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The Difference Between Mediation and Arbitration

The Morgue File So you need to resolve a legal dispute and must make a choice between these two alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, While the basic differences between mediation and arbitration lie in methodology, these differences may also affect the ultimate outcome of your dispute. Therefore, it is helpful to know not only the basic differences but also the pros and cons of those differences. In the most basic language, a mediation is a settlement while an arbitration is a decision on the merits of the case. While both are considered alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in that both avoid a full trial, including the costs of the trial, you must prepare for each differently. In a mediation, both sides of a dispute meet with a mediator who attempts to broker a settlement of the matter. It is usually more informal than an arbitration and also less costly . Usually, mediation is a good tool to use in situations where the parties are not too far apart in their
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Why and How to Develop Rapport with your Estate Attorney

wikimedia commons Illustration by C[yrus] Fosmire and/or Howard E Smith which appeared in  McClures Magazine  with  The Griswold Divorce Case  by  Frederic Taber Cooper , representing a man dictating to another an incriminating note, circa 1910. In the public domain in the United States We will all die. It is merely a question of when. If we are lucky and smart, we will have some assets to pass onto loved ones after we die. But families, all families, have their quirks and difficulties. Poor family dynamics inevitably emerge upon the death of a loved one where beneficiaries are concerned. And these family dynamics can lead to protracted litigation. However, some of these dynamics can be eliminated or alleviated if we use the proper estate planning tools. Estate planning attorneys are very knowledgeable regarding the process of probate and how to avoid probate. This question of whether to probate an estate or whether that estate should pass via trust remains a fundamental

Police to be Held Accountable? Perhaps!

wikimedia commons In the public domain in the United States Waage als Sinnbild für das Bemühen um Gleichgewicht zwischen dem Universum und der Welt der Menschen (Makro- und Mikrokosmos) The debate over police tactics continues to rage across the country in the wake of shootings, demonstrations, grand jury deliberations and mounting outrage from protesters and police alike. It is also being played out in Albuquerque, New Mexico--not a place often found in the same sentence as Ferguson.   In this unlikely town, the district attorney has filed murder charges against two officers involved in the shooting death of a homeless man last year.   The Albuquerque Police Department has been the focus of repeated protests  over police-involved shootings.  Albuquerque police shot and killed 27 people between 2010 and 2014, according to records kept by the Albuquerque Journal.  Charges follow the shooting death of James Boyd last March.  According to police, Boyd was shot holding two

What Happens At a Deposition

A deposition can be an intimidating matter, especially if it is the first time that you are being deposed. Knowing what to expect can help. The purpose of this article is to help the lay reader understand what a deposition is, how it functions and what you might expect at a deposition if you are a deponent. A caveat—even with this information, if you have been served with a deposition subpoena, you should seek the advice of an attorney and engage an attorney to represent you at the deposition. Civil litigation is a method used to sort out the liability for purported wrongs against people. It is a type of civilized warfare. The people involved are dressed nicely. They often smile at you when asking the most damaging questions. A deponent’s testimony is often critical to the resolution of the matter at hand, but it is important to understand what is being asked of you, and to answer truthfully to the best of your ability within the context of your attorney’s advice and representat

Should Lawyers be Required to Provide Pro Bono Services?

In a word, the answer is" yes." "Much is expected from those to whom much has been given." Lawyers, like doctors and other professionals, have been given much. They have had access to education. They have specialized knowledge. And although lawyers, like doctors, have worked hard to get through school and to practice in their respective fields, they also have the ability to earn much by virtue of their education. The average attorney, if he or she is charging by the hour, now charges over $250.00 per hour. Most attorneys work a great deal of hours over the course of any given week. Attorneys generally work longer than an eight hour day. Some of that time is billable, meaning the attorney is able to charge their client for that time. Some is not. Most law firms have a billable hour requirement. Many attorneys in larger firms must bill 2000 hours per year. We can all do the math. It adds up to a lot over money over time. I believe that attorneys are justified in reque

How to Write a Legal Memorandum

Legal memoranda, like legal briefs, are usually written in a formulaic fashion, following certain rules that make is easy for a judge or other legal professional to digest the document quickly. Legal memoranda usually provide the underpinnings for most legal briefs. So, whether you need to prepare a memorandum or brief or merely need to decipher one, it may be helpful to know that most memoranda and briefs follow the same format. A very simple legal brief format follows this discussion. The format is called IRAC, which stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis/Argument and Conclusion. The following further explains the format. Issue In a clear and succinct manner, state the issue at hand. The issue can be formulated as a heading such as: “Whether the statute of limitations prohibits the cause of action for negligence by the plaintiff.” This may be how you see the issue stated in a legal brief. This heading is numbered and centered on the page as are all the subsequent headings.

The One Legal Book Everyone Should Read This Summer

wikimedia commons official portrait My household is abuzz over retired Justice John Paul Stevens' book, Six Amendments: How And Why We Should Change the Constitution. (Little, Brown & Co.) Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore or Amazon, and plunk down the $20 or so it will take to buy it. This is a first. This is the first time a retired Supreme Court Justice has published a manifesto, if you will, on our Constitution. And in my humble opinion, this book, while short, opens a much needed dialogue on the need for Constitutional change by amendment in this county. The book is short and covers a number of topics, campaign finance, gerrymandering and perhaps the most important, and most controversial, the death penalty and the right to bear arms. Stevens would add words to the Second Amendment to read, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms when serving in the militia shall not be infringed." He writes: Emotional claims t