A brief guide to Lubbock law firms
When you decide it is necessary to find private legal representation, there are many different factors to consider. Lubbock law firms offer many different kinds of specialized services, and deciding which are useful to you can often be confusing. Here are some general information to keep in mind when you are trying to decide to hire an attorney.
How Lubbock law firms work
Though some attorneys work by themselves and are known as “solo practitioners,” many lawyers are part of larger organizations. Lubbock law firms can vary in size but generally retain the services of two types of attorneys:
• Litigation lawyers work in the courtroom to present the strongest possible argument on behalf of their client.
• Transactional lawyers review and maintain legal documents. They do not appear in court.
Whether they are a litigation or transactional attorney, all lawyers who are part of a Lubbock law firm can have one of two titles within the company:
• Partners own a share of the business and divide the profits that remain after their salaried employees have been paid.
• Associates are lawyers who work for a fixed salary.
The larger the Lubbock law firm, the likelier they are to employ additional employees. These can include paralegals who review and create paperwork under an attorney’s supervision and librarians who maintain company records.
Preventive litigation
Many large businesses pay for the services of a Lubbock law firm as a matter of course. Hiring an attorney to try to make sure a business owner or manager has safeguarded themselves against the threat of a lawsuit is known as “preventive litigation.” Lubbock law firms can help with such issues as:
• Ensuring the workplace is in compliance with all safety standards
• Reviewing employee manuals
• Creating and storing employee contracts
• Making sure the workplace has made all necessary reasonable accommodations for disabled workers
• Maintaining tax records
If you are involved in any kind of real estate transaction such as the purchase of a house, it is advisable to contact a Lubbock law firm. Reviewing all documentation will help ensure you are getting exactly what you are paying for and are not making any financial commitments you cannot afford to honor.
Criminal law
Anyone who is charged with a felony or misdemeanor by the police or a government agency is entitled to legal counsel at all times. If you are not able to afford the private services of a Lubbock law firm, a court-appointed attorney will represent you for free. Adults of sound mental health are not required to listen to their lawyers’ advice and may choose to dispense with representation entirely and act on their own behalf. However, it is always best to at least take into account any attorney’s advice before making a serious decision.
A solo practitioner or representative of a Lubbock law firm will perform many tasks throughout the criminal prosecution process:
• During an arraignment hearing, the prosecution will formally present the charges against you. At this time, you may be offered a plea bargain if you answer with “guilty” or “no contest.” An attorney will help you evaluate whether doing so is in your best interests.
• Throughout the pretrial process, the prosecution and defense are required to regularly exchange any evidence they plan on presenting in court. A Lubbock law firm may discover that the prosecution’s case is based on evidence that has been illegally collected and file a motion to dismiss the case. An attorney will also be present during the jury selection process to make sure no jurors who may be biased against you are chosen.
• At any time before a verdict is returned, Lubbock law firms are permitted to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution that can be approved by a judge.
• In the courtroom, a lawyer will make the strongest possible case in your defense.
• If you are found guilty, an attorney will be present during your sentencing hearing to argue for leniency.
Civil court
The vast majority of civil litigation is resolved outside of the courtroom. Lubbock law firms frequently specialize in disputes between two private parties concerning:
• Landlord-tenant disagreements
• Violations of business contracts
• Personal injury caused by another person or a defective product
• Medical malpractice
• Sexual harassment in the workplace
• Underpayment of wages
Unless explicitly instructed by their clients to prepare for a court date, Lubbock law firms representing both sides will conduct extensive negotiations during the pretrial process with the goal of arriving at a mutually satisfactory financial settlement.
Divorce law
Two spouses who cooperate in creating a written separation agreement detailing how they plan to handle every issues of their divorce will not need to pay for the services of a Lubbock law firm. Agreement must be reached on issues such as:
• Alimony payments
• Child custody arrangements
• The non-custodial parent’s visitation rights
• Child support payments
• Division of mutually acquired property
Couples who have difficulty agreeing on these issues may decide to share the cost of hiring a neutral third party to mediate their discussions. This can be a non-attorney specialist or a member of a Lubbock law firm. If no agreement is reached and one or both spouses decides to hire private legal counsel, they cannot retain anyone who previously acted as a mediator.
Finding a Lubbock law firm
If you decide you need private legal representation, first decide how much you can afford to pay for an attorney’s help and what your needs are. Ask friends, family and co-workers if they can refer you to any Lubbock law firms with specialized experience in your kind of case they have successfully worked with. You may need to schedule meetings with several attorneys before you find someone you feel comfortable hiring to represent you. During an initial consultation at any Lubbock law firm, make sure to obtain a detailed, written estimate of all expenses you can expect to be liable for.
