The Pros And Cons Of Child Custody: Be Informed With Houston Lawyers

The innocent and the wounded ? rolled into one that is how your child will be as you go about the process of separation or divorce. You as the parent might find it hard to move on but think about how difficult the period is for your child.

Most complicated is when you file custody for your child. It is not because you won custody over your child that you ensure happy growing years. There are advantages and disadvantages whenever you wish to achieve guardianship. In Houston, there is numerous child custody lawyers whom you may want to seek for legal advice.

The child custody lawyer you sought for counsel may present you with some of the common pros and cons of child custody.

Advantages of Child Custody

? There is a legal basis for guardianship. Hence it will prevent damage in the near future whenever your ex-spouse bothers you with custody.

? You will have the chance to spend more time with your child. Hence you can apply many parental decisions which you think will be beneficial to your child. This is mostly true with sole child custody.

? If you are in an abusive home before then you can keep your child away from a detrimental environment.

Disadvantages of Child Custody

? The process of a child custody case may create a severe emotional stress on your child especially if you and your former spouse are not civil with each other.

? You have to financially prepare when you seek for your child?s custody. Commonly custody proceedings are costly.

? Your child will always need a mother to comfort him or a father to teach him how to hurdle life?s challenges. With this you need to be prepared on being both a mother and a father to your child.

When you and your former spouse decided to separate or divorce, you already posed certain advantages and disadvantages to your child. On top of this, again you are presenting them pros and cons when you choose to gain custody of your child.

There will always be a good and a bad side in the child custody world. What you can do as a parent is protect your child from harassment and emotional pain which will hinder him to obtain a happy and healthy life.

Your child custody lawyer may help you achieve your goal to safeguard your child with the many damaging consequences of child custody. He may recommend the following undertakings:

? Never blame the other party. It is unhealthy for your child to know and observe how you cast fault with his other parent. Psychologists believe that you and your ex-spouse contributed on the wellbeing of your child.

? Learn to compromise. It is not always about winning. Most parents who sought for custody have selfish reasons why they need to gain guardianship ? that is to let the other party feel that he is unworthy.

? Set plans. Present the things you feel is needed by your child.

As a parent learn to listen to the ones who have been in the child custody process. Discover the many benefits of seeking legal advice. Most importantly, hear what your heart have to say so your child will not end up with a scarred heart.

Your kids are precious to you. Hence, aim for the betterment of their future, individuality and totality as an individual.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on child custody & where to find one in your state, please visit http://child-custody.articlekeep.com

Car Accident Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about Car Accident Lawyers.

Car accidents are usually considered to be personal injury cases in court. The driver can put up a case against the car manufacturer or against the guilty party for an injury settlement. An experienced car accident lawyer can look into the details of the lawsuit to ensure proper justice is carried out.

Car accident lawyers are specialized in this field and are experts in dealing with such cases. They are licensed to deal with these cases specifically and so can be of immense help in such situations. Most of them have a good grasp of the litigations involved in such cases and can deal with personal injury and property damage involved in an accident.

Car accident lawyers can help deal with the details of the accident such as witnesses, details of the guilty party, filing a police report, and other information that might be useful while filing a lawsuit.

Most car owners are covered by insurance these days. Although the insurance covers for the damage caused, including personal injury as well as the property damage, this can be settled in the court itself with the other party. The insurance of the guilty party mostly covers all the expenses of the injured party but in the event it does not, the case should go to court. A car accident lawyer can be invaluable in such cases where the negotiations would be required to ensure that the injured party gets all the necessary reimbursement for the trauma faced. A car accident lawyer will keep in mind all the injured party's legal rights and go through various options before arriving at the best solution.

Car accident lawyers can assist the injured party to get compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, disability claims, minor fractures and sufferings, as well as the loss of income due to the accident. Many other small details would also be taken care of over by a car accident lawyer.

Since these lawyers are specialized in this field, their expertise could be of immense help when involved in a car accident. They help smooth over the whole process for a nominal fee and can boost the morale just by being present to take over the matters on hand.

