Florida Criminal Lawyers

The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, based in Tallahassee, regulates the functioning of criminal lawyers in Florida. Founded in 1988, it has nearly 1,500 members. Its mission statement, according to its official website www.facdl.org, lists five important objectives, of which two are of great importance to consumers. They are: ?To improve the criminal justice system at the judicial, legislative and executive levels? and ?To promote the protection of the rights of individuals.? FACDL is the state organ of the National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, whose Official website is www.nacdl.org.

Usually people imagine a criminal lawyer to be a professional involved in highly dramatic situations in courtrooms. However, this is only one aspect of their work. A criminal lawyer may spend one day with the client discussing the legal problem. He may spend another day in the study [library or a computer terminal] doing research on relevant points of law. He may spend yet another day in trial practice, actually pleading before the judge in court. Sometimes, he may also be visiting the scene of the crime.

Most criminal lawyers spend hours researching and developing legal reports and documents. Though the advantages of information and communication technology are immense, there is a downside too, particularly in relation to cyber and transnational crimes. This means that today?s criminal lawyers need to be equipped with the latest methods to handle these issues. In the US, there have always been excellent facilities for continuing legal education programs. The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers offers regular programs for its members.

www.facdl.org is an excellent resource to locate criminal lawyers in Florida.

Florida Lawyers provides detailed information on Florida Bankruptcy Lawyers, Florida Business Lawyers, Florida Criminal Lawyers, Florida Family Lawyers and more. Florida Lawyers is affliated with Florida Alcohol Treatment

Canada Immigration Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about Canada Immigration Lawyers.

There is no need for engaging any lawyer or consultant to immigrate to Canada or any other country. If you have the right credentials in accordance with the immigration policies of the country you want to immigrate to, along with the acceptable documents to support your claims, you do not need any lawyer to plead your case.

But immigration is not simple. The policies governing immigration are sometimes too complex to be easily understood by immigration seekers. Moreover, lawyers can present your case in a clear and concise manner according to the laws of the land. This can help your case to be decided more expeditiously.

The question of choosing the right lawyer to represent your case is important. Most of the law firms in Canada do not have immigration lawyers on their panels. Therefore you need to make special efforts to find a suitable one yourself.

The best course is to contact someone among your friends and relatives who has already been well served by a lawyer in his efforts to immigrate. You can also see the lawyers' advertisements in the newspapers and on the Internet.

Tall and misleading promises are sometimes made by lawyers who advertise themselves as immigration experts. There is no way you can verify their credentials. If you find the website of a lawyer, you should try to see whether that site gives substantive and value-added information to guide you.

Eminent lawyers have many prestigious publications on the special field of their practice. These publications usually provide sufficient insight into their credentials. So when you select a lawyer, ask for his published books or articles in the field of immigration.

Information about the capabilities of a lawyer can also be sought from the bar council or association of which he is the member. Some of the prominent immigration lawyers may be office bearers of the bar associations. These lawyers are recognized as authorities in their specific field.

Direct communication with the lawyer may also help a lot. You should not hesitate to ask for references of persons he claims to have helped successfully. You may also ask him his special qualifications and length of his experience.

You should always ask for a money-back guarantee and a detailed written contract so as to avoid future misunderstandings.

Canada Immigration Visas provides detailed information on Canadian Immigration, Canada Immigration Visas, Canada Immigration Lawyers, Canada Employment Immigration and more. Canada Immigration Visas is affiliated with Canadian Immigration.

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

Atlanta Criminal Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about Atlanta Criminal Lawyers.

Criminal law deals with cases where local, state or federal government seeks to punish someone for an act considered a crime. A criminal lawyer is required to represent someone who has been charged with a crime. A criminal charge can be levied on a person for either felonies or serious crimes like murder or rape, as well as misdemeanors like petty theft or jaywalking.

The process involved in charging a person with a crime and administering punishment is quite similar. An experienced lawyer will successfully deal with prosecutors in court and should be able to prove a client innocent.

