what kind of lawyer do i need to investigate a past case

Answered on Jun 02nd, 2022 at 4:30 PM I think you may be better served by hiring a estates/probate attorney who can help determine what you can do in your situation. Assuming she died without a will, then you should contact a probate attorney to help recover what may be yours as part of intestacy laws in Texas.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer for a criminal case?

In serious cases, where punishments are more severe, a criminal lawyer is highly recommended, even necessary. A criminal lawyer can advise an individual on the consequences of conviction or guilty pleas. Some guilty pleas, even to misdemeanor charges, can have long-term consequences.

How do I find out if a lawyer is representing a defendant?

Go to your local criminal courthouse and ask for a listing of recent cases in which the attorney has represented a defendant. While many jurisdictions have case records online, that is not the case in every state or municipality. File an open records request with the public defender's office or local court.

What kind of cases do private investigators take?

Private investigators serve an important role. They often handle cases that are not taken care of by other professionals but that serve an important function in the justice or corporate system. Some of the common cases that private investigators take include: Many private investigators offer background checks with their list of services.

What does a lawyer’s investigator do?

These investigators analyze case law, evidence and discovery materials to find information that will help their firm win a case.

Can lawyers talk about past cases?

The attorney-client privilege is, strictly speaking, a rule of evidence. It prevents lawyers from testifying about, and from being forced to testify about, their clients' statements. Independent of that privilege, lawyers also owe their clients a duty of confidentiality.

What are the 4 types of lawyers?

Bankruptcy Lawyer. Bankruptcy lawyers are experts in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and handle insolvency issues for individuals or corporations. ... Business Lawyer (Corporate Lawyer) ... Constitutional Lawyer. ... Criminal Defense Lawyer. ... Employment and Labor Lawyer. ... 6. Entertainment Lawyer. ... Estate Planning Lawyer. ... Family Lawyer.More items...

How do I know what kind of lawyer I want to be?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?

How do you find the legal issue of a case?

What is a legal issue?Look for ambiguity in the facts. Lawyers LOVE ambiguity. ... Find where the opinions disagree. Many cases you read in law school have dissenting opinions, precisely because these opinions help you see both sides of the contested legal or factual points. ... Think about what you don't understand.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What is a civil attorney?

What Is a Civil Attorney? Civil attorneys are more popularly known as litigators. These professionals work primarily on civil lawsuits filed in civil courts but they may also participate in arbitration and mediation processes. These trials and processes may take place aren't always found in the courtroom.

How many types of lawyers are there?

What are the two main types of lawyers? There are two main types of lawyers in criminal law are attorney and prosecutor.

How do I hire a lawyer?

Take time to search for the right lawyer.Ask family, friends, or co-workers for recommendations.Check with your state and local bar associations.Consult lawyer referral services offered by a union or community group you belong to.

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers?

It describes the sources and broad definitions of lawyers' four responsibilities: duties to clients and stakeholders; duties to the legal system; duties to one's own institution; and duties to the broader society.

What is the procedural history of a case?

Procedural History (PH): This is the disposition of the case in the lower court(s) that explains how the case got to the court whose opinion you are reading.

How do you find the facts of a case?

Facts are the “who, when, what, where, and why” of the case. Describe the history of the dispute, including the events that led to the lawsuit, the legal claims and defenses of each party, and what happened in the trial court. Do not merely copy the facts verbatim; not every detail is important.

What is considered a legal issue?

A legal issue is something that happens that has legal implications and may need the help of a lawyer to sort out. It is a question or problem that is answered or resolved by the law.

Rights of Individuals Under Criminal Investigation

Cooperating with police who are investigating you for an alleged crime may seem like the best way to get the matter over with as quickly, but that is not always the case.

How Legal Counsel Could Help Someone Being Investigated by Police

One key reason to retain a lawyer early on in the criminal investigation process is to get experienced professional guidance as to what you should or should not disclose to investigators.

What is legal investigator?

Legal investigators work for law firms by helping attorneys get their cases and evidence ready for trial. These investigators analyze case law, evidence and discovery materials to find information that will help their firm win a case. To be an investigator, you must not only be skilled at finding and analyzing information, ...

How much does it cost to become a legal investigator?

The requirements include being employed by a law firm or investigative agency, five years of full-time legal investigation experience, passing a Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) examination and paying a fee of ​ $200 ​ for members or ​ $300 ​ for non-members.

How much does a private investigator make?

In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median annual private detective salary as ​ $50,510 ​, but a legal investigator may make more.

Do legal investigators work as lawyers?

Some legal investigators start out as law school graduates and may even work as a lawyer for awhile in order to understand the field better. Others may start out as paralegals, while still others may get bachelor degrees in journalism or criminal justice and proceed from there.

Step 1

Go to your local criminal courthouse and ask for a listing of recent cases in which the attorney has represented a defendant. While many jurisdictions have case records online, that is not the case in every state or municipality.

Step 2

File an open records request with the public defender's office or local court. If the attorney is a public defender, then his office has a duty to release information regarding every case he has defended while working there and even has to release performance reviews.

Step 3

Call the local bar association and ask for the any records on file related to your attorney. The bar association will have information on disciplinary actions and complaints filed by prior clients.

What are the investigators looking for in insurance fraud cases?

Other cases may involve a close scrutiny of business practices or looking into domestic helpers for abuse or theft.

Why do you need a private investigator?

Private investigators may be hired in order to gather evidence to use in a civil trial , such as a divorce or child custody battle. They may also be hired to help find a missing person or relocate adopted family members.

Why do private investigators use surveillance?

Surveillance may be used to try to keep track of a subject’s movements and transactions. In addition to finding information, private investigators may assist in other ways. They may provide reports that indicate the type of information found. They may provide photographs or video surveillance.

Why is private investigator important?

They often handle cases that are not taken care of by other professionals but that serve an important function in the justice or corporate system.

What is a background check for private investigators?

Background checks examine a person’s history, and may reveal critical information, such as a person’s criminal history, credit, address history, professional history and social connections. A background check may be used for employment purposes or acceptance into a housing complex. Background checks may also be conducted when a person gets romantically involved with another person and wants to check if he or she has any skeletons in the closet. More robust background checks may be used to help provide security clearance to an individual.

Why do we do background checks?

More robust background checks may be used to help provide security clearance to an individual. Surveillance.

How to Investigate a Lawyer Before Hiring

So, I found a lawyer who is (potentially) willing to take on my case at a lower fee than the other lawyer who offered to take it.

Re: How to Investigate a Lawyer Before Hiring

Most bar associations now offer member directories that indicate if a member is in good standing. Sometimes the bar association website or a disciplinary agency website will also provide disciplinary history.

Re: How to Investigate a Lawyer Before Hiring

I'm not a lawyer - I'm a consumer. Regular guy. Here's my advice, fwiw. If your state has an on-line court docket, search it with the lawyer as "defendant." You can also check with your state's attorney grievance commission (probably have a list of reprimanded/disbarred attorneys on-line), but I'd take this with a grain of salt.