Author Archive

Find a Criminal Defense Attorney in Benicia

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Criminal defense attorneys come with a variety of areas of expertise. Many attorneys not only handle the routine criminal defense cases, but many also concentrate on one specific area within criminal defense. For example, some may focus on violent crime defense, some may focus on rape defense, and others may have special knowledge of tax law or SEC investigations. Although no area requires that the lawyer be one who concentrates in that area, it can be very beneficial to find one that does have expertise relating to your case. With some cases, however, it can be difficult to find a lawyer that concentrates in that area due to a shortage of lawyers that choose to concentrate in some areas. Finding a lawyer who is willing to put in time to learn about your case and who is genuinely interested in your defense is an acceptable substitute in this situation.

In areas where there are plenty of lawyers to choose from, the choice is not as clear. One must decide if they want someone who has well-established credentials and experience, or someone who is young and will make up for lack of experience with hard and dedicated work. Determine what types of qualities are important to you, and start from there.

No matter which lawyer you choose, it is important to follow a few guidelines before you finalize your selection. Look at what legal organizations the lawyer belongs to. Belonging to the County and State Bar Associations should be a definite requirement. Membership to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, or to the ABA’s Criminal Justice Section is a good sign that criminal defense cases are important to the lawyer in question. If he or she has held office in any of the organizations that he or she belongs to, that is an even better qualification.

Once you have a few candidates, make arrangements to meet the lawyer to decide if he or she has the skills to handle your case. Having a good relationship with your lawyer is important, so if you do not get along well, chances are the experience will not be a good one. Ask if the lawyer has had teaching experience. This shows that he or she is capable of research, fieldwork, and dedication, all of which are needed for teaching.

In the end, the goal is to find a lawyer that will be handle the case in question. Young attorneys are able to handle misdemeanor and traffic cases, but those with much more experience, at least five years of criminal practice, should handle felony and federal cases.

Newman & Oldwin is an experienced California criminal defense firm, serving Solano County as well as Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, Dixon and Benicia. Barry K. Newman and Leonard E. Oldwin, Jr. are founders of the firm. They are experienced trial lawyers, having represented criminal defendants for over 20 years.

Newman & Oldwin exclusively practices in the area of criminal defense law, representing clients accused of committing felony and misdemeanor offenses. They can protect your rights in all types of criminal cases:

* All Felonies & Misdemeanors
* Murder|Homicide
* Assault
* Domestic Violence
* Sex Crimes
* DUI/Drunk Driving Defense
* Bench Warrants
* Probation Violations
* Probation Terminations

Newman & Oldwin is one of a select few criminal defense law firms that offers clients in-house investigative services. They do not rely on police investigations. With their professional investigative team, you can be assured that they take the time to evaluate the facts and circumstances of every criminal charge, locate crucial witnesses, and find critical information so that they can present the strongest possible defense in the legal proceedings against you.

The Secrets to Hiring a Good Divorce Lawyer

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Before you find a divorce lawyer to handle your divorce, you need to know what you want out of the proceedings. Let’s face it, divorce is not only about getting out of a relationship, it is also about getting your fair share of the assets that you and your spouse have accumulated over the years. No, you are not being greedy if you try to get your fair share of your conjugal assets. Unless you and your spouse signed an iron clad prenuptial agreement before you said “I do” in front of the magistrate, you are entitled to half of the assets that you and your spouse have accumulated during your marriage. Unfortunately, your fair share will not be handed to you on a silver platter so you need to find a divorce lawyer who can help you get it.

Another thing that you will need to fight for during a divorce is child custody and support. If you want to get custody of the children, you will need to find a good divorce lawyer to do all the work for you. Now, things can get especially complicated if one or both of you are actively serving the military, so you may want to consider hiring a military divorce lawyer in this case.

Remember that most lawyers are not cheap and if you are on a tight budget, you may end up getting buried in a pile of debts just to pay off your lawyer’s professional fees. To make sure that you do not spend more money than you should on attorney’s fees, make sure that you set a budget for your divorce proceedings and stick to it. You should also negotiate your lawyer’s fees. Most lawyers are willing to collect a percentage of the settlement at the end of the litigation instead of asking for outright payments for his or her services.

So if you are not happy with your marriage and want a divorce, the Lybarger Law Firm is always at your service. It is dedicated to providing high quality legal representation in family law matters. They offer a full range of family and matrimonial legal services including simple uncontested divorce cases, complex divorce cases involving significant estates and child custody disputes, marriage annulments, paternity, modification (changes to court orders), enforcement cases involving child support and visitation, and prenuptial contracts. For an experienced, compassionate, and solution-oriented approach to your legal issues, contact Lybarger Law Firm.