Criminal Defense
All people accused of crime are legally presumed to be innocent until the point of conviction, whether that comes by way of trial or plea. This presumption means that the prosecution must convince the jury of the defendant’s guilt, rather than the defendant having to prove innocence. A defendant may simply remain silent and not present any witnesses, then argue that the prosecution failed to prove its case. But, in practice, defense attorneys often present their own witnesses in order to counteract the government’s case.
The prosecutor must convince the fact-finder of the defendant’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This heavy burden of proof requires that the jury (in some cases, the judge) have a moral certainty that the defendant is guilty. With such a high burden on the opposition, defense attorneys often impress upon juries thatthinking the defendant committed the crime isn’t enough for a conviction.
Family Matters
Consultation and advice. A lawyer can analyze your situation and advise you on your best plan of action. Ideally, the lawyer will explain all of your options so you can make the choice—for example, if you have a lot of assets and need a high-end estate plan.
Negotiation. The lawyer can help you negotiate—perhaps if you and your ex are in the midst of a nasty breakup. Many lawyers excel at negotiating—especially if they use that skill a lot in their practice.
Immigration Matters
Many people think they can show up at a U.S. embassy or border post, describe why they’d make a good addition to U.S. society, and be welcomed in. Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite of how the U.S. immigration system works.
Instead, people who want to come to the United States, whether temporarily or permanently, must determine whether they fit into eligibility categories for either permanent residence (a “green card”) or for a temporary stay (“nonimmigrant visa”).
Then they must submit an application — in fact, often a series of applications — to one or more of the U.S. agencies responsible for carrying out the immigration laws. These include U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which has offices across the United States (plus a few overseas), and the U.S. Department of State (DOS), which manages consulates and embassies around the world.
Civil Disputes
There are many different kinds of civil disputes. When a person violates a civil duty to another, such as a doctor guilty of negligence toward a patient, the civil dispute is usually called a tort. Torts include issues such as malpractice, negligence, personal injury, defamation, or workplace safety. This large branch of civil law is an extremely common source of legal disputes. Tort disputes may involve two individuals, an individual and an organization, or two organizations. In managing tort disputes, a judge must determine if the defendant had a civil duty to the plaintiff, if the duty was breached, and if the damage done to the plaintiff that resulted directly from the breach of duty can be measured in terms of compensation.
Our Areas of Expertise:
Criminal Defense: |
Family Matters: |
Immigration: |
| • Assault • Child Abuse • Drug Offenses • Driving While Intoxicated • ALR Hearings • Expunctions and Non-Disclosures • Domestic Violence • Fraud • Juvenile Offenses • Murder • Probation and Parole • Sexual Offenses • Theft, Robbery and Burglary • Weapons Offenses • White Collar Offenses |
• Alimony and Spousal Maintenance • Child Custody • Child Support • Divorce • Protective Orders • Modification • Paternity • Property Division • Sole Custody • CPS Matters |
• Asylum • Bond Hearings • Deportation and Removal • Citizenship • Work Authorization • Permanent Residency |
