Paralegals

Paralegals, also called legal assistants, perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. They perform a variety of duties that in the past were handled by attorneys. The attorney has ultimate responsibility for any legal work, and paralegals are not allowed to engage in the practice of law. They cannot give legal advice or present cases in court.

Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation in Appellate Courts

In the 1970s settlement conferences were used in the appellate courts in response to the increasing number of appeals that were being filed. Settlement conferences had mixed results. In the 1990s, appellate courts began using mediation conferences to encourage the settlement of civil cases on appeal. The underlying assumption is that all cases do not need full appellate review by the appellate court.

General Civil Litigation

Criminal litigation involves the government's prosecution of a person because of an alleged commission of a crime. Criminal behavior is punished by imposing a fine and/or imprisonment on the offender. All criminal proceedings are initiated by a government entity. General civil litigation, on the other hand, involves disputes between private parties. A civil lawsuit is initiated by one person against another person, business, or government entity. There can be multiple plaintiffs (person suing) and/or multiple defendan

Impaired Driving -- Fatigue, Cell Phone Use, And Telematics

Impaired driving refers to anything that distracts a driver and interferes with his/her capable performance of the task of driving. Driving can be impaired by drug use, alcohol use, driver fatigue, cell phone use, and anything else that distracts the driver, such as eating food or putting on makeup. The use of computers and navigation devices in cars called telematics can also distract a driver. This article explores driver fatigue, cell phone use, and telematics.

Hiring An Attorney

If you are stuck with a car that is a lemon or if an electronics store won't repair the big screen television that you bought from it, you may need to hire an attorney to help resolve the dispute. Legal advice is also helpful if you are buying or selling a home or starting a new business. Attorneys can provide valuable advice on estate planning, tax matters, and marital issues.