Do you need a criminal lawyer?

Facing any criminal accusation can be extremely daunting. Criminal charges range from misdemeanors to felonies, with the type and degree of punishments varying, depending on the nature of the crime. The aftermath of a criminal trial is devastating, not only to the convicted person, but his/her family as well. Therefore, selecting the right criminal lawyer is paramount when going through the legal process.

At the Riverside County LRS, we have prescreened criminal attorneys who have the necessary knowledge and experience to handle criminal cases. During your consultation, the lawyer can evaluate your situation and provide you with sound guidance regarding the next steps.

It’s important to be honest about your situation with your lawyer during the consultation. This will help him/her fully gauge your legal issue and how to proceed. Refraining from giving important information to the lawyer, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be, can be detrimental in the long run. Remember, everything that say to the lawyer, even if you decide to not work with him/her, will remain confidential and cannot be repeated without your consent.

Use the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services to match you with an experienced lawyer. If you have questions regarding meeting with an attorney, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are not in Riverside County, there are other bar associations that offer Lawyer Referral Services such as the Bar Association of San Francisco, Chicago Bar Association, and Brooklyn Bar Association.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Looking beyond the hourly rate when selecting a lawyer

When considering which lawyer to work with, there are multiple factors to keep in mind; however, what many people tend to focus on is the hourly rate for attorneys. Certainly, it is important to maintain a budget for such a venture, but be wary about selecting a lawyer simply because he/she is less expensive than another.

Lawyers provide hourly rates based on their experience and results. Typically, the more experience a lawyer has, the higher the hourly rates are. For example, while a lawyer may have a higher hourly rate than other lawyers, he/she can get the legal matter resolved in a much timelier fashion. At the same time, an attorney who may have less experience in the field can still offer solid legal advice and representation. Therefore, there should be other things to consider than simply the hourly rate such as: the lawyer’s background and results, personality and how well you think you would work with him/her, and the lawyer’s skillset.

Looking beyond the hourly rate will help you obtain strong legal representation that better suits your needs.

Please contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services if you have more questions or concerns about meeting with a lawyer. We are here to help. Not in Riverside? Try the Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service, Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, or the Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Things to know about employment litigation

With the high unemployment rate, many people are thankful to have a job and a consistent paycheck. Unfortunately, however, because employers know the current economic situation, sometimes they take advantage of their employees and do not treat them with the respect that they deserve. In such situations, the employee may either continue to work under such difficult situations, or take the gamble of quitting the job and finding employment elsewhere.

Regardless of your job position, you have the right to be treated with respect and work in safe conditions. If the employer fails to provide such an environment, then you may have ground to file a lawsuit against the employer.

There are various legal issues that require the assistance of a lawyer in regards to employment such as:

•           Wage and hour disputes
•           Employee discrimination
•           Sexual harassment
•           Workers’ compensation
•           Violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

The consequences for the above situations can be dire, especially if your paycheck and health are affected. Also, if you have people relying on your income, they may be directly affected as well.

At the Riverside County LRS, we can refer you to a prescreened attorney who has knowledge and experience in employment litigation. During your consultation, the lawyer can evaluate your circumstances and give you advice regarding the next steps. If you have more questions regarding hiring an attorney for workers compensation, contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services for more information.

In case you do not live in Riverside County and still would like Lawyer Referral Services, consider contacting the Bar Association of San Francisco, Brooklyn Bar Association, or Chicago Bar Association.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Do you need a lawyer for your family issue?

Family matters can be very challenging, especially if they require legal assistance. Divorce, custody, and division of property are things that no one wants to deal with, but, unfortunately, with the high divorce rates in the nation, these things are an all too common reality for many people.

Finding the right lawyer for a family legal issue can be difficult as well. You need to find someone who cares about your family and your situation, is able to remain objective when evaluating the circumstances, and is able to represent your case if the matter goes to court. Because so much is at stake, choosing the right lawyer can be stressful in itself.

At the Riverside County LRS, we have are connected to many qualified family attorneys. We can refer you to a family lawyer who has experience pertaining to your family’s specific needs. For example, lawyer may suggest that you and your family go through mediation instead of going to court. Or, the attorney can give you various options regarding your family’s situation.

Please contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services to see how we can help you find the right family attorney. For updates regarding legal news, follow us on twitter. If you do not live in the Riverside area, you can still obtain useful family legal services from other LRS programs from the Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service, Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, or the Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Planning ahead: make the most of your consultation with an attorney

When meeting with a lawyer during a free consultation, going in the meeting blindly can quickly make the appointment counter-productive. While a 30 minute consultation is a good amount of time to discuss a legal issue, 30 minutes can go by really fast if not properly prepared, and, before you know it, the consultation is over. Therefore, prior to the consultation, it is important to you prepare a series of questions or topics that you want to discuss with the lawyer.

When discussing your situation, cover only the main points of what happened and why you are concerned. It’s easy to stray away from the main idea and delve into areas that are secondary. For example, if you are discussing a business dispute involving your previous business partner’s frivolous spending habits, it would be unnecessary to detail every single expense. There will be time to discuss the details later if you and the lawyer decide to work with each other.

If necessary, it may be helpful to try rehearsing what you would like to tell the attorney during your meeting. This may help reduce nervousness and help ensure that you are sharing the information in a timely manner.

If you would like to know more about preparing your consultation with a lawyer, contact the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. For updates regarding legal news, follow us on twitter.

Not in Riverside? Then try the Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service, Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, or the Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Communication and your attorney

With any legal issue, you can expect a substantial amount of communication between you and your lawyer. Therefore, maintaining professional and timely exchanges with your attorney is imperative in seeing your legal matter handled appropriately.

During your consultation with the lawyer, discuss both your and the lawyer’s expectations and manner regarding communication. Do you prefer to communicate via phone or through email? Or, does your legal matter require that you meet with the lawyer face-to-face? How quick can the attorney respond to your questions or concerns?

There are other factors that may affect the efficiency of your communication with the lawyer such as the lawyer’s workload, the difficulty of your case, and the timeframe for your issue. It’s best to clear up any of these issues during the initial consultation so that you and the lawyer maintain effective communication.

If you have more questions about how to prepare for a consultation and how to communicate with a lawyer, contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services. We want to help.

If your matter is not in Riverside County, consider one of these alternative Lawyer Referral Services:

Brooklyn Bar Association

The Bar Association of San Francisco

Chicago Bar Association

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

“Honesty is the best policy” – opening up during the consultation

Some people aren’t sure how they should present themselves and their legal matters when meeting with a lawyer. Maybe they had some fault in the situation. Perhaps there are uncomfortable details in their circumstances. People may think that leaving out details that may incriminate them or make the lawyer uncomfortable would be beneficial as they would be presenting themselves in a “better light.” However, this is very counterproductive and concealing information from the lawyer can ultimately make the legal situation worse.

When you meet with the attorney during your consultation, it is important that you are completely honest with your case so that the attorney can fully understand your situation and give you the best advice regarding the next steps. Discuss the main points of your situation and do not hesitate to bring in information that you think may tarnish your image. The lawyer is there to help you and not judge you for your actions.

In addition, everything that you disclose to the lawyer is completely confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege, even if you decide to not continue to work with the lawyer. All of the information that you provide is safe and it cannot be disclosed to anyone else without your permission.

If you have more questions or concerns regarding the types of conversations that you should have with a lawyer, please contact the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services. For more legal information and updates, follow the Riverside LRS on twitter.

In case your matter is not in Riverside County, consider one of these alternatives:

Brooklyn Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association

The Bar Association of San Francisco

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.