Best Domestic Violence Defence Attorney in Albuquerque

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Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Divorce Attorney

• When you're going through a divorce and looking
  for an attorney, remember that you don't have to
  hire the first attorney you meet. Choosing the
  right lawyer to guide you through your divorce
  is one of the most important divorce- related
  decisions you'll make.
• Even if you've received a referral to a family
  law attorney from a friend or another lawyer,
  you should still do your homework check the
  attorney's qualifications, and make sure he or
  she has enough experience to handle your case.
• There are lots of lawyers out there, and many
  advertise themselves as "family law" or
  "divorce" attorneys. However, family law is a
  subspecialty that involves complex legal
  principles, which take time and experience to
  master. Within the area of family law, there are
  even further subspecialties, such as custody law,
  international custody law, guardianship, and an
  area of the law involving Qualified Domestic
  Relations Orders (QDROs), which are special
  orders required to divide certain types of
  retirement benefits.
• In addition, there are various financial aspects
  of divorce, including
• financial disclosure requirements between spouses

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• restraining orders prohibiting spouses from
  changing beneficiary designations or
  transferring assets before and during the divorce
• alimony (how to calculate income available for
  alimony and the special factors courts consider
  when determining setting payments)
• child support (how to calculate child support in
  your state)
• the division of property and assets, including
  real property, collectibles, venture capital
  interests, stock option portfolios, good will, or
  other
• business interests, and
• the division of retirement benefits.
• There is a vast body of law (which will vary from
  state to state) that applies to these issues.
  These laws are frequently updated or overturned
  by the legislature and/or the courts, so you'll
  need to find an attorney that's familiar with
  the new rules and cases that apply to your
  divorce.
• If you have a very simple case, with minimal
  financial issues and no children, you may feel
  comfortable hiring a less experienced family law
  attorney.
• However, if you're facing a contested divorce
  case that involves substantial assets,
  complicated financial questions, or a complex
  custody dispute, you should look for an
  experienced attorney that specializes in family
  law and has experience with the particular
  issues involved in your case. For tips about
  hiring a divorce lawyer to handle some or all of
  your divorce case, see our article, Hiring a
  Divorce Lawyer.
• Ten Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney

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• We've provided a few questions you might consider
  asking during your initial interview with a
  family law attorney. These may help you determine
  whether this lawyer is right for your case.
• Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces
  just a part of your practice? How long have you
  been practicing family law? How many family law
  cases have you handled? Are you a "certified
  family law specialist?"
• What is your strategy for my case? How long will
  it take to resolve my case?
• How long do you take to return phone calls? How
  do I get a hold of you if there is an emergency?
  What do you consider to be an emergency?
• Will anyone else in your office be working on my
  case? What experience do they have? Can I meet
  them?
• How will you charge me? What is your hourly rate?
  Do you charge for the time I spend with other
  lawyers, with paralegals, and/or with
  secretaries? If so, at what rate? What is your
  retainer up front?
• What costs (other than your own) do you expect
  will be involved (for example, for private
  investigators, forensic accountants, physicians,
  and/or psychologists), and how will you charge
  me for them?
• What's your estimate of the total cost of this
  divorce? (Do not be alarmed that most divorce
  attorneys will resist answering this question as
  the cost of

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• the divorce depends greatly upon the level of
  conflict in your case. However, the way
  attorneys answer this question may help you size
  them up. An honest attorney will often answer
  that it is difficult to estimate the costs in
  advance.
• An attorney that gives you an unrealistically low
  amount may just be trying to get your business).
• Do you allow me to negotiate directly with my
  spouse? How can I keep the cost of my divorce
  down? Are there tasks that I can do myself to cut
  down on the amount you will charge me?
• Based on what you know about my case, how would
  you predict a judge would rule on it?
• What can you do to help me understand the tax
  effect of the decisions I will have to make?

7 Steps To Choosing The Right Divorce Lawyer
It's difficult to know where to turn when you're
faced with divorce. Few of us have any prior
experience with the legal ins and outs associated
with this difficult process. In my divorce coach
practice, I've heard too many stories of time
and money wasted as clients go through lawyer
after lawyer trying to find the right one. And
yet, finding the right divorce lawyer is key to
what could be a faster, less-expensive divorce,
compared to a long, drawn-out emotional and
financial nightmare. But if you don't know what
to look for in a divorce lawyer, how do you know
you're investing all of your money, hopes and
dreams in the right one?
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• Be realistic.
• First, you need to realize that divorce is a
  legal process with the sole purpose of
  dissolving your assets and resolving custody
  issues. Your divorce attorney's job is to
  represent you to the best of his or her ability
  in this process. While you might want them to
  listen to your anger, frustration, pain and
  sadness, that is not their job. They are not
  trained to be your therapist or coach, and they
  don't want to be. Since your attorney has higher
  rates and the clock is always running, it's a
  gross misuse of your money if this is how you're
  using them. And divorce attorneys have seen it
  all. What seems immensely important to you might
  barely register for them within the scope of the
  legal process. So be realistic about the role of
  your divorce attorney, and what you can expect
  from them.
• Stay focused on the goal.
• Your ultimate goal in this process is to get
  divorced, and hopefully you can do so without
  any major depreciation of your lifestyle. Don't
  let your emotions jump in and run rampant when
  it comes to negotiating over material things
  that don't mean much to you in the big picture.
  If you do, your divorce will be longer, more
  litigious, and definitely more expensive than
  otherwise. Is it worth it? No. So keep your
  focus on getting divorced as quickly, and with as
  little financial damage, as possible. Ask
  yourself, what kind of divorce will do that for
  me?
• Know what you want.