Car Accident Lawyers provides detailed information on Car Accidents, Car Accident Lawyers, Car Accident Lawsuits, Car Accident Settlements and more. Car Accident Lawyers is affiliated with Fatal Car Crashes

Louisiana Bankruptcy Lawyers

Although the laws of the state of Louisiana are different from the laws of the other states, bankruptcy is one area where there are more similarities than differences. This is because bankruptcy relief is under federal law, so the information in this context is pretty much the same in all the states.

But there is one glaring exception. It is about exemptions, the items that you do not lose by declaring yourself bankrupt. Under Louisiana Bankruptcy Law, the exempted items include IRA savings, which is a great exemption indeed. So for a bankruptcy case pertaining to Louisiana, a better course would be to hire a lawyer who knows this aspect of the state law. Another aspect to be considered is that of time limitations. Although Louisiana Bankruptcy Laws conform to the federal laws, the time limitations may require the engagement of a lawyer.

If you look keenly into the Louisiana Bankruptcy Law, you will find that the legal terminology used in the courts of the state of Louisiana is often confusing legal jargon, which needs to be understood and explained into understandable language. A lawyer who has worked in the state can do this more easily.

With these basic peculiarities of the Louisiana state laws in view, the first step in searching for a suitable prospective lawyer is to contact the Lawyer Referral Service. These companies are like middlemen, and charge fees from lawyers for registering them, along with their specialties. But the snag here is that reputable lawyers refrain from registering with them, as they are already booked by upscale clients who generally do not require referral services.

The Internet and Yellow Pages are very rich and convenient sources for finding lawyers of all specialties, but the problem here is that there are so many lawyers listed that finding the best one is difficult. It is at best a random method.

Your family members and friends may be able to recommend a lawyer. It is still better to contact those friends who studied from some law school. These people are usually well informed about the right lawyer for your needs. Employers and co-workers are another source of information. Your boss especially can be of great help here, as he may have to deal with lawyers as a part of his vocation. Having decided which lawyer to hire, you should contact the law firm for an appointment, and here too you need to check if you will be charged for making enquiries.

Once you've decided, you should ask your prospective lawyer about his legal qualifications and fees, his telephone charges and whether he answers questions on the telephone, and finally, ask him about his track record.

Louisiana Lawyers provides detailed information on Louisiana lawyers, Louisiana probate lawyers, Louisiana real estate lawyers, Louisiana divorce lawyers and more. Louisiana Lawyers is affliated with Massachusetts Divorce Lawyers

Michigan Mesothelioma Lawyers

Asbestos is a fibrous material that was used in home construction and the manufacture of vehicle brakes, plastics, paints and some paper products. Asbestos is harmful to human health. It causes many forms of diseases, some of them being fatal.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside the ribs, or around the abdominal organs. This form of cancer is very difficult to diagnose, and responds poorly to therapy. Mesothelioma is a malignant type of cancer and the survival time is less than a year. Malignant mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, and takes 20 or more years for the disease to develop. Thus, persons who were exposed to mesothelioma twenty years before are still at risk of getting mesothelioma.

In the last 20 or so years, professional and non-profit groups have tried to raise awareness about the ill effects of asbestos exposure. Asbestos laws have been enacted to protect people from the harmful consequences of asbestos exposure. OSHA enforces asbestos law. The law limits the permissible level of asbestos exposure in terms of fiber content and duration. Asbestos laws allow people to get compensation for medical expenses and lost income. The law is proactive, in that it allows anticipatory medical expenses.

Mesothelioma lawsuits are generally medical malpractice cases, but some come under product liability, personal injury and wrongful death laws. A mesothelioma attorney has to be consulted if one was exposed to asbestos in the past. An attorney can help recover the costs. Sometimes, the attorney can also arrange a meeting with other mesothelioma patients to exchange information and support. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help recover benefits from reluctant defendants, sometimes without even going to trial.

Michigan Lawyers provides detailed information on Michigan Auto Accident Lawyers, Michigan Divorce Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers, Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyers and more. Michigan Lawyers is affliated with Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers Info

Florida Bankruptcy Lawyers

When a company or an individual is unable to repay a loan, the individual or the company is considered to be bankrupt. Sometimes companies incur heavy financial losses. For example, a printing firm gets 80 percent of its total income from a single publisher. If the publisher diverts its order to a different company, the printer loses a large portion of its total income. The printing firm becomes bankrupt.