In Atlanta, like all states, the Constitution provides criminal defendants with the right to an attorney, if the state is trying to deprive the defendant of his or her liberty. This means that the state has to appoint a lawyer for the defendant if one cannot afford a private lawyer.

Atlanta criminal lawyers should be familiar with all the legal provisions of the local, state and federal governments. The procedure for a criminal charge in Atlanta begins with an arrest or citation summarizing the reason for the arrest. Copies of these reports are sent to a prosecutor's office who initiates and prosecutes criminal cases. After these prosecutors have gained enough evidence, the court proceedings begin.

When choosing an Atlanta criminal lawyer, there are many points to consider. The most important points are to know how much experience the lawyer has in criminal law, and the extent of the lawyer's track record in trying similar cases. Another important point is to make sure that your lawyer considers all possible outcomes of your case. For instance, could arbitration or mediation resolve the case? Finally, what is an estimate of the total bill, and how will the bill be paid?

Information about Atlanta criminal lawyers is available in the yellow pages, through search engines like Google and Yahoo on the Internet and through advertisements of law firms. There are also attorney directories available on the Internet that provide comprehensive information about Atlanta criminal lawyers. Information is also available through the county bar association and other professional law associations like the American Bar Association. Friends and family members are other sources of information.

Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers provides detailed information on Atlanta Lawyers, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers, Atlanta Criminal Lawyers, Atlanta Employment Lawyers and more. Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers is affiliated with Atlanta Personal Injury Laws

Atlanta Real Estate Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about Atlanta Real Estate Lawyers.

Search on the Internet and you will come across the names of many lawyers and law firms who can represent you or your company on matters related to real estate, land disputes or property claims. In fact, you will also find that many firms offer free consultation. This gives you ample opportunity to study your options carefully before settling for a lawyer who can do justice to your cases.

You will come across many trained and competent lawyers, but their skill will vary. When buying property, you may feel that a real estate agent is good enough, but a real estate lawyer can provide you services that go beyond purchasing decisions. This is especially true when there is a property dispute. Considering the amount of the investment involved, you will need the services of an extremely competent person to review the facts and understand clearly where you stand. According to the laws of the state, he will build a watertight case, handle the paperwork, court procedures and work for the best possible settlement. There is a lot of investment involved in real estate, and you need to ensure the right person for the job. Don't just settle for any lawyer that your friend suggests. The lawyer may be nice and well meaning, but you need to focus on the person's track record and reputation. You must ensure that the lawyer has specific skills dealing with real estate cases.

Also, keep in mind that an expensive office and a flashy car is no guarantee that the lawyer is competent. Your lawyer should have the patience to listen to you, provide personalized services, have a thorough knowledge of the law, and effective communication skills to put his or her point across.

Atlanta real estate 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.

Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers provides detailed information on Atlanta Lawyers, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers, Atlanta Criminal Lawyers, Atlanta Employment Lawyers and more. Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers is affiliated with Atlanta Personal Injury Laws

California Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about California Lawyers.

The State of California registers all the lawyers ? active and retired ? who reside in or do business within the state. If you are searching for lawyers and their contact information, you will likely find one on any of the websites operated by various organizations that supplement the state's list.

You may view details published about the lawyer you are considering under the following topics: Attorney Search; Check an attorney's bar membership record; Bar Exam; Admissions; First-Year Law Students; Registration; MPRE Information; MCLE; Top Ten FAQs; Compliance Card; Online CLE; Attorney Address Change; Attorney Complaints; Insurance Programs; State Bar Foundation; Bar-Member Survey Sections; and Online CLE.

You may also want to visit the websites of the law firms within California. Most of the law firms maintain websites and offer an interactive interface that allows you to search for information, join live chats, or just leave a message. You may also search through their lists of clients just to see how reliable they are.

In the forums, you may search for topics that are applicable to you. Should you need further counsel, contact the law firm and set an appointment. Some law firms do not charge for an initial consultation. They work on incidentals, meaning they do not charge until you have collected on the damages. Besides, on the initial meeting, they also know that at that time, you are still choosing who can represent you the best.

