there is the intent to become current with the delinquency owed for their secured debts. For instance, if the person has fallen behind with their mortgage payments, boat loan or car loan, then the person will need to pay those creditors and attempt to become current during the three to five year bankruptcy plan.

Once the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is filed, the person will have to continue making payments for the financed property he wants to retain. The person would make the regularly scheduled payments as stipulated in their loan agreement. The person would also make a monthly payment as agreed through the bankruptcy plan to eventually become current with the delinquent payments.

The person filing for bankruptcy is the debtor. The companies that the debtor borrowed money from are known as creditors. The person in charge of administering the case is the trustee. The trustee makes sure that the debtors and the creditors submit all of the proper paperwork. The trustee receives the monthly payments the debtor makes through the bankruptcy plan. The trustee distributes those monthly payments to the creditors.

The trustee wants to make sure the debtor is able to successfully complete the bankruptcy plan. The trustee will review the debtor’s income and debts. The trustee will make sure the debtor has enough money per month to pay monthly expenses as well as cover the bankruptcy plan payments. If the trustee believes that the bankruptcy plan is not sustainable, then the bankruptcy plan will not be approved by the court.

The consumer bankruptcy lawyer will thoroughly review the client’s debts and finances. The lawyer will explain if filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the best way to deal with the financial obligations. The attorney can give the client an estimate of how much their monthly trustee payments will be. If the client or attorney believes that filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy is not a viable option, they can discuss other alternatives.

Sometimes when people are having financial difficulties, they need guidance and assistance from a professional. Consulting with a bankruptcy attorney is a good way to find out all of the legal options available when dealing with strenuous financial problems.

Link: Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney – Benefits of Meeting With a Bankruptcy Lawyer

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When you are shopping at the mall, or looking for some home entertainment systems, you may have freely used your credit card without regard as to how much you have already purchased in total. When this scenario becomes frequent, you may not notice if you have already accumulated a large purchase within a single week, or if you have gone beyond your limits. And after a month, you get the shock of your life as you saw your credit card statement.

This is just one of the scenarios that lead to insurmountable debt. The credit card is only one, among the several budget-eaters that if not given the right attention immediately could lead to a big financial trouble. Other factors that could make a huge hole in your budget would be your house amortization, whether you purchased a condo or a single-detached home. You also have your car amortization, as well as the tuition fees of your children in school.

Oftentimes, what happens is that you get to overlook your expenses and your budget. You may have thought that your earnings can still make up for all that you spend on every month, only to find out in the end that your expenses have doubled while your salary stayed the same. This realization always comes too late, and before you know it, you are already buried so deep in debt.

However, you know that you still have assets that you can dispose of, or some savings which you could apply as payment for your debts. If it comes to a point that you are uncertain of how to go about the process of securing for yourself the chance to negotiate with your creditors with regards to the partial payments that you were originally planning, then consulting a bankruptcy lawyer would be the right move. Some firms offer you free debt evaluation in order for you to know if you should go for bankruptcy or not.

A debt evaluation will help you determine if your assets could still be used to answer for your debts, whether partially or wholly. Lawyers would always go through the process of debt evaluation so that they may also recommend the best course that you must take in order to get out of debt. If they see that your assets would no longer be enough to satisfy your creditors and that you will be better off as bankrupt so that in a way you would be able to have a good night’s rest once more. Filing for bankruptcy means that some of your debts would be eliminated and you would no longer need to worry so much about meeting payments.

Read the original here: Bankruptcy Lawyers and Attorneys – Free Debt Evaluation