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Accidents, Personal Injury Law
Law covering liability and compensation for wrongful acts that are negligent or intentional. Includes accidents, the failure to exercise reasonable care, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, dangerous products and defamation.
Car accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, personal injuries suffered concerning motor vehicles and the failure of a driver to exercise reasonable care.
General accidents, negligence and personal injury including slip and fall, dog bites, construction accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, strict liability, defective products, inadequate warnings, dangerous drugs, asbestos, mesothelioma, vioxx, Accutane, Paxil and others.
False statements that injure another person that are written (libel) or spoken (slander), false light injury, rights of publicity and some issues concerning privacy rights.
Injury suffered due to the negligence of a professional such as medical malpractice ( doctor, nurse, dentist, health care responsible for a birth injury, operating room accident, failure to diagnose), legal (attorneys) and other (accountants, brokers and members of the clergy.)
Auto, Traffic and Motor Vehicles Law
Law concerning the use and ownership of motor vehicles. Driver's license, moving violations, traffic and speeding tickets, parking tickets, registration, title, insurance, Department of Motor Vehicles, seat belt & mobile phone laws, buying & selling cars.
Law covering the purchase and sale of automobiles and motor vehicles, new and used, car dealers, private sales, the federal lemon law (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act), car financing, contracts and warranties. See also auto loans, car loans & repossession.
Charges and issues concerning drinking and driving (automobile, boat, train or other vehicle) including DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), BUI, BWI, breathalyzer, blood alcohol level and sobriety tests.
Application and renewals of a driver's license, points on your a license, suspension and reinstatement of a driver's license. Regulations and issues concerning the registration of motor vehicles, title to the vehicle, inspection of equipment.
Automobile tickets and citations, speeding and radar, careless and reckless driving, failure to yield, seat belt tickets, cell phone and texting tickets, traffic lane and traffic control violations.
Bankruptcy Law and Debt
Matters pertaining to business and personal bankruptcy and related matters including foreclosure, debt collection and refinancing, Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 issues and proceedings in U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court.
Issues concerning business or personal bankrutpcy, Federal Bankruptcy Court, reorganization, Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, and assets protected from creditors.
Law and regulations concerning business debts, collections, debt collectors, auto loans, repo, credit cards, credit rating, medical bills, student loans.
Law governing debt collection, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, when debt collectors can call and how often, limits to the inquiries of debt collectors and penalties for violations.
Business and Corporate Law
Law and policy that governs businesses, commercial and corporate entities, how to start a business, incorporation, business operations, contracts and corporate governance.
Internal management of partnerships and corporations, bylaws, business operations, contracts, franchise law, shareholders, purchase and sale, dissolution and financial matters.
Issues concerning creating a new business, choosing the right entity, sole proprietorships, partnerships, c & s corporations, LLC, LLP, PLLC, articles of incorporation, registered agents and corporate bylaws. Issues concerning non-profit or not for profit organizations, also known as 501(c)(3) companies.
Consumer Law, Finance
Consumer law, personal finance, consumer contracts and warranties, investments.
Issues concerning consumer transactions in general, retailers, private sales, service providers (cable, phone, Internet, utilities), travel, recreation, home repair, construction, animal and pet law and the UCC.
Ownership and licensing of guns, firearms, knives, mace and other weapons, state and federal laws, requirements and constitutional rights issues.
Criminal Law
Laws pertaining to crime and prosecution of criminal suspects. Pretrial issues such as police searches, seizure and arrests. Also covers prosecutors, representation, plea bargains, trials, sentencing, incarceration, parole and criminal records.
Criminal procedure in criminal court, beginning from search and seizure, Miranda warning, warrants and arrests by the police. Following is arraignment and bail. If necessary are criminal trials, sentencing, plea bargains and restitution. There may be parole, probation, prison & jail and restitution. Also covers criminal attorneys, public defenders and the criminal justice system.
Issues concerning criminal records, what can be seen, who can obtain them, how to remove or "expunge" criminal records, sealing criminal records. Also see Background Checks for Employment.
Issues concerning officers of the court and their conduct including criminal defense lawyers, retainer agreements, court appointed lawyers and how to obtain representation, judges, ineffective assistance of counsel.
Plea arrangements and the sentencing of criminal defendants to probation, parole requests, hearings, probation and parole violations.
Employment & Labor Law
Law, regulations, requirements, case law and policy regarding the workplace, employers, employees and independent contractors. Hiring & firing, background checks, wages, discrimination, harassment, disability, benefits, workers comp and ERISA.