If you are lawyer who has just recently moved to California and if you want to establish your network faster, you should join the State Bar of California. You need, however, to have passed the bar in California to qualify to join the organization. It is also a good way for you to be visible to potential clients or for you to offer pro bono work.

California Personal Injury Lawyers provides detailed information on California Lawyers, California Personal Injury Lawyers, California Business Lawyers, California DUI Lawyers and more. California Personal Injury Lawyers is affiliated with California Personal Injury Lawyers Web.

California DUI Lawyers

This article provides useful, detailed information about California DUI Lawyers.

In California, a drinking under the influence charge is a serious offense with extremely complex consequences. It involves drivers, victims, and the general population. It can lead to losing your license, going to jail, lengthening of program requirements, fines and more. At that time it would be difficult to decide what kind of help you need. It would be great to consult DUI lawyers who know the laws and your rights. There are many law firms in California that specialize in drunk driving defense exclusively. But always prefer those lawyers who are certified by the Board - a group of specialists led the National College for DUI Defense, under the auspices of the American bar Association. Without the help of a skilled DUI lawyer it is difficult to dismiss the charge of a DUI offense.

Drunk driving and DUI are common words in our every day speech. It tells us something about the extent and familiarity of this growing problem in California. In the USA, nearly half a million people are injured in DUI-related highway crashes each year. So to hire a good DUI Lawyer is absolutely the best decision and ought to be your first move. Your DUI lawyer should be well acquainted with all the intricacies and nuances involved with drunk driving cases. The number of drunk driving cases has steadily increased since the beginning of the 1970s. The public offender may face the immediate loss of his or her driver's license, vehicle impoundment, fines, house arrest, local incarceration, extensive breath alcohol tests, etc. under drunk driving charges.

If you are facing a disheartening DUI dilemma then hire a competent DUI lawyer to guide you through the drunk driving magisterial proceedings. There are associations, guides, and registries that offer a wealth of good DUI lawyers in California. These proficient and exceptional lawyers are ready to lend their valuable services to the needy DUI accused. As we know, a DUI charge is frustrating and can result in serious consequences. You should contact expert DUI lawyers to meet the resultant legal proceedings.

California DUI Lawyers Web provides detailed information on California DUI lawyers, California alcohol treatment, California DUI arrests, California DUI defense and more. California DUI Lawyers Web is affiliated with California DUI Defense.

Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers: A Guide

This article provides useful, detailed information about Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers: A Guide.

Personal injuries caused by the negligent or careless act of others can often yield serious results. Personal injuries, if grave, can lead to serious physical disabilities, loss or damage of properties, and even death. In such circumstances, the victims depend upon the financial compensation awarded for the sufferings and the injuries. You might represent yourself and get compensated with some amount, but most often in grave situations, a personal injury lawyer is the best representative to help you in claiming well-deserved compensation not only for physical sufferings, but also for the emotional traumas.

With so many lawyers out there, it is not easy to find a lawyer who can suit your needs and guide you in the best direction. A lawyer with specialization and a proven track record in the field of personal injury cases and successful negotiations is the one who can help you to receive fair compensation. An experienced and expert personal injury lawyer can accurately assess the merits of a case, approximate its monetary value, and determine the best strategy for presenting the case.

Every state has its own laws and rules, and only the local and experienced lawyers are completely aware of the all rules and regulations; accordingly they can best present your case. It's in your best interest to go for a well-experienced lawyer from the state where you have suffered injuries and where you are planning to file the litigation. For example, if you suffered personal injury in Michigan, the best course of action would be to look for a good local lawyer; only a personal injury lawyer in Michigan can provide you with the guidance and legal counsel to safeguard your rights and interests in case of injury in that state. As per the contingency plan of the state, you need to pay to the lawyer only when you have received your reimbursement. In Michigan, a personal lawyer takes care of all the requirements, right from the documentation to finding the best possible solution for securing the deserved compensation for you.

