Wichita Law Firms

A brief guide to Wichita law firms

There are many different circumstances in which a person may begin considering the advisability of hiring private legal counsel. Wichita law firms offer preventive litigation for people seeking to avoid the courtroom, defense representation for people charged with a criminal or civil offense, and many other kinds of specialized services. Figuring out what kind of Wichita law firm is appropriate to your circumstances involves taking many different factors into consideration. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of hiring an attorney.

Members of Wichita law firms

Some attorneys known as “solo practitioners” work by themselves. Whether practicing the law individually or as part of a Wichita law firm, there are two types of attorneys:

• Litigation lawyers appear in court, presenting a case on behalf of their client.

• Transactional lawyers review paperwork and prepare documentation without appearing in court.

Most Wichita law firms have both kinds of attorneys on staff. These lawyers can either be partners who own a share of the business and divide profits among themselves or associates who are paid a fixed salary.

Larger Wichita law firms commonly employee additional employees such as paralegals, who help prepare and complete legal paperwork under a lawyer’s supervision.

Criminal law

When the police or a government agency charge someone with a criminal offense, they are entitled to legal advice at every stage of the legal process. People who cannot afford to pay for the services of a Wichita law firm will have free legal representation appointed for them by the court. This attorney’s advice can be disregarded at any time, and any person of sound mental health is free to represent themselves. However, it is recommended that any defendants carefully consider the advice offered by any representative of a Wichita law firm before making any decisions.

The criminal prosecution process consists of several stages:

• At the arraignment hearing, the prosecution will formally present a list of the charges being filed. A defendant may be offered a plea bargain in return for responding to these with “guilty” or “no contest.” An attorney will evaluate the desirability of doing so and argue for any bail to be lowered.

• During the “discovery” component of the pretrial process, attorneys for the prosecution and defense must regularly share any evidence they plan on presenting in court. Wichita law firms will examine the prosecution’s materials for any signs that technical or legal errors were committed in the process of gathering evidence against you. These can be grounds for dismissal of any or all charges.

• In the courtroom, a Wichita law firm litigation lawyer will make the strongest possible argument on your behalf. Should you be found guilty, they will be present at your sentencing hearing to present mitigating evidence justifying a less severe sentence than that called for by the prosecution.

Civil law

When two private individuals or businesses have a dispute, often one party will file litigation seeking financial compensation for a wrong related to:

• Real estate disagreements relating to the sale or lease of property

• An injury caused by another person or by a defective product

• A business contract between two parties whose terms have been violated

• Workplace sexual harassment

In nearly all cases, Wichita law firms representing both sides will negotiate an out-of-court settlement before the case comes to trial.

Divorce law

Two divorcing spouses can agree to cooperate in drafting a mutually acceptable separation agreement detailing how they plan to handle such potentially contentious issues as:

• Alimony payments

• Child custody arrangements

• Visitation rights

• Payment of jointly incurred debts

• Divisions of mutually owned property

• Child support payments

Doing so allows the divorce process to be completed without the additional expense of the services of a Wichita law firm. Couples who agree on the importance of preparing a document to present for a judge’s approval but who cannot resolve all their disagreements by themselves may wish to retain the services of a mediator to act as a neutral third party in guiding their conversations. This legal professional may be an attorney who is part of a Wichita law firm or a non-lawyer divorce specialist.

If two spouses cannot successfully craft a separation agreement, one or both may decide to retain private legal counsel for their court date. Any Wichita law firm member who helped mediate in pretrial discussions may not represent either party in court.

Bankruptcy law

One legal process which will be too complicated and technical for most laypeople to complete without an attorney’s help is filing for bankruptcy. It is highly advisable to consult with a Wichita law firm before taking this step. An attorney can help you determine whether to use state or federal guidelines when seeking exemptions for property that cannot be foreclosed on or sold off to pay off a debt.

Finding a Wichita law firm

Retaining legal counsel is not a process to rush through. Ask friend, family and co-workers if they can refer you to any Wichita law firms specializing in your kind of legal problem that they have successfully worked with. Before agreeing to meet with any attorneys, review their disciplinary records online to make sure they are in good ethical standing and qualified to practice law.

Make the most out of any initial consultation at a Wichita law firm by arriving with all documentation that relates to your quest, along with a list of questions such as:

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

• If your firm does not have enough specialized experience to adequately represent me, can you refer me to Wichita law firms with more knowledge in this field?

• How long can I expect my case to continue before a resolution is reached?

• What are your fees, and how often will I be billed?

• If I need to get in touch with you, who can I contact at your firm?