Discrimination and harassment on the job such as decisions based upon sex or gender, race, religion and age. orientation. Include bias in hiring, job promotions and assignment, termination, compensation and retaliation.
Legal issues concerning employment agreements including contracts, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Non-Compete Agreements (NCA), severance agreements, Human Resources policies and the company handbook.
Legal issues concerning the job hiring process and policies. Includes job applications, background checks, pre-employment interviews and screening, personal and professional referrals.
Legal issues and rights concerning medical leave such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the employment of disabled persons in the workplace, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Issues concerning ending a working relationship which includes lay offs, termination without cause, with cause (fired for a valid reason), resignation and being pressured into resigning from a job.
Issues concerning setting wages (what you get paid), scheduling (when you work), the federal minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, prevailing wages for government services and state requirements and regulations.
Legal issues concerning "freelance" jobs or private contractors - work performed by someone who is not an employee. Also includes artists, musicians, renovators, designers and craftsmen.
Injuries caused in or suffered as a result of the workplace, workman's compensation law, how to file a claim, qualification, disputes and awards.
Estate Planning & Administration
Estate Administration including proper estate planning, the creation of a will, power of attorney, living will, dealing with probate court, administrating an estate, creating a trust.
Administration of an estate, handling probate court, whether the estate needs to pass through probate, distribution of assets to heirs, payment of expenses to creditors.
How to create and draft a power of attorney or a living will document, the different types of instruments and the powers and rights they grant, how to limit powers or revoke them.
Family Law, Divorce & Children
Law covering family matters including premarital issues, engagement, marriage, name change, divorce, separation, children, child support and custody, alimony, domestic violence, restraining orders, child neglect, abuse and juvenile crime.
Harm to a child which may be physical, emotional or sexual including general child abuse, molestation, child pornography, child grooming, incest, drug affected babies, neglect of the health and welfare of a child.
Legal issues surrounding which parent bears the duty of care and has the right to make decisions for the child. Also concerns custody orders, child visitation rights, see also guardianship law.
Law and issues regarding financial support for children by parents, support arrearage and deadbeat dads enforcement of child support and the legal process to deal with support delinquencies.
Legal issues and procedure concerning when and under what conditions children may be released from parental authority and are legally considered adults.
Legal issues concerning establishing and disputing paternity claims, DNA testing to prove or disprove paternity claims, paternity suits and related matters.
Mediation helps separating and divorcing couples plan the future when there is a need to make joint decisions. This can be quicker and less costly than using a divorce lawyer.
The law governing ending a marital relationship. Requirements and the process of an annulment of a marriage, the separation process which is usually required before the granting of a divorce decree by the court.
process of divorce, the termination of a marriage. This includes separation, a period which may be required. Annulment and issues concerning dissolution of a recognized relationship.
Law governing guardianship and conservatorship, the legal authority and duty to care for the personal and property interests of another person which includes both adults and children.
Legal matters concerning cohabitation and living together outside of marriage, engagement for the purpose of marriage, prenuptial agreements, wedding rings, legal formalization of marriage, the rights and duties of each spouse in a marital relationship.
Information and issues concerning changing your name. Eligibility, requirements, change of birth name, change of surname for marital purposes, changing your name back to your maiden name, reporting requirements, background checks.
Law and information dealing with protective orders and temporary restraining orders (TRO) and Temporary Protection Order (TPO). See also the domestic violence forum.
If it's a family law issue that doesn't fit into any other category, then it goes in here.
Government & Administrative Law
Law and regulations concerning government, administrative agencies, the military, the IRS and taxation, federal and state matters, education and government programs.
Law and regulations pertaining to the educational system, the public school system, special needs issues including qualification and testing, special education, also includes private schooling systems.
Law, regulations and benefits concerning the military, the army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard, recruiting and enlisting, criminal matters, military court, military benefits and veterans disability.
Social Security law, disability and health government benefits and programs, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance).
Any other matters pertaining to government and governmental law, requirements and eligibility for government grants, public assistance programs, small business, welfare, voting and election law.
Immigration Law
Laws that govern immigration and naturalization, student and work visas, green cards, passports, marriage visas, tourist visas, the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, ICE, CBP and crimes that affect status.
Work Visas (B1, B2, H1B, H2A, H2B, H3), intracompany transfer visa (L), Ability & Achivement(O, P1, P2), trade and investor visa (E), G Visa, TN Visa for Canadian and Mexican workers.
Concerning immigration status and applications including criminal records and crime in moral turpitude (CIMT), overstay, unlawful presence, unlawful entry, deportation, reentry, I-212 admission, asylum and all other immigration issues.