It is, therefore, important to choose a well-known and expert personal injury lawyer. You can get a list of personal lawyers in Michigan from Internet lawyer referral services or the yellow pages or from your friends, colleagues, and relatives.

Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers Web provides detailed information on Michigan personal injury lawyers, Michigan personal injury lawsuit funding, Michigan personal injury law firms, Michigan personal injury laws and more. Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers Web is affiliated with Michigan Divorce Lawyers.

Dog Attack Lawyers & Dog Bite Attorneys in California

Dog attacks have been a serious problem in the United States. Reports estimate that around twenty Americans each year are killed by dog attacks. To make things worse, children make up the majority of these victims, as around five million victims of dog attacks are under the age of 18. There are certain types of dog breeds that can actually view children as threats. Sometimes children don't understand the dog's motives, and end up getting themselves into trouble.

Since the late 1970's dog attacks have been on the rise in the United States. Currently there are around 65 million dogs that live in the United States and each year more people bring more and more of these animals into their homes. Of course, owning a dog is not considered dangerous, but many owners overlook the potential risks that they present. The reality is, any dog might attack under the right circumstances.

It is very important that both dog owners and the victims of dog attacks know the dog attack regulations in their local area. Owners have a certain level of liability for the behavior of their pets, while the victims should also be aware of the regulations that affect their rights. For instance, in the United States most dog bite regulations say that the dog owner is liable for the dog's behavior. While this is true in many cases, other circumstances to take into consideration include trespassing, veterinarians, felons, provocation and whether the dog was a police or military dog.

Dog bite regulations also include the 'one bite rule'. This is a law that protects a dog owner from liability the first time his or her dog bites someone. However, there are some exceptions to this rule that include negligent or reckless conduct. If the same dog bites someone for the second time however, then the owner is held liable regardless of the circumstances behind the situation.

Everyday around 1,000 people will need to seek emergency medical attention because of dog bites. Not only do these attacks cause physical pain, but they can also psychologically scar the victim for many years. This is especially true if the victim is just a young child. But, since dogs are such common and popular household pets, victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder that is so intense that they won't be able to interact with any dogs for the rest of their lives.

About $1 billion is spent each year in medical bills, insurance premiums and lost work due to dog attacks. Sometimes homeowners insurance can cover the damages caused by a dog attack, but generally the cost of the attack is paid for out-of-pocket. Dog attack lawsuits can help a victim recover monetary compensation for their injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack it is very important that you contact a dog bite attack lawyer today.

For more information on hiring a dog attack lawyer or a dog bite attorney please visit our website at http://www.sddefenselawyers.com/cadogbitelawyer/

Dog Attack Lawyers & Dog Bite Attorneys in California

Dog attacks have been a serious problem in the United States. Reports estimate that around twenty Americans each year are killed by dog attacks. To make things worse, children make up the majority of these victims, as around five million victims of dog attacks are under the age of 18. There are certain types of dog breeds that can actually view children as threats. Sometimes children don't understand the dog's motives, and end up getting themselves into trouble.

Since the late 1970's dog attacks have been on the rise in the United States. Currently there are around 65 million dogs that live in the United States and each year more people bring more and more of these animals into their homes. Of course, owning a dog is not considered dangerous, but many owners overlook the potential risks that they present. The reality is, any dog might attack under the right circumstances.

It is very important that both dog owners and the victims of dog attacks know the dog attack regulations in their local area. Owners have a certain level of liability for the behavior of their pets, while the victims should also be aware of the regulations that affect their rights. For instance, in the United States most dog bite regulations say that the dog owner is liable for the dog's behavior. While this is true in many cases, other circumstances to take into consideration include trespassing, veterinarians, felons, provocation and whether the dog was a police or military dog.

Dog bite regulations also include the 'one bite rule'. This is a law that protects a dog owner from liability the first time his or her dog bites someone. However, there are some exceptions to this rule that include negligent or reckless conduct. If the same dog bites someone for the second time however, then the owner is held liable regardless of the circumstances behind the situation.

