Legal Insights

Your Basic Rights As a Renter

Most individuals will rent an apartment, condo, or house in their lifetime. If the tenant pays the rent on time each month, and the dwelling is in proper working order, there is rarely conflict between the landlord and tenant. However, for the small percentage of tenants that encounter issues, it is important to know and understand your rights and responsibilities. First, and foremost, a landlord is obligated to provide a safe premise. This requires that the property is up to...

What is the Process for Evicting a Tenant?

A landlord/tenant relationship can become contentious for several reasons. The primary one being non-payment of rent. Other common reasons include disturbances of the peace (loud music, rowdy parties), or illicit/criminal behavior committed by the tenant. In many cases, these issues can be resolved amicably or at least without legal proceedings. When that is not possible, a landlord should understand the proper means to evict a tenant. Documentation Documentation is key. Not having suf...

Local Search for Small Law Firms: 25+ Places to Get Your Firm Listed

As a small firm, getting your name out there can be a monumental task. After our recent article on improving your law firm social media using LinkedIn, Google My Business, Facebook, and more, we would like to introduce you to 25+ places (in addition to Legal Services Link) to submit to and get listed to help potential clients find your firm.While you work to improve search authority by social media, blogging, and writing website content that answers questions potential clients may have, one of...

Key Considerations for a Cohabitation Agreement

For some couples, marriage is not the end goal. Many adults are content with entering into long-term, monogamous relationships as an alternative to marriage. However, if you are living with a partner, have joint assets, and your lifestyle is dependent on joint incomes, then you should consider having a cohabitation agreement. Creating a Cohabitation Agreement A cohabitation agreement is a written contract between two unmarried persons. It is a very specific agreement used t...

Advantages of an LLC or S Corporation for Your Small Business

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economic system. There are many different business types, each of which is has its own separate legal and tax implications. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships by default because it does not require the filing of any paperwork. A sole proprietorship is by definition an unincorporated business that is owned and run by one individual. There is no distinction between the business and the individual owner. Its revenue is filed on the o...

Guide to Social Media Optimization for Law Practices

Very rarely does a new client simply walk into your office because they saw your shingle on the street. In the world we live in, the new “walk-in” client is the one that finds you on the internet. But in a world that is over-saturated with attorneys, how do you make yourself stand out? Social media is a proven way to gain search authority, build website traffic, and ultimately, make your phone ring. Ideally social media integrates with a mobile-friendly website, which is the subject of ano...

Whether you Know it or Not, You Need an Estate Plan

When most people hear the phrase “estate plan,” they assume that it is something that only wealthy people need. That is not the case. An estate plan lays out your wishes in the event you die or become incapacitated, often controlling what happens with your assets, minor children, and medical care, amongst other things. So if you have any interest in seeing that these matters are handled properly and in accordance with your wishes, you need an estate plan.These are the key things to conside...

What Are The Rights of Grandparents When a Couple Divorces?

No one enters into marriage thinking about what will happen when it ends. Unfortunately, the reality is that not all relationships last and when divorcing couples have children, these matters become significantly more complicated.  As a Grandparent, What Rights Do You Have When a Couple Decides To Split And Child Custody Issues Become Complicated? The short answer is that grandparent visitation is state dependent. As a general rule, a grandparent's visitation revolves around the...

Client Retention Strategy 101: Learn Their Business

Clients are the key to a successful law practice, but it is not just about obtaining clients— it is about retaining them. Attorneys tend to focus so much on “getting business” that they tend to not concentrate on how to retain and build that business once it is in the door.  The reason for this is because many attorneys are not “business literate.”  Defining Business Literacy In a recent ABA webinar entitled “Speaking the Language of ...

Clients: How to Effectively Summarize Your Legal Issue

When you have legal needs that require an attorney’s help, the first step to finding the perfect attorney is effectively summarizing your legal issue, so you can explain it to attorneys that you are considering hiring. Identify the Area of Law Involved Whether you intend to find an attorney by getting a referral, using a directory, or posting your job and having attorneys come to you, you first need to identify the area of law that your issue falls into. Some areas of law are easy—DUI is...