Bankruptcy involves two parties: the debtor and the creditor. The debtor is the party in debt, who owes money to the creditor. A debtor can be a company or an individual. The creditor is an organization or individual to whom the debtor owes money. Most bankruptcy cases involve several creditors. There are basically three types of bankruptcy.

When a company is bankrupt, the trustee, a person appointed by the court, sells all of debtor?s non-exempt assets so that the debts can be repaid. This type of bankruptcy is known as liquidating bankruptcy, or Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Individuals, corporations and partnerships file this bankruptcy.

Suppose a business or an individual is bankrupt, but continues to function, maintains ownership of all assets, and tries to work out a reorganization plan to pay off creditors. This is known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Usually, businesses and individuals who have unbearable debt file this bankruptcy.

An individual owns and controls his assets and works out a repayment plan with his creditors. This is known as Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Though it is like Chapter 11, this bankruptcy involves only individuals. The debtor retains control and ownership of the assets.

Whether it is a company, business or an individual, once bankrupt, the best person to turn to for advice and help would be a bankruptcy lawyer. The bankruptcy lawyer offers help to the client, who may be an individual, company or business, as described below.

He collects and files all the bankruptcy documents with the bankruptcy court. After this, the creditors are informed by the court clerk that a petition has been filed. Thereafter, a meeting of creditors is held at the court, with the trustee acting as President. It is mandatory for the debtor to attend this meeting.

After this, on the direction of the court, the trustee sells all of debtor?s non-exempt assets for the benefit of the creditors. Finally, the debtor is discharged and all debts, with some exceptions, are written off. www.floridabar.org, the official web site of the Florida Bar Association (the regulatory body of all practicing lawyers in the state), publishes several pamphlets, including one entitled `Bankruptcy,? for the general public. The website also has a lawyer referral service to locate Bar-Certified bankruptcy lawyers in Florida.

Louisiana Insurance Lawyers

Although Louisiana is a part of the United States, its legal system is different other states. So you need to be careful before filing a lawsuit in the state of Louisiana. You can easily find lawyers dealing with insurance cases by surfing the Internet or consulting your friends, or you can seek the advice of fresh law graduates about a competent insurance lawyer and his fees. You can then contact the lawyer and, after settling the charges, get a written contract so as to avoid any future misunderstanding.

A good insurance lawyer can help you if the insurance companies have wrongfully denied you your insurance claims. Depending upon the nature of your case, he can assist you in a vide variety of disputes in many types of insurance claims, including environmental- and asbestos-related claims which may run into huge amounts, as the exposure to asbestos dust and flakes causes almost diseases like Mesothelioma, whose treatment costs thousands of dollars per month.

But it must be noted in this context that asbestos-related lawsuits have to be filed within a stipulated date, after which you lose your eligibility to file your claims. So, as soon as you are diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you should immediately contact your lawyer before it is too late. Besides, the insurance lawyers can also take up other claims, such as construction defects claims, advertising and personal injury claims, employment related claims and more. These claims are filed under many types of insurance policies, and coverage forms and a variety of insurance schemes.

But be careful: a lawyer who has been good for someone else's case may not be good for your case. In these specialized times, a lawyer who is competent in one field might not do well in another.

Louisiana Lawyers provides detailed information on Louisiana lawyers, Louisiana probate lawyers, Louisiana real estate lawyers, Louisiana divorce lawyers and more. Louisiana Lawyers is affliated with Massachusetts Divorce Lawyers

Atlanta Lawyers

Whether it is a personal injury case involving an automobile accident, a compensation case against the company or a real estate case entailing property disputes, there is no shortage of lawyers in Atlanta who can fight your case for you. However, zeroing in on the ideal lawyer needs some consideration. This is important because you only get one chance to fight your compensation case. Compromising on a lawyer will lead to trauma that can easily be avoided.

First or all, you need to get your priorities in order. Keep in mind while searching for a lawyer that skills are what is most important and not marketing skills, flashy cars or an expensive, plush office. The saying "all that glitters is not gold" may sound clich?, but the bottom line is, it holds true when you make your choice.

Do some groundwork. Make sure that a particular lawyer has a proven track record, is well respected in the community and has a spotless reputation. The lawyer may not be the right choice if his or her expertise is in personal injury, and you are looking for a lawyer to take on your property dispute case.