Everyday around 1,000 people will need to seek emergency medical attention because of dog bites. Not only do these attacks cause physical pain, but they can also psychologically scar the victim for many years. This is especially true if the victim is just a young child. But, since dogs are such common and popular household pets, victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder that is so intense that they won't be able to interact with any dogs for the rest of their lives.

About $1 billion is spent each year in medical bills, insurance premiums and lost work due to dog attacks. Sometimes homeowners insurance can cover the damages caused by a dog attack, but generally the cost of the attack is paid for out-of-pocket. Dog attack lawsuits can help a victim recover monetary compensation for their injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack it is very important that you contact a dog bite attack lawyer today.

For more information on hiring a dog attack lawyer or a dog bite attorney please visit our website at http://www.sddefenselawyers.com/cadogbitelawyer/

Internet Marketing for Lawyers - Advice That Counts

Lawyers face the same challenges any business does. In order to get new business they must market their services, i.e., advertise. And lawyers deal with the same marketing and advertising challenge every business does - how to beat the competition. Plus lawyers have to assume that any Internet or non-Internet marketing or advertising they do may well produce little or no results for the amount of time and money they spend -- regardless of what an outside marketing or advertising advisor may say to the contrary.

Prior to the Internet the main non-Internet marketing option or advertising choice for any lawyer was to advertise in the yellow pages. To this day the print yellow pages contain plenty of colorful, one page display ads that feature lawyers offering their services, and lawyers pay a lot for these ads. How effective these ads are is anyone's guess -- it's hard for your colored, one page display ad to stand out when you have 20 other lawyers doing the exact same thing! The yellow pages companies, however, continue to promote their marketing and advertising philosophy that "bigger is always better" and "everything we sell is an opportunity," so they often present a lawyer with a non-Internet marketing and advertising solution that costs plenty but often produces little. This line of thinking, along with the use of print yellow pages in general, has gone the way of the dinosaur at a very accelerated pace. The yellow pages in print form had their heyday for many decades, but the population now goes to the Internet for the information they seek, so most print directories are collecting dust. A lawyer who advertises in the print yellow pages may well get calls, but they'll most likely be from vendors using the yellow pages as a cheap source of leads.

The major paid search providers (pay per click search engines) tend to offer lawyers Internet marketing and advertising solutions in a manner similar to the way the yellow pages do with their print directories. "Bigger is always better," so rather than realistically discuss with a lawyer a pay per click Internet marketing and advertising campaign that makes financial sense and produces a decent ROI, the pay per click providers will tell the lawyer to go for as many top listing keywords (the most expensive) as their budget will permit and bid as high as they can. The lawyer may go broke in the process, but at least they'll get exposure! Many lawyers get into pay per click as a quick way to get leads but quickly exit a month later after spending lots of money for Internet marketing and advertising results that produce nothing but expense. While pay per click Internet marketing and advertising is the running favorite of Internet marketing advertisers worldwide, pay per click advertising for a lawyer is usually an extremely expensive proposition for what they get. How much a lawyer is willing to "pay for a lead" takes on a whole new meaning with pay per click. The cost per click for many lawyer related keywords, e.g., "personal injury lawyer," "criminal defense lawyer," can range from $5.00 to $70.00 per click depending on the market, and when the typical lawyer's conversion rate (the number of clicks it takes to generate a lead) of one to two percent is factored in, the lawyer can find themselves paying upwards of $500.00 to $7,000.00 per lead, and a lead is not a client.

Part of the problem lawyers face when they work with pay per click (and this translates directly into poor conversion rates) is that (1) they spend little time creating their pay per click ads and (2) the ads direct traffic to the lawyer's website. Any Internet marketing professional who knows something about pay per click knows you never send pay per click traffic to a website. Instead you create special pages, i.e., "landing pages" for pay per click traffic to be directed to. The landing pages perform the job of convincing traffic to do what the lawyer requires, which is normally to contact the lawyer via e-mail or by phone.