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Before you rush out to hire a divorce attorney,
consider other alternatives to traditional
litigation. If you aren't completely entangled
with children and finances, you could hire a
mediator to help you negotiate the terms of your
divorce. Mediation is the fastest, cheapest way
to get divorced, and you might not need to hire
an attorney at all! If your negotiation is more
complicated, you'll have to hire a divorce
lawyer to negotiate a settlement with your
spouse's attorney. Or you could consider a
collaborative divorce. A collaborative divorce
is focused on negotiation with the goal of
preserving a co-parenting relationship. Your
last resort is a litigated trial. Typically,
these are the cases when neither side will
compromise. So you need to determine what type
of divorce attorney you need based on your unique
circumstances. Realize that any divorce attorney
you talk to will try to steer you in the
direction of their own specific expertise. It's
up to you to know what you want first, so you
can make the right choice. 4. Identify at least
three potential attorneys. Don't jump to hire
the first lawyer you meet. They are not all the
same. Find at least three divorce attorneys that
you can interview before making your decision.
Clearly, you need to hire a lawyer that
specializes in family law and one that's
experienced in the specific type of divorce you
think is best for you. The ideal attorney has
the legal knowledge and experience you need,
helps you understand the process, communicates
and negotiates well, solves problems creatively
and is experienced in your specific court system.
So you need one that's local to you. Regardless
of whether or not your divorce is headed to
trial, your attorney needs to be experienced
with the family law judges in your jurisdiction
so that he or she can advise you appropriately on
legal strategy.
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• How do you find potential attorneys? Ask you
  friends for personal recommendations. Ask your
  trust or estate lawyer for divorce attorney
  recommendations. Go online to the numerous
  websites that provide client reviews of
  attorneys local to yo
• Interview and research potential attorneys.
• Start with an initial phone call. Ask them about
  their experience and specialization within
  family law. Ask them about what type of client
  they typically represent. Ask them about their
  rates. Most divorce lawyers charge an hourly fee
  and require a retainer -- a fee charged in
  advance. Some lawyers will also negotiate fees
  based on anticipated settlements. Don't waste
  your time (or theirs) on a meeting if they're
  out of your cost range. Most divorce attorneys
  provide a free consult to discuss your specific
  situation and what their legal approach would
  be. So take advantage of it to gather as much
  legal advice as possible! Typically, the
  attorney you meet with will not be handling the
  day-to-day issues related to your case, so ask to
  meet the colleague or associate that would. The
  divorce process can also include financial
  experts, parenting coordinators, coach
  facilitators, and forensic appraisers. Find out
  your attorney's access to these resources and if
  any would be relevant to your case, as it will
  affect overall cost. And even if you have no
  intention of heading to trial, look at the
  attorney's trial record and history of success in
  court. This track record is an indicator of your
  attorney's success in negotiation.
• Look for red flags.