Before settling on a lawyer, make sure he or she is willing to fight your case all the way. Many lawyers go for out of court settlements and are willing to argue their cases in front of a jury. This is especially true in accident cases or when compensation is involved. Ultimately, it is the insurance company that has to pay the damages. Once the insurance company realizes that the lawyer is going to back down in court, it might urge you to settle for a reduced amount of money.

Atlanta lawyers can be found through a referral service provided by Georgia State Bar Association, the county bar association and other professional law associations. Information is also available in the yellow pages or through search engines like Google and Yahoo on the Internet. You can check advertisements of law firms in magazines and newspapers. Friends and family members are also excellent sources of information.

Lawyers and TV Advertising: Questions to Be Answered

When lawyers want to make an advertisement of the judicial services they offer, TV is just one great possibility of presenting themselves before the public eye. But there are few questions of interest, whose answers must be found before going into TV advertising.

Who is advertising on TV?

The simple answer runs: THE PROSPEROUS PROFESSIONALS. A lawyer showing himself on TV is a lawyer who have profit of doing that. If you have been seeing a lawyer doing TV advertising for a month or two, the logical conclusion is that he or she can afford it. Why can they afford it? Because it brings them profits. If you have similar practice as theirs, perhaps TV advertising will be perfect for you, too.

Who would hire a lawyer from TV?

TV advertising is aimed at people from lower economic demo, such as working class or even lower. This is because these people don't know a lawyer personally and cannot find one. They depend on TV advertising to meet with a professional.

What exactly are you offering?

If you are offering unusual judicial services, chances are that you will be noticed by people from higher economic demo. That depends of the specificity of your qualification - the more specific, the higher the possibility to be reached by well-to-do clients.

What legal specialty works well on TV?

TV advertising requires special strategies and decisions that you have to take. You have to decide which one of the services that you offer is worth being advertised on TV. Advertising a corporate tax law practice on local television would not be the most ingenious solution that you may come upon. There are too many people doing that, and you may not be noticed except as a part of the huge crowd of tax practitioners.

How about the rivalry between colleagues?

TV advertising has one special advantage: if you and a colleague of yours have advertised nearly in the same time, but she or he has ceased showing up on TV, your ad will gain all the potential clientele of your colleague. People don't remember names, and one attorney is interchangeable with other. In the long run, you may be rewarded for your persistence in TV advertising.

Do you need to pay the staff extra?

The staff in your office will consciously or unconsciously fight against your TV advertising, except if you don't involve them in the process. Involvement should include financial bonuses for receiving phone calls from TV clients. The staff needs to feel part of the new marketing strategy. Any kind of moral support from you or gathering decision-taking meetings will be suitable for changing their attitudes.

You also need to hire a special person with the prime responsibility of selecting the phone calls that you have received. TV advertising usually leads to a lot of useless phone rings from people that do not really need your service. Not to be huddled up, you have to take measures by positioning a contact person.

Who will produce the TV advertisement?

Make sure that you trust the right person. Lawyers' commercials have to put up with some basic requirements. For example, the State Bar of Texas supports special Advertising Committee, that is responsible for TV advertising of law services. It is extremely important that you play by the rules, otherwise TV advertising may turn up to have the opposite effect on your career and professional development. For more information click TV advertising

Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects. For more information click TV advertising

Coaching for Lawyers: 10 Ways a Lawyer Can Benefit from Working with a Professional Coach