Legal Internet directories and portals offer the lawyer a potential Internet marketing and advertising option because of their popularity and enhanced Internet visibility. How effective a listing in a legal Internet directory or portal can be for a lawyer in terms of marketing, advertising and Internet exposure will depend upon the particular attributes of the legal Internet directory or portal in question. All things being equal, legal Internet directories or portals that charge a fee to be listed in them make more sense as an Internet marketing and advertising choice than similar sites that offer listings for free. The lawyer has to be particularly careful, however, when they consider advertising in legal Internet directories and portals that "look" like they offer a lot -- and a price to go with it -- but for whatever reasons simply do not produce enough leads for the amount of Internet marketing and advertising money the lawyer must spend. Many legal Internet directories and portals exist that have a very strong Internet presence, and they are excellent resource centers for lawyers, but this does not automatically make them good places to advertise. With Internet legal portals especially it's not how many lawyers the portal attracts but how many people the Internet legal portal attracts who are searching for legal services. People have paid thousands of dollars for advertising in Internet legal portals that have produced nothing in the way of Internet marketing and advertising results. A very wise idea for any lawyer who considers advertising in an Internet legal portal is to get some very accurate user demographics on what kind of specific traffic the Internet legal portal is actually attracting.

What is a lawyer supposed to do? Everywhere the lawyer looks, whether the marketing and advertising media is Internet or non-Internet, considerable financial risk is involved, and a guarantee that the lawyer will get good, solid results for the amount of money they spend is often hard to achieve.

Ultimately the best way for a lawyer to go with Internet marketing and advertising - the way that will ultimately get them the best long term results for the money they spend -- is to focus on getting their website to rank high in organic search results. When all things are considered, people on the Internet who search for goods and services mainly search for websites to find their answers. They may look to legal Internet directories and portals, and if they don't find what they want they may turn to pay per click listings as a last resort (only about 30% to 40% of users bother with pay per click) but ultimately people who search the Internet are looking for websites that provide them with the answers they seek.

If a lawyer is looking for an Internet marketing and advertising solution that doesn't require being part of the pay per click crowd, the lawyer may want to look into pay per phone call programs. Pay per phone call is like pay per click, but the lawyer does not pay for a call unless they receive one. And the costs for pay per phone call are normally substantially less that what the lawyer will pay for a click in many cases. A smart lawyer may even want to consider getting involved with several pay per phone call providers with the idea that between the providers the lawyer will receive enough leads in the aggregate to make involvement with these programs worth it.

Many of the Internet marketing and advertising solutions that a lawyer chooses to look into must be tried on a case by case basis. Absolutely nothing can be assumed. A pay per click advertising campaign that works extremely well for the lawyer with one search provider might fail miserably with another.

One last thing that a lawyer should be aware of when it comes to the Internet and a website presence is that appearances really do count. Many people have been on the Internet for 10 years and have correspondingly seen websites of all types and styles. People are used to seeing professionally designed websites. The lawyer's website should be too.

Michael Merten is an Internet marketing professional who consults with lawyers and legal finance companies. He specializes in getting legal websites to appear in first page search results on major search engines in record time. Mr. Merten can be reached at michael@minnesotainternetmarketing.com.

A Lawyers Favorite Lawyer Jokes

Lawyer Jokes

Q: How does a pregnant woman know she is carrying a future lawyer?

A: She has an extreme craving for baloney.

Q: What is the legal definition of ?Appeal??

A: Something a person slips on in a grocery store.

Q: Why did God make snakes just before lawyers?

A: To practice.

Q: What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 12?

A: Your Honor.

Q: What?s the difference between a lawyer and a herd of buffalo?

A: The lawyer charges more.

Q: What do you call a smiling, sober, courteous person at a bar association convention?

A: The caterer.

Q: Why are lawyers like nuclear weapons?

A: If one side has one, the other side has to get one.

Q: What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer?

A: An offer you can't understand.