Insurance Law
Law and regulations concerning the insurance system, obtaining an insurance policy, making an insurance claims, HMO & PPO programs, coverage for health, life, property and business matters.
Obtaining insurance for motor vehicles, making insurance claims and dealing with insurance companies, matters concerning uninsured vehicles and motorists.
Obtaining health insurance coverage, policies, HIPAA, HMO programs, long term disability insurance and other legal issues concerning healthcare insurance.
Coverage and legal issues concerning life insurance, annuities, homeowners insurance, commercial insurance policies, shipping.
Intellectual Property & Internet Law
Laws governing and the intangible property which results from creative efforts. Includes copyright (written works), service and trademarks, patents and inventions, trade secrets. music and the arts, media, Internet websites and the DMCA.
Legal protection of creations - copyright ("works of authorship" such as books, music, movies and software), trademark (brands, logos, slogans, business identity), patent (inventions). Issues concerning trade secrets, infringement, the DMCA and the USPTO (US Patent & Trademark Office.)
Law concerning cyberspace, frequently copyright law, includes eBay, Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, Linked-In, online dating, spam email, online auctions, online deals.
Legal System, Civil Courts
The legal system, civil litigation, civil courts small claims court, discovery of evidence, motion practice, how to sue, how to collect a money judgement, appeals, attorney ethics, and retainer agreements.
Alternative dispute resolution "ADR" includes arbitration and mediation. It is usually quicker and cheaper than in-court litigation. Includes collaborative law, AAA, JAMS and is used for domain name disputes.
Issues concerning civil litigation - how to start a lawsuit, answer a complaint, respond to a summons, service, subpoenas, and discovery, motion practice.
Issues concerning enforcing a judgment, collective damages won after trial, information subpoena and restraining orders, wage garnishment, asset location and recovery.
Matters concerning law students, careers in law, paralegal training and licensing, legal secretaries, other jobs in law and law enforcement, law outline exchange.
The practice of law, operating and managing a law firm, ethics, state law licensing, continuing legal education and issues concerning the state and local bar associations.
Small claims courts and municipal courts with a low dollar value. Usually covers general civil claims that are under $10,000 and may be settled in one or a limited number of hearings.
Real Estate Law: Purchase, Sale, Ownership
Laws and issues concerning property use and transactions including residential and commercial real estate, buying & selling a home, landlord-tenant, leases and rentals, co-ops and condos and neighbors.
Buying and selling commercial real estate, including financing, mortgages, purchase and sale agreements for commercial buildings and property, investment and rental property.
Law and legal issues pertaining to financing the purchase of a home via a real estate mortgages, qualification and how to obtain a mortgage loan, refinancing and second mortgages.
The legal process where real estate can change ownership without compensation where a squatter occupies the land in an open and notorious fashion in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for a specific time period. Also known as "squatter's rights".
Issues concerning the property boundaries of real estate parcels, usually neighboring properties. Encroachments such as fences or buildings, Improvements, landscaping, roadways or trails, nuisance.
Issues concerning the legal right to use the property of another without owning it. Examples include utility easements, long time use of a "short-cut" across a neighbor's property.
When two or more people own a parcel of real estate. Property may be held as tenants in common, tenants by the entirety and joint tenants with right of survivorship
A deed where the owner (grantor) of a parcel of real estate transfers his interest - whatever it may be and with no guarantees as to proper title - to a recipient (grantee). A quitclaim deed contains no title covenant and provides no warranty of title to the grantee.
All issues concerning commercial property being leased by a landlord to a tenant including lease agreements, security deposits, utilities, cost of living increases and eviction.
Regulation and the process of eviction of a tenant by a landlord. Includes 3 day notice, holdover eviction, non-payment of rent and injunctive measures such as the Yellowstone Injunction.
Legal matters concerning moving in and moving out of a premises including issues with movers and moving companies, the landlord and the managing agents.
Landlord tenant issues concerning the use of the rental property such as quiet enjoyment (undisturbed use of the leased property) and noisy neighbors, rent, utilities, living conditions, repairs, maintenance, additional fees, tenant abatements, roommates and joint leases and pet issues.
Drafting and understanding rent and lease agreements, including any additional lease agreements concerning the same property (sublease) by the original tenant to another tenant (subtenant).
Matters concerning roommates or housemates including where multiple tenants sign one lease and are responsible for lease obligations as joint leaseholders and tenants.
Issues concerning the amount a landlord may hold as a security deposit, treatment of security deposits by a landlord and the timely return of security deposits.