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Unfortunately, many attorneys will tell you what
you want to hear just to close the deal. While
this is your life, it's a business for them.
There are no guarantees in this process, so if
an attorney is making promises, don't believe
it. If an attorney talks about high-profile
clients or divulges confidential information
based on other cases, it's highly likely they'll
do the same to you. If they aren't respectful of
other divorce attorneys you're interviewing, it's
a sign that they won't be to you either. And if
during your consult, they're constantly
distracted by phone calls and emails and can't
focus their sole attention on you, they likely
won't during your divorce case. Make sure the
lawyer you choose acts according to the
professional ethics of the industry and treats
you with the respect and attention you deserve.
This might be their business, but it's your
life. 7. Make your choice. The divorce
attorney you choose to represent you is local,
professional, knowledgeable, responsive and
communicates well. This attorney is someone you
trust and feel comfortable with. This attorney
supports your basic philosophy toward divorce
and has a style that works for you. This attorney
recognizes the importance of your children and
puts them first in the legal process by not
making unreasonable child support demands or
custody arrangements. This attorney is
affordable. Divorce is a highly personal and
emotional process, the outcome of which can have
a significant impact on your life. This is an
important decision, and there are no guarantees
in this process. However, if you follow these
steps, you'll find the right one -- the one who
listens to what you want, advises you well and
has your best interest at heart.
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The Top 7 Benefits of Being a Lawyer
Lawyers often are the punchline of many jokes
however, being a lawyer has its benefits. It
takes years of hard work and intensive study to
become a lawyer therefore, very few people
would choose this career if there were not
several excellent benefits of being a lawyer.
For those who work hard, the rewards of being an
attorney outweigh the cost of achieving your law
degree and license to practice law. The benefits
of being a lawyer depend on several factors
however, seven of the most common benefits of
being a lawyer include 1. Wide Selection of
Career Options The benefits of being a lawyer
include being able to select from a wide variety
of career options in the public and private
sector. If your calling is to make the world a
safer place for you, your family, and everyone
else, you may choose to become a criminal
prosecutor. On the other hand, if you believe our
criminal justice system is grounded on the
principal that everyone is innocent until proven
guilty and everyone has the right to competent
legal counsel, you may choose to become a public
defender. Of course, some people believe this
but choose to be a criminal defense attorney in
the private sector because private attorneys
tend to earn a great deal more than attorneys in
the public sector. In addition to criminal
defense, you may choose from many areas of law
including domestic law, real estate,
corporate/business law, bankruptcy law,
immigration law, or estate planning. If there is
a law that covers a particular
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• subject, you can choose to specialize in that
  specific area. You can also choose to become a
  sole proprietor who handles several areas of law
  for many clients or a corporate in-house
  attorney working for one client.
• Financial Rewards and Emotional Rewards
• Among the many benefits of being a lawyer, the
  financial rewards and emotional rewards are at
  the top of most college-bound students seeking to
  study law. Lawyers have the opportunity to earn
  a lucrative income. The average annual income
  for an attorney in the United States is 114,970
  per year as of 2014 according to the U.S. Bureau
  of Labor. The highest 10 of attorneys earned
  more than 187,200 per year. Salaries of
  experienced, specialized attorneys can be much,
  much higher depending on the field, geographical
  location, employer, and level of experience.
• Of course, money is not the only reason why
  people choose the legal field as their career.
  The emotional rewards of being an attorney can be
  even more satisfying than the financial rewards.
  If you are passionate about your chosen field of
  law and you believe your top priority is your
  client, assisting people achieve a positive
  outcome for their problem is extremely
  satisfying. An attorney usually sees a person
  during one of the worst moments of their life
  therefore, it can be extremely rewarding to help
  this person find a successful resolution to
  their problem.
• Mental Stimulation and Intellectual Challenges
• Another one of the many benefits of being a
  lawyer is the mental stimulation an attorney
  experiences when working through complex legal
  theories, statutes, and case law to find a
  solution to a legal question. Most lawyers
  possess exceptional analytical skills including
  reading and writing skills.
• Practicing law allows you to use your mental
  skills each day in effective ways

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• to solve problems for your clients. Because each
  case is unique, you must use your full mental
  capabilities to research, speculate, hypothesize,
  and formulate legal strategies to effectively
  solve problems for your clients.
• Argue and Debate
• Some lawyers never argue a case in a court room
  or they argue very few cases in court. On the
  other hand, some trial attorneys are in court
  almost each week arguing a new case. If you
  enjoy the challenge of going up against another
  attorney to argue legal theories and points to
  prove your allegations are correct, becoming an
  attorney will give you ample opportunity to argue
  and debate legal theories and various
  interpretations of the law.
• Work Environment
• For many, the work environment is one of the
  benefits specifically considered when choosing a
  career. Most lawyers work in law firms,
  government agencies, or corporations where they
  are afforded an actual office with four walls
  rather than a cubicle in the middle of a bull
  pen from a cubicle.
• Although things have since changed with the need
  for social distancing and the ease of working
  remotely. Being a lawyer typically includes the
  benefit of having a certain level of prestige
  that affords you certain benefits that other
  employees may not receive (i.e. office, ability
  to set hours, expense accounts, decorating
  budget, etc.).
• Skills that Transfer Alternative Legal Careers
• Benefits of being a lawyer do not stop at being
  a lawyer. The skills you learn in law school
  and in the early years of your practice easily
  translate into alternative legal careers. Sally
  Kane wrote about several alternative legal
  careers in an article published on About.com.
  Alternative legal careers Kane

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explores in her article include legal consulting,
legal technology, legal publishing, education,
administration, banking, finance, dispute
resolution, and human resource
management. 7. Flexibility Unpredictable
schedules, demanding billable quotas, long hours,
and very few days off have been a major
complaint of many attorneys. The desire to
achieve a better work-life balance has encouraged
many firms to work with their employees to
provide more flexibility as an attorney. Many law
firms are now offering telecommuting,
alternative work schedules, tiered pay scales,
expanded family leave including maternity and
paternity leave, reduced billable hours, and
virtual assistants to reduce work load. The
benefits of being a lawyer are increasing as law
firms and other employers see the value of
providing additional flexibly for their employees
in increased productivity and efficiency.