Q: What do you call a lawyer gone bad?

A: Senator

Q: Did you hear they just released a new Barbie doll called "Divorced Barbie"?

A: It comes with half of Ken's things and alimony.

Q: What's the difference between an attorney and a pit bull?

A: Jewelry.

Q: What's the definition of mixed emotions?

A: Watching your attorney drive over a cliff in your new Ferrari.

Q: What?s the difference between lawyers and accountants?

A: At least accountants know they?re boring.

Stories:

1. A man who had been caught embezzling millions went to a lawyer. His lawyer told him, "Don?t worry. You?ll never go to jail with all that money? In fact, when the man was sent to prison, he didn?t have a dime.

2. As the lawyer awoke from surgery, he asked, "Why are all the blinds drawn?" The nurse answered, "There's a fire across the street, and we didn't want you to think you had died."

3. God decided to take the devil to court and settle their differences once and for all. Satan heard this, laughed and said, "And where do you think you're going to find a lawyer?"

4. A lawyer is sitting at the desk in his new office. He hears someone coming to the door. To impress his first potential client, he picks up the phone as the door opens and says, "I demand one million and not a penny less." As he hangs up, the man now standing in his office says, "I'm here to hook up your phone."

And finally:

You Might Be A Lawyer If.... You are charging someone to read these jokes.Richard Chapo is a San Diego business lawyer with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com and is rumored to have a sense of humor. Then again, you never know with rumors.

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.

Defense Lawyers, Do You Need One?

Sometimes people end up in trouble and in need of a defense lawyer. If this is you, the first thing you need to do is find a qualified defense lawyer to pull you out of it. But, where will you look? Should you rely on the court appointed defense lawyers as your defense lawyers? Perhaps you are wrongly being accused, who is going to fight for your rights? Defense lawyers are quite in demand. No matter if a crime or wrongdoing was actually made or not, it is still important to have a defense lawyer present to help you resolve your case.

Sometimes people end up in trouble and in need of a defense lawyer. If this is you, the first thing you need to do is find a qualified defense lawyer to pull you out of it. But, where will you look? Should you rely on the court appointed defense lawyers as your defense lawyers? Perhaps you are wrongly being accused, who is going to fight for your rights? Defense lawyers are quite in demand. No matter if a crime or wrongdoing was actually made or not, it is still important to have a defense lawyer present to help you resolve your case.

Defense lawyers are available to help just about anyone in just about any case. Lets say that you are being accused of drug crimes. You will need a defense lawyer to help you win your case. Perhaps it is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps you were helping a friend. Perhaps you know that you did do the crime. In any of these cases you will need a defense lawyer to help you. You need that defense lawyer to sort through the charges, to understand your side, to interpret the meanings of the case. In serious cases like drug crimes, you may find yourself lost in what should be happening and who to trust as your defense lawyer. One way to get a better understanding about what drug crimes are and what defense lawyers do is to look online. Websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com express information about these situations in regards to defense lawyers.

Where will you find a defense lawyer then to handle this drug crimes charge? Who will you trust to do the best they can to help you get out of this situation? Defense lawyers are available in every state. But, when you do not know anyone, should you simply just open the phone book and pick a defense lawyer? You would not feel safe with your choice in a defense lawyer this way. Instead, use websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com to help you find qualified defense lawyers who truly want to help defend you against these charges.

No matter what the situation, whether it is drug crimes or something else, if you are in a situation and need a defense lawyers, you will have to do some research, find a reliable defense lawyer, and do your best to help them win your case. It is hard to say whether or not you have a case or not. Only your defense lawyer will know. But, rest assured that your defense lawyer will tell you how to act, what to say, and what to do to get out of your situation. Defense lawyers are invaluable resources in times of need like these.

S A Baker is staff writer at http://www.thesmartattorneys.com

 

Lawyers And Their Fees

Every individual who violates the personal or property rights of another is financially responsible for the damages cause by his or her act. To collect money for this civil wrong there must be damages or injury; without one or both, there can be no recovery of money.