D., CPCCMarie kept noticing that Diane seemed to be sailing through her career and receiving nods from the partners. According to Marie, Diane was extremely successful in handling her cases, developing strong relationships with her clients and seemed to be building a successful career on all fronts. Diane was viewed as a rising star in the firm and was getting several choice assignmentsmany of which Marie had hoped to get. After inviting Diane to lunch, Marie learned that Diane had been working with a Professional Coach. Diane reported that she credited her Coach with helping her develop a strategic action plan designed to help her succeed by improving weak areas in her performance and by enhancing and strengthening her professional image.
One week later, Marie hired her own Coach.
Professional Coaching is for lawyers who are ready to excel, enjoy a better quality of life and gain an edge on the competition.
Lets face it, the legal profession is all about successful outcomes and lawyers are trained to succeed in achieving favorable outcomes for their clients.
Coaches are trained to help clients achieve powerful results. There are systems of accountability incorporated into the coaching process to move clients forward and deepen insights.
Coaching is a collaborative process that is focused and results oriented. A Professional Coach can help lawyers overcome challenges, increase strategic thinking and improve communication skills. In addition, many lawyers hire Coaches to help them develop a savvy professional image, cultivate ongoing career and personal goals and to achieve greater work-life balance. Unlike a consultant, a Coach doesnt come in and solve the problem for you. Instead, a Coach partners with you to assess how best to resolve issues and achieve your goals.
A Professional Coach can provide the insight, accountability, resources and strategic planning that a lawyer needs build a successful career and fulfilling personal life.

Below are 10 ways a lawyer can benefit by working with a Professional Coach.
1. Achieve better focus. When the majority of your time is spent juggling cases, keeping track of clients, meeting goals for billables and balancing your personal life, it's hard to focus on anything other than making it through the day. A Professional Coach will help you focus your energy so you can achieve your goals with greater ease despite your hectic schedule.
2. Manage and Develop a Successful Legal Career. Developing a successful career depends largely on your ability to structure your career in alignment with your personal and professional goals. Coaching can help you clarify your vision and goals. When was the last time you considered what YOU want in your legal career and in your personal life? The practice of law is fast paced and its tough to find time to slow down and ask yourself some meaningful questions. Through Coaching, you'll have the opportunity to examine what you want, what motivates you, where you get stuck or distracted and much more. The coaching process allows you to learn about what you value, what it will take to build a fulfilling career and how you can design a balanced personal and professional life. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was fully committed to you and your success? Thats the job of a Professional Coach.
3. Develop a Values-Based Professional Development Plan Success doesnt happen by accident. You must PLAN what you want to achieve and determine the best way to go about getting there. Consider your career plan as the roadmap for your career. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How will you get there? What resources will you need? A Coach can help you create a plan that is in alignment with your personal and professional values and overall vision for your life and career.
4. Increase Productivity. Productive people have the ability to complete their work on time and in an efficient manner. How many times committed to completing a task to only have the needs of someone else get in the way? At the core of Professional Coaching is accountability. Knowing that you've made a commitment to yourself AND told someone else about it, makes you more likely to stay on task. Your Coach holds you accountable for what you say you want to accomplish, and then continues to work with you as you achieve your goals and increase productivity.
5. Navigate a Job Change or Career Transition. Too often, lawyers get locked into a job because they lack the tools needed to determine their next steps. Changing jobs, starting in a new practice area or transitioning to a new career can be tough. So tough in fact that many lawyers end up STUCK in an unfulfilling career. A Coach can provide you with the insight, resources and feedback needed to make concrete decisions regarding your career. If its time to move up or outa Coach can help you make that decision faster and with greater ease than you would on your own.
6. Improve Time Management and Practice Management Skills. Lawyers are slaves to time yet few if any law schools provide training on how to successfully manage time. Case files, motions, clients, conference calls, deadlines, e-mails and meetings are simply a fraction of what goes on in a typical lawyers day. Too often everything feels like a priority and lawyers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out. A Professional Coach can help you to take an honest look at your schedule and how you currently spend your time and manage your practice... Based on this information your Coach can help you create a strategy where you can achieve more in less timeoften with more time for a healthy personal life. Goodbye burnout!
7. Develop your unique brand for improved marketing. The practice of law is competitive and its important to create a brand that effectively communicates your value to your employer, colleagues and potential clients. Why should they hire you over another lawyer? A Coach can help you create and develop your unique value proposition and help you communicate it to others in a way that helps you develop a successful reputation and career.
8. Discover your Passion in the Law. Have you met lawyers who report feeling disillusioned with the law or report feeling lost? These feelings tend to emerge in a career when there is a misalignment between the work the lawyer is involved in and his or her personal and professional values. Sustaining a successful career in the law requires the pursuit and attainment of work in alignment with your passion, interests and strengths. Through Coaching youll have the opportunity to gain clarity about your ideal work and work environment and then take the necessary action steps toward designing a successful and gratifying legal career.
9. Create Boundaries. Working with a Professional Coach can help you evaluate what you say "yes" to because you want to and what you need to quit saying "yes" to. A Coach can help you find the cure for the "disease to please" and the inability to delegate effectively. What do YOU need to say "yes "to or "no" to in order to respect your boundaries and function more effectively in your legal career?
10. Achieve Work-Life Balance. Lawyers are required to maintain hectic schedules under incredibly stressful, high pressure situations. After keeping up such a pace many lawyers experience burnout, depression and other stress related illnesses. Lawyers are people too...and we all need to find a balance of mind, body and spirit. A Professional Coach is there to help you find that in your life. We cannot be our best selves if we are stressed, overwhelmed and unhappy. A Coach will help you to take charge and create a more balanced life. Through Coaching you can find a way to design and adhere to a daily practice that will renew you mentally, physically and spiritually.
One week later, Marie hired her own Coach.
Professional Coaching is for lawyers who are ready to excel, enjoy a better quality of life and gain an edge on the competition.
Lets face it, the legal profession is all about successful outcomes and lawyers are trained to succeed in achieving favorable outcomes for their clients.
Coaches are trained to help clients achieve powerful results. There are systems of accountability incorporated into the coaching process to move clients forward and deepen insights.
Coaching is a collaborative process that is focused and results oriented. A Professional Coach can help lawyers overcome challenges, increase strategic thinking and improve communication skills. In addition, many lawyers hire Coaches to help them develop a savvy professional image, cultivate ongoing career and personal goals and to achieve greater work-life balance. Unlike a consultant, a Coach doesnt come in and solve the problem for you. Instead, a Coach partners with you to assess how best to resolve issues and achieve your goals.
A Professional Coach can provide the insight, accountability, resources and strategic planning that a lawyer needs build a successful career and fulfilling personal life.

