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How to Become a Lawyer in Orange County

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:21:39 +0000

There are a few things you need to know before you can become part of any of the law offices in Orange County. The way to becoming a lawyer is different from state to state, and there are a few requirements you will have to meet before you can become licensed to practice law in California.. You will first have to attend an undergraduate school, getting at very least your associate’s degree. When you pick out what your degree is going to be, it is often best to major in something that shows you can articulate a point, arguing a side on a given issue, and be able to debate this against an opposing point of view. You should also be able to show with your degree that you can write clearly, concisely and with a logic anyone can follow. You should be able to explain yourself to a third grader without sounding like you are talking down to him. The final thing you should be able to show at the end of this degree is that you can read large amounts of material and retain all of it. Often times, people who are interested in becoming lawyers will first major in English or Math.

Once you have been accepted into a State Bar-accredited or American Bar Association -approved law school, you will have to registrar with the state bar within ninety days. This will let them know your intentions and will let you complete you next step. If you want to get into a law office without going to law school, you will have to study law under a judge for four years. At this point you will still have to register with the state bar. At the end of your first year you will have to Pass the First-Year Law Students Examination. This shouldn’t be too hard, but will give you a wake up call if you are not retaining your lessons. When you graduate, you will have to prove you have moral character. What they are looking for is that you respect the law and the rights of others, you are fiscally responsible, you display candor and honesty, and finally you must have been trustworthy in any professions you had before. Now is when they give you a real run for your money, and you must pass the bar exam. To join the ranks of orange county lawyers you then must pass the Multi-state Professional Responsibility exam, the California Bar test and take the lawyers oath. That is how you become a lawyer.

How to Become a Lawyer in Orange County is a post from: PRSky

The Rewards of Becoming a Lawyer

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:58:32 +0000

Shakespeare wrote unfavorably about lawyers in his play Henry VI. During that time period as well as the current times, being a lawyer is a tough job. The day one sets out to determine to become a lawyer, they will face that fact, and just may find that they are working in one of the most rewarding of professions. Many state that is is the lawyers of a law firm, Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to Manhattan, are the defenders of the justice system and the an important part of what it means to live in a truly just and democratic country.

Attorneys protect the rights of citizens of the United States, and they make certain that their clients understand the processes and procedures of the system. My best friend is a lawyer, and she has answered many questions of mine over the last twenty years. She stated when we first met, at ten years old…that she was going to be a lawyer when she grew up. And she did. Just as with many lawyers, her hours were long, and sometimes she felt that it was thankless work. However her first pro bono case was an immigration case that involved political asylum for a man from South Africa. She won, and he remained safe and in the United States.

From that day on, she no longer thought about whether her work at home, the hours in front of the computer were thankless. She knew what it felt like to help someone through the system. This is a relentless profession. My friend worked at one time, eighty hours a week. She worked hard to get where she is today, and is now an in house lawyer for two bio-tech companies. Medical research is something she is extremely passionate about, and now her hard work in the field of law, is even more rewarding than ever.

The Rewards of Becoming a Lawyer is a post from: PRSky

The U.S. Patriot Act and the Internet

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:25:12 +0000

The U.S. Patriot Act of 2001 has been the watchdog of the country in many ways, one of these ways is in the obligations that are required of the service providers for cable and Internet companies. This has allowed the investigators to trace the activity of suspicious behavior that takes place on the Internet, and it gives them the authority to trap those in which they suspect are responsible for committing criminal acts on line. This may or may not identify the name of one’s company, so one may not be aware that they are under investigation.

However should a company become aware of an ongoing investigation they are permitted by law to seek clarifications in the charges and explanations. The positive features this allows the Internet companies themselves are as follows. It is stated specifically in the terms of the Act that there will be no new requirements created for the companies in regards to mandates on design or technical assistance. This in affect does not give the government the right to dictate the design of the technology, nor to interfere with the methods and modes provided on the technical level.