If you have a claim that has a complicated set of circumstances or evidence, one which obviously demands legal advice, than you need a lawyer.

If you hired Attorney I. M. Sharp and he had to burn the midnight oil for you and/or even win your case, there can be no objection to his collecting his fee. But, far too often, in cases of a completely uncontestable claim, one finds themselves handing over a huge percentage of that recover to a lawyer for doing minus-zip!

Im referring to the average motor vehicle accident case, one where its absolutely clear that the other individual, Fumbling Fred Fuddle, is clearly at fault. Attorney Sharp sends out his routine Letter Of Representation to Fuddles carrier THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE CORPORATION, secures the Medical Bills and Reports from your Ole Doc Comfort, and procures a Police Report, if one is available. Then, for less than two dollars worth of stamps and an hour spent on negotiations Sharp (depending upon where you live) extracts a fee of between 331/3/% to 50% in settlement.

For example, say Attorney Sharp settles a case for $3,000, and then takes a fee of 1/3 of that $3000. It doesnt take a degree in mathematics to figure out that youre paying him $1,000 for what is usually - - less than a few hours work.

After youve paid Attorney Sharps fee, along with your medical bills to Doc Comfort, and after deducting the money recovered from the time lost from work out of that $3000 settlement, the bottom-line monetary compensation to you has been plundered !

IN THEORY, the money you have left, after deducting these expenses, is your Financial Reward for the Pain and Suffering youve been forced to endure. But with the naive signing on with a lawyer (to settle a claim thats clearly not your fault) youre left with a feeling of decimation because youve definitely not been left with what you deserved for the physical and emotional ordeal youve been forced to deal with.

When Attorney Sharp settles your claim he doesnt deduct your out-of-pocket expenses before he takes his fee. Instead, he takes his fee Right Off The Top where the cream floats. Then, with whats left, your out-of-pocket expenses are paid.

FOR EXAMPLE: The damage to your Motor Vehicle is $1,500, your Medical Bills are $400, and your Lost Wages are $600, for a total of $2,500. Even in a case of Clear Liability, the lawyer not only takes a one-third cut from the Pain and Suffering portion of the settlement, he also takes a third of your out-of-pocket expenses !

Now, think it out: Your Property Damage was $1,500, Your Medical Bills $400 and your Lost Wages $600 came to a total of $2,500. Then youre paid $3000 for your Pain and Suffering so the total settlement is $5,500.

In a perfect world, in a case of clear liability, Attorney Sharps fee should have been taken from the $3000 you were paid for your Pain and Suffering. If he did, his fee would have been 1/3 of $3000 or $1,000. But, without fail, Sharp will take his 1/3 of the grand total of $5,500, bringing his fee to $1,833.33. Thats outrageously unfair because, in a case of clear liability, GRANITE MOUNTAIN would have paid you your out-of-pocket expenses of $2,500, - - whether you had a lawyer representing you or not !

ALWAYS REMEMBER: When you handle your own case (should you and GRANITE MOUNTAIN later disagree as to the value of your claim) theres a Time Limit established at which you can break off your negotiations and then proceed to obtain the services of Attorney Sharp. This time limit is called a STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS its never less than a year and in most cases its two or three; some states provide you with this kind of protection for as long as five or six years. To be sure you must check out how much time you have to fuss with Fuddles insurance company before you hand your case to a lawyer to handle for you.

Dan Baldygas third and latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com or http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com. This book explains, in simple language, How To handle your motor vehicle property damage and/or personal injury claim so you wont be taken advantage of. It also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will explain how to determine the value of the Pain and Suffering you endured - - because of your motor vehicle accident injury!

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article "LAWYERS AND THEIR FEES" is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Peter Go nor ARTICLE CITY make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant or the like. Whenever such help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.

Dan Baldyga is now retired and spends his time writing articles to assist those who are in motor vehicle accident claims so they won't be take advantage of: dbpaw@comcast.net