Below are 10 ways a lawyer can benefit by working with a Professional Coach.
1. Achieve better focus. When the majority of your time is spent juggling cases, keeping track of clients, meeting goals for billables and balancing your personal life, it's hard to focus on anything other than making it through the day. A Professional Coach will help you focus your energy so you can achieve your goals with greater ease despite your hectic schedule.
2. Manage and Develop a Successful Legal Career. Developing a successful career depends largely on your ability to structure your career in alignment with your personal and professional goals. Coaching can help you clarify your vision and goals. When was the last time you considered what YOU want in your legal career and in your personal life? The practice of law is fast paced and its tough to find time to slow down and ask yourself some meaningful questions. Through Coaching, you'll have the opportunity to examine what you want, what motivates you, where you get stuck or distracted and much more. The coaching process allows you to learn about what you value, what it will take to build a fulfilling career and how you can design a balanced personal and professional life. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was fully committed to you and your success? Thats the job of a Professional Coach.
3. Develop a Values-Based Professional Development Plan Success doesnt happen by accident. You must PLAN what you want to achieve and determine the best way to go about getting there. Consider your career plan as the roadmap for your career. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How will you get there? What resources will you need? A Coach can help you create a plan that is in alignment with your personal and professional values and overall vision for your life and career.
4. Increase Productivity. Productive people have the ability to complete their work on time and in an efficient manner. How many times committed to completing a task to only have the needs of someone else get in the way? At the core of Professional Coaching is accountability. Knowing that you've made a commitment to yourself AND told someone else about it, makes you more likely to stay on task. Your Coach holds you accountable for what you say you want to accomplish, and then continues to work with you as you achieve your goals and increase productivity.
5. Navigate a Job Change or Career Transition. Too often, lawyers get locked into a job because they lack the tools needed to determine their next steps. Changing jobs, starting in a new practice area or transitioning to a new career can be tough. So tough in fact that many lawyers end up STUCK in an unfulfilling career. A Coach can provide you with the insight, resources and feedback needed to make concrete decisions regarding your career. If its time to move up or outa Coach can help you make that decision faster and with greater ease than you would on your own.
6. Improve Time Management and Practice Management Skills. Lawyers are slaves to time yet few if any law schools provide training on how to successfully manage time. Case files, motions, clients, conference calls, deadlines, e-mails and meetings are simply a fraction of what goes on in a typical lawyers day. Too often everything feels like a priority and lawyers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out. A Professional Coach can help you to take an honest look at your schedule and how you currently spend your time and manage your practice... Based on this information your Coach can help you create a strategy where you can achieve more in less timeoften with more time for a healthy personal life. Goodbye burnout!
7. Develop your unique brand for improved marketing. The practice of law is competitive and its important to create a brand that effectively communicates your value to your employer, colleagues and potential clients. Why should they hire you over another lawyer? A Coach can help you create and develop your unique value proposition and help you communicate it to others in a way that helps you develop a successful reputation and career.
8. Discover your Passion in the Law. Have you met lawyers who report feeling disillusioned with the law or report feeling lost? These feelings tend to emerge in a career when there is a misalignment between the work the lawyer is involved in and his or her personal and professional values. Sustaining a successful career in the law requires the pursuit and attainment of work in alignment with your passion, interests and strengths. Through Coaching youll have the opportunity to gain clarity about your ideal work and work environment and then take the necessary action steps toward designing a successful and gratifying legal career.
9. Create Boundaries. Working with a Professional Coach can help you evaluate what you say "yes" to because you want to and what you need to quit saying "yes" to. A Coach can help you find the cure for the "disease to please" and the inability to delegate effectively. What do YOU need to say "yes "to or "no" to in order to respect your boundaries and function more effectively in your legal career?
10. Achieve Work-Life Balance. Lawyers are required to maintain hectic schedules under incredibly stressful, high pressure situations. After keeping up such a pace many lawyers experience burnout, depression and other stress related illnesses. Lawyers are people too...and we all need to find a balance of mind, body and spirit. A Professional Coach is there to help you find that in your life. We cannot be our best selves if we are stressed, overwhelmed and unhappy. A Coach will help you to take charge and create a more balanced life. Through Coaching you can find a way to design and adhere to a daily practice that will renew you mentally, physically and spiritually.

