Real property lawyers and contracts

While a Realtor can give you guidance regarding real estate budgets and whether or not to buy a property, a real property lawyer can also be very useful when buying and dealing with real estate. When buying real estate, an experienced attorney can go over the paperwork and contracts, which can be very difficult to understand, and, if not properly explained, can lead to major difficulties after closing.

If you have already bought the property and are considering renovations, a real property attorney can help you with contracts or legal disputes with contractors and workers. In handling the contracts, the lawyer can help explain the procedures and the best course of action. If you are having a legal trouble with a contractor, a real property lawyer can evaluate your circumstances and give you guidance regarding the next steps.

When considering renting out the property, a real property lawyer can discuss how to go about the contracts with the potential tenant. In addition, if you are a landlord and have a dispute with a tenant, the lawyer can help you with that as well. 

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

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.

Why did the attorney not accept my case?

There is assumption among many people who seek legal representation that they are the ones in charge since they are paying the lawyer for his/her services. But, in reality, there are instances where the attorney may not take on your case. Just as you are not obligated to work with an attorney you meet with, the attorney is not obligated to take on every case. If an attorney does not accept your case, there may be very justifiable reasons for him/her to do so such as:

1. Lack of knowledge or experience – Just because a lawyer may be a personal injury lawyer, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is well-versed in every aspect of that practice area. Legal areas are vast in nature, so there may be instances where the lawyer may not be able to address your specific needs. For instance, if you have a medical malpractice case that pertains to a birth injury, but the lawyer mainly focuses on elder abuse, that lawyer may not be the best lawyer for your case.
2. Conflict of interest – If the attorney knows or has a personal or professional relationship with the opposing side, he/she may have a bias against your case, ultimately harming your representation. For example, if you are suing a company that the lawyer has stocks in, he/she may be more hesitant to take on your case as the outcome may affect the lawyer’s relationship with the company.
3. Unworthy claim – There is a lot at stake when a lawyer takes on a case; therefore, they tend to take on cases that they believe will have a strong chance of obtaining a favorable result. That’s why it is extremely important to come prepared to your consultation with the lawyer so you can provide a sound claim for your case.
4. Strategy disagreements – Ultimately, if a lawyer agrees to take on a case, both you and lawyer must work together to see the end result. If the attorney has a strategy that you are not comfortable with, then the relationship may not be a good one.

Just because a lawyer may reject your case that does not mean that another lawyer will not represent you. At the same time, because there is a chance that a lawyer may not want to take the case, it is important to make sure you are very organized and prepared for your consultation.

You can follow the Riverside County Bar Association on Twitter to get updates regarding legal and lawyer referral service information.

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.

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.