Anchorage Law Firms

A brief guide to Anchorage law firms

When you are faced with the necessity of finding a lawyer, it can often be overwhelming to decide what kind of attorney’s services are right for you. Anchorage law firms provide a diversity of circumstances that can cover any legal problems you may encounter. Though every case is different, there are some general guidelines that are useful for anyone who is thinking of retaining a lawyer.

Types of attorneys

Anchorage law firms generally rely upon the services of two different kinds of lawyers:

• Litigation lawyers appear in court to argue cases on behalf of clients by presenting opening and closing statements, introducing evidence into the record, calling witnesses to the stand to testify on their client’s behalf or cross-examining the other side’s witnesses and otherwise helping their client complete the trial process.

• Transactional lawyers review, prepare and maintain paperwork. This can be done as “preventive litigation,” which helps to prevent clients from exposing themselves to the threat of future lawsuits, or in preparation for a court date.

Within every Anchorage law firm, attorneys fall into two categories related to their standing within the business:

• Partners own shares of the firm and divide the profits remaining after employee salaries are paid.

• Associates are lawyers who are only paid with a salary.

Preventive litigation

For business owners or managers, it often makes sense to retain the services of an Anchorage law firm as a regular business expense. Such attorneys can review documents like:

• Employee contracts

• Agreements between two businesses

• Employee handbooks

• Tax filing paperwork

Additionally, people who are conducting a real estate transaction may want to consider having an Anchorage law firm review:

• Mortgage agreements

• Sale or lease contracts

• Any loan agreements

Reviewing paperwork to make sure both parties understand their obligations in any transaction can help prevent misunderstandings and lawsuits later on.

Civil litigation

Civil lawsuits involve two private individuals or businesses who are in disagreement over issues such as:

• Real estate disputes between a landlord and tenant

• Medical malpractice

• An injury caused by another person or a faulty product

• Sexual harassment

• An employee being asked to perform illegal acts by their boss

In most instances, such cases will be resolved by Anchorage law firms outside the courtroom. After someone is notified of the complaint that has been filed against them, attorneys for both sides will negotiate extensively throughout the pretrial process with the goal of finding a mutually acceptable out-of-court agreement. If you are served with notice of a complaint against you, you are not entitled to free legal counsel. You will need to contact an Anchorage law firm to advise you in court or represent yourself if you cannot afford to do so.

Criminal court

When the police or a government agency formally charge someone with a criminal offense, that person is entitled to legal counsel at all times. If you cannot afford the private services of an Anchorage law firm, the court will appoint an attorney to advise you for free. Throughout the legal process, this lawyer will perform many tasks on your behalf:

• During an arraignment hearing, a representative of an Anchorage law firm can help you decide whether to plead “guilty,” “no contest” or “not guilty.” The latter will lead directly to trial, while the prosecution may offer a plea bargain in return for either of the former two responses.

• At any time before a verdict is returned, representatives for the prosecution and defense may be able to agree on a mutually acceptable plea bargain. In preparation for trial, Anchorage law firms will regularly exchange evidence with public prosecutors. If there is any sign that the case against you has been based on improperly collected evidence, the charges against you may be dismissed.

• In the courtroom, a litigation lawyer will present the strongest possible case on your behalf. If you are found guilty, they will attend your sentencing hearing to argue for a lesser sentence than demanded by the prosecution.

No one of sound mental health is required to listen to their attorney’s advice or retain legal counsel at all. However, it is advisable to consult with an Anchorage law firm, whether publicly appointed or privately retained, before making any decisions.

Divorce law

It is possible to obtain a relatively low-cost divorce and avoid the necessity of hiring legal counsel. For this to occur, both spouses must commit to cooperating in the creation of a written separation agreement detailing how they plan to handle such issues as:

• Alimony payments

• Child custody arrangements

• Child support payments

• Visitation rights

• Payment of jointly incurred debts

• Dissolution of mutually owned property

Sometimes spouses who cannot privately resolve their disagreements will obtain mediation, either from an Anchorage law firm or from a non-attorney specialist in the field. Should no agreement be reached, one or both parties may deem it advisable to hire private legal counsel to represent them in court. Retaining the services of Anchorage law firms which specialize in divorce proceedings will considerably raise the expense of this process.

Finding a lawyer

If you need private legal counsel, do not rush into any professional relationship. The most reliable referrals will come from friends and family who have successfully worked with Anchorage law firms who specialize in your kind of legal problem. Before scheduling a meeting with any attorney, look up their disciplinary record online and make sure they are in good standing with the law.

Arrive prepared to get the most out of any consultation with an Anchorage law firm by having a list of questions, such as:

• What is your level of experience with this kind of case?

• If your firm does not have specialized experience with my kind of situation, can you refer me to another Anchorage law firm?

• How long will my case take to reach a resolution?