Jatrine Bentsi-Enchill is the founder and director of the Esq. Development Institute, an organization committed to helping lawyers excel personally and professionally. The Esq. Development Institute specializes in Executive and Personal Coaching for lawyers as well as training and assessment processes for law firms in the areas of leadership, communication, diversity and cultural competence, management development and work-life balance.

Lawyers: How To Get An 'Unfair' Advantage Over Your Competition

When it comes to getting new clients, no matter what market your in, you still have to work to get the client. Rarely is a law firm so well positioned that no marketing program has to be used.

In fact, today, competition for "good" cases is stronger than ever. With some attorneys willing to sacrifice big dollars in hopes of "the big one" and others under-cutting other local attorneys, it's no wonder that it's harder and harder to get good, new business.

Add to the fact that many firms have one practice area and have no cross-selling capabilities; new business efforts can haunt a good attorney.

The best way to gain an unfair advantage over your competition is to do what I call "stealth marketing."

This is the kind of silent but deadly marketing that is bringing in volumes of new business with little cost, publicity or fanfare. When your competition finally figures out how you're opening 20 or 30 new cases a month, it's way too late for them to do anything about it.

Add that to the fact that most attorneys are not willing to pay for marketing expertise, and those of you who have decided to do something about getting new business are making bucket-loads of money. It's the old 80/20 rule: 80% of the business is being handled by 20% of the lawyers.

Think about this. There is a certain segment of the population (and it's growing like crazy each day, literally) that will only utilize the Internet to collect information before making a purchasing decision. (Many attorneys don't understand that when someone is thinking about hiring them, that person is making a "purchasing decision.")

Therefore, there's a growing number of people who will only find you if you have a website. The good news is, these are the same consumers that are most educated and want to make qualified, informed decisions.

Don't forget the many law firms still don't have websites that work. If you're in a smaller market, the number of attorney websites is even smaller. It's estimated that only 30% of all small and solo firms (10 attorneys or less) have a website.

But remember the fact that nearly each of these sites it a tragic mess.

Adding all that up, gives you a huge advantage to take over a market. With a turn-key website from LawFirmMarketingWebsites.com, you'll get nearly every available case you want from those who are looking on the Internet in your state.

Matthew Samp is a law firm marketing consultant. Information about his turnkey website can be found at www.LawFirmMarketingWebsites.comor by calling 402-292-3400.