Jersey City Law Firms

A brief guide to Jersey City law firms

Though many different circumstances can lead someone to think about obtaining the advice of a lawyer, it is always a process to be undertaken carefully. Jersey City law firms offer many different types of services to help people with different legal needs. Regardless of your case, here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to find an attorney.

The structure of Jersey City law firms

Some attorneys, known as “solo practitioners,” work by themselves, but many are part of larger organizations. Jersey City law firms are controlled by “partners,” or attorneys who own a share of the business and divide profits among themselves after salaried employees have been paid. These employees include “associates,” who are lawyers who work for a fixed salary. Regardless of their level of authority, Jersey City law firms generally have two kinds of attorneys on staff:

• Litigation lawyers appear on behalf of clients in the courtroom to argue their case.

• Transaction lawyers organize, review and create legally binding documents on behalf of their clients.

There is no minimum or maximum number of attorneys that can make up a Jersey City law firm. All such businesses generally specialize in a few practice areas.

Preventive litigation

Many large businesses retain the services of a Jersey City law firm as part of their everyday business expenses. Hiring an attorney can help guard against the threat of future litigation in many ways. Some of these “preventive litigation” services Jersey City law firms offer include:

• Reviewing employee manuals

• Making sure the workplace is compliance with all applicable safety standards and has made reasonable accommodations for disabled employees

• Creating and maintaining employee contracts

• Reviewing and maintaining tax records

• Creating any contracts involving an agreement between two businesses

These kinds of lawyers review any decision made by a business that has potential legal implications. Jersey City law firms can be similarly helpful in real estate transactions by making sure that any purchase or lease agreement guarantees you are getting exactly what you paid for. Buying or leasing property often comes with significant financial obligations which must be honored, making an attorney’s review of the documentation involved a helpful precaution.

Criminal court

When the police or a government agency charge someone with a misdemeanor or felony, serious consequences such as a large fine or jail time can be the result. Because criminal charges threaten your financial health and liberty, you are entitled to legal representation even if you cannot afford to pay for the private services of a Jersey City law firm. In such cases, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent and advise the defendant for free throughout the legal process.

No person of sound mental health is required to listen to any advice provided by a Jersey City law firm. All defendants of sound mental health are free to represent themselves in court or ignore a lawyer’s advice. However, the legal process involves many technicalities. It is always best to consult with an attorney before making any decisions.

The criminal prosecution process begins with an arraignment hearing. In this courtroom appearance, the prosecution formally presents the charges. At this time, you may be offered a plea bargain in return for a response of “guilty” or “no contest.” A representative from a Jersey City law firm can help you determine if accepting any such offer is in your best interests. If any bail has been set, an attorney will argue that it should be lowered.

Defendants who plead “not guilty” will have a court date scheduled. There are many functions Jersey City law firms perform during the pretrial period. While assembling a case on your behalf, they will regularly exchange all evidence with the prosecution. After evaluating the case that will be presented against you, a Jersey City law firm may discover that some of the evidence against you has been improperly collected and file a motion to dismiss the charges. An attorney will also be present during the jury selection process to ensure no biased jurors are chosen to serve.

A Jersey City law firm may be able to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution and submit it to a judge for approval at any time before a verdict is returned. In the courtroom, your attorney will present the strongest possible case in your defence. If you are found guilty, they will appear at your sentencing hearing to argue for a less severe sentence than called for by the prosecution.

Civil court

In civil litigation, one private party files a complaint against the other related to such issues as:

• Violation of an employee contract

• Underpayment of wages

• Personal injury caused by another party or defective product

• Landlord-tenant disputes

The goal of such lawsuits is generally to obtain a financial settlement. Jersey City law firms representing both parties will conduct extensive negotiations throughout the pretrial process to craft a mutually acceptable agreement. Neither party is entitled to free legal representation in this court system.

Finding a Jersey City law firm

If you are thinking of hiring an attorney, ask yourself:

• What do I hope to achieve through the legal process?

• How much time, money, energy and attention can I devote to my case?

• What kind of specialized assistance do I need?

Once you have clarified your goals and resources, ask friends, family and business associates if they can recommend any Jersey City law firms they have successfully worked with. Prior to attending a meeting with any representative of these businesses, look up the disciplinary record of the attorney you will be meeting with to make sure they are in good legal standing.

You may need to schedule initial consultations at several Jersey City law firms before you find one you feel comfortable hiring to represent you. During your first meeting with any attorney, be sure to request a detailed, written estimate of all expenses you can expect to incur.