How to Find the Perfect Attorney

The process for finding the perfect attorney can be a daunting, frustrating, and time-consuming task. Below are the three primary ways that clients find attorneys and a discussion of each. Get a referral: Your friends and family may have hired an attorney in the past that did a good job for them. If you are comfortable asking them for a referral, you should do so. Just make sure you ask them the proper questions, so you don’t get stuck with an attorney you won’t be ha...

Client Confidentiality and the Digital Age

Attorney-Client Privilege In the legal field today, there is a never-ending stream of confidential, client information being exchanged electronically. Securing client data and information is essential to protecting the data and, ultimately, the relationship with the client. Data storage, whether in physical servers or the cloud, is always a concern in terms of security and the danger of illegal access. Email and privacy As the digital age has come about, there has been leg...

Getting Clients to Come to You

Online Attorney Profiles - Powerful Lawyer Marketing Browsing for attorneys online is difficult for clients because so much of the information and profiles look the same. Follow these suggestions when completing your online profile with Legal Services Link to catch the attention of potential clients and get more business. 1. A picture is worth a thousand words….and many more dollars. We live in a visual society, where a camera is always an arm's length away. Clients expect to s...

Courtroom Dress Codes and Changing Times

Dress Codes for Courts Courts throughout the United States commonly mandate the dress code for everyone who enters, including attorneys. As officers of the court, attorneys are held to high standards of professionalism and etiquette than non-attorneys. Traditionally, the U.S. Supreme Court required attorneys to wear "morning dress" consisting of striped trousers, gray ascot, waistcoat and a morning coat. This standard has been lessened since the 1970s but is still largely followed by gover...

Polish Your Online Reputation

Attorneys: Keys to Your Online Reputation Do you have difficulty getting new clients? Have you wondered how to get more clients using online services, such as Legal Services Link? Follow these tips from the experts for the best results. 1. Obtain client feedback. Clients love to be asked for their opinions. It is human nature to be flattered when someone requests your input, so solicit your clients' thoughts and comments soon after the representationis completed. Use a fr...

10 Best Cities for Attorneys

As an attorney, where you initially choose to live will likely determine what city you practice in and where you livethe majority of your life. Whether you are looking to practice near snow-covered mountains or sunny beaches, this list will help begin your exploration. Houston, Texas Where productivity meets affordable housing. Houston has something many other major cities don’t: jobs. The average salary in Houston for attorneys is $135,000. The percentage of people with legal jobs...

Tips for Generating Clients

Becoming a successful attorney these days is extremely challenging because there is so much competition out there.  The days of being the only show in town is over. So how do you get clients and develop a book of business? Here are three tips to help you get out there, get noticed, and start generating clients. Networking We aren’t the first to say it, nor will we be the last, but networking events are absolutely crucial for attorneys. While they may seem ...

Moving to a Paperless Law Office

In today's increasingly digitalized world, it is difficult to escape the pressure to have a paperless law office. The time has come to stop resisting. The benefits of going paperless now far outweigh those of the old-fashioned office management system, and here are just a few benefits: Conserve Space Rather than rummaging through an office cluttered with stacks upon stacks of paper and stuffed filing cabinets, you only need a small hard drive, resulting in less physical and mental clutte...

Types of Legal Fees

Every initial consultation between a lawyer and a potential client begins roughly the same: the lawyer obtains the basic information provided by the client and the parties discuss the potential representation. Once it is clear that the lawyer can be of service to the potential client, the parties then need to agree on a fee arrangement. One common misconception about hiring a lawyer is the necessity of a retainer or a lump sum deposit to begin representation. As explained below, some fee arrang...

Coping with Stress at Work

Attorneys are known for working long hours in stressful conditions, especially those working for large law firms. Clients want results and partners want more billable hours from their associates, no matter the impact on personal time. Learning to cope with work-related stress early in any career pays dividends over the long haul, and these three habits can help make that a reality. Thinking Time Bill Gates schedules an entire week each year to step away from the office and reeva...