Guide to Finding Irvine Lawyer

Irvine, California is a major business center in Orange County, California’s third most populated county, and its most famous. Though its over 200,000 residents live in one of wealthiest cities in the country, they are by no means immune to legal concerns. Thankfully, when businesses or citizens in Irvine find themselves in need of a good Irvine lawyer, there are plenty of resources to help.

Types of Irvine Lawyers

Irvine lawyers are trained in a number of different areas to assist needy citizens. These areas generally follow the different types of courts. Here are three main types:

• Criminal Lawyers—When citizens are charged with crimes in the city of Irvine, they should contact an Irvine lawyer who works in criminal law. These attorneys will defend those accused of crimes, attempting to get them either found non-guilty or to help them reach a plea deal that will allow for the least severe punishment from the court system.

• Tort Lawyers—While criminal law interests itself in crimes that affect society at large, from drunk driving to murder, tort law affects individuals. When a private individual sues another private individual or if they sue a company, they are raising a tort. An Irvine lawyer who works in tort law, or as it is also called civil law, helps individuals bring complaints or helps them to fight complaints.

• Family Lawyers—The issues affecting the American family are numerous, and many Irvine lawyers are trained to help spouses, parents, and children to do what is right for their loved ones and for themselves. Some of these Irvine lawyers are divorce attorneys, while others are particularly adept at helping individuals plea for child custody or for child support enforcement or relief. Irvine lawyers may also be of assistance when applying for guardianship or legal adoption.

Orange County Bar Association

Whether you want to find the right Irvine lawyer for you or if you’re sure that you’ve found the wrong one, you may find that the Orange County Bar Association is the best available resource for all your needs. Here are just some of the public services they provide.

• Legal Referral & Information Services: Legal referral services helps to connect citizens to the right Irvine lawyers for their needs. The Orange County Bar Association has offered their own Legal Referral & Information Service for more than fifty years. Each caller is interviewed by a trained representative concerning the legal action they want to take and their financial abilities and then referred to a pre-screened, board-approved Irvine lawyer. The Bar charges $25 for the service, and gives out up to three referrals to callers. Reach the Legal Referral & Information Service at (949) 440-6747 or (877) 2LRISOC

• Orange County Bar Association Client Relations Committee: Most disputes between Irvine lawyers and their clients can be easily solved with some calm discussion and level-headedness on both sides. However, if a client believes that their lawyer has committed a serious violation of ethics, if they’ve seriously neglected their duties or if they’ve lied to you about their actions, then the client should report their Irvine lawyer right away to this committee. An investigation will be launched into your Irvine lawyer’s actions.

• Mandatory Fee Arbitration Committee—Arbitration is a surveyed conference between two disputing sides that can be used to avoid a trial. If a disagreement arises between yourself and your Irvine lawyer about the fees they are charging you, then the Mandatory Fee Arbitration Committee can help both parties find a suitable compromise. Arrange for arbitration at the Bar Association office.

Irvine Lawyers for Low Income Residents

The Public Law Center is Orange County’s only public interest law firm dedicated to helping low-income residents of Orange County get them in touch with the Irvine lawyers that can best help them. In addition to serving as pro bono law assistance and referring clients to private attorney willing to offer fee assistance, the Public Law Center also offers other programs, including the AIDS Legal Assistance Project, Southeast Asian Legal Assistance Project, and the Family Law Project.

Orange County residents in need of an Irvine lawyer but who do not meet the eligibility requirements of pro bono services such as those at the Public Law Center may be helped by the Modest Means Program, run through the Legal Referral and Information Service of the Orange County Bar Association. This program refers potential clients to Irvine lawyers willing to take on their cases for a considerably lowered fee. Call (949) 440-6747 to find out more.

Question Before Hiring an Irvine Lawyer

Hiring an Irvine lawyer can be one of the most important decisions in your personal or professional life. The right one can help you clear your name, obtain employment or find justice for deeply painful injuries, but choosing the wrong one may mean wasted effort, exorbitant bills or even jail time. Here are a few important things you should find out about your Irvine lawyer before you become their client.

1. Are they a member of the State Bar of California? This isn’t a legal requirement for lawyers, but most reputable Irvine lawyers will be a member of the State Bar. Since the Bar offers ethics guidelines and rejects members who do not live up to those standards, it is a small assurance that the Irvine lawyer you’ve found will do a good job.

2. Do they have malpractice insurance? Hopefully, you won’t have to sue your Irvine lawyer for malpractice. However, it’s important to know that if you do have to, they will be able to pay you any damages you are awarded no matter the Irvine lawyer’s own financial condition. Like Bar Membership, this assures potential clients of their Irvine lawyer’s legitimacy.

3. Do they have a disciplinary record? The website for the State Bar of California is a great resource when shopping for an Irvine lawyer. Search for the name of the Irvine lawyer you’re considering, and once you find the right attorney, you’ll see their education history, whether they’re a Bar member and licensed to practice law, and whether any disciplinary or administrative action has been taken against them. Make sure your Irvine lawyer doesn’t have a disciplinary record before hiring them.