Secondly the Patriot Act actually expands the protection of the service providers, which includes the use of good faith as a defense should they be under investigation as well as a number of immunities regarding being connected to criminal activities of their customers. It offers this protection in return for compliance of the use of either current mechanisms of surveillance or installing newer surveillance authorities. Aspects of this surveillance include disclosing of records when asked for them, as well as the installation of wiretaps. This also affects the governments access to the installation of such wiretaps when the service providers ask them to become involved. This is done when one is suspected of either hacking, or trespassing on the networks of the service providers.

And thirdly, it makes it perfectly clear that the cable services that provide the Internet, will be required to notify customers of the prospect of government surveillance, however in any instance that does not concern detailed information regarding cable viewing the companies may ask for governments to provide surveillance without the need to notify the customer. This is just one way in which to make the Internet a safer place.

The U.S. Patriot Act and the Internet is a post from: PRSky

The Practice of Ethics and the Practice of Law

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:27:56 +0000

Each and every lawyer should act within the bounds of ethics, not just in the workplace, but in all aspects of life. Each Orange County lawyer knows this, each Maricopa County lawyer knows this, lawyers across the country know this. What does this mean essentially? Well, those practicing law today must find a balance between the time they spend in the office and the amount of time they spend at home or participating in activities that decrease the stress levels.

One lawyer, when questioned, stated that at one time she worked more than eighty hours a week, sometimes working for two or three days at a time with either very little sleep, or no sleep at all. The result was elevated stress levels which resulted in physical consequences. This personal balance must also take into account the responsibility each lawyer also has to the courts and to their clients. There are many regulations and rules, some written, some unwritten.

All of this must be taken into account with their overall goal of ensuring that justice is served. A combination of the commitment to professional and ethical conduct and their commitment to the whole of society are aspects that lawyers take under consideration each and every day. Ethics is a philosophical study that evaluates and studies the conduct of human beings and the moral aspects of society and individuals. Actions have consequences, there are certain obligations that humans have towards one another, and the study of virtue deals with what it means to just simply be a good person.

Lawyers are bound legally to abide by all three principles of ethics. As in with all rules, conflicts of interest sometimes arise, as in that when a lawyer is working with a client, they must remain loyal to that client in a professional manner, regardless of what the interest of society is demanding. And as such, a lawyer’s own personal beliefs or interests must not be imposed nor interfere with the needs of their clients. Sometimes this may create conflict within the lawyer themselves, but they are legally responsible for ensuring that fair and unbiased justice is served.

The Practice of Ethics and the Practice of Law is a post from: PRSky

The Need for Transparency in the Fight Against Corruption

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:43:25 +0000

Corruption is often defined as the abuse of position and of power, for individual gain. However, it is much more than that, for not is there just a gain involved. The gain involves and is a necessary element of the expense that it has on other individuals, companies, and even entire communities and countries. Corruption is socially, ethically, morally, politically and economically detrimental and impacts are sometimes so great that those involved can never recover. Corruption and deception have existed through the history of humanity, however they have become more prevalent beginning in the twentieth century. It exists in corporate business and finance, to education, and even the entertainment industry. All organized businesses or systems are susceptible to the illness. As, in the way an illness starts out slow, and then either gradually or rapidly affects the entire body, so too does corruption. One corrupt politician can create the reputation of an entire society as being corrupt, regardless whether or not that society does not support the corruption.

Many believe that the whole of the political realm is corrupt and that that is the root cause of all corruption, from that in police departments to the court rooms. These are three groups that most everyone assumes and believes to be corrupt. Throughout history, it has been found that in most cases where the political systems are corrupt, the people of those societies are generally living in poverty. Corruption affects the poor of a particular culture in the greatest degree. Politicians are supposed to act with interest of those they govern in mind. Politicians are among the most recognizable faces in a society, yet not much is known about their personal businesses affairs or transactions. The concept of transparency is one that has begun to be investigated, and the ideas that nothing should be allowed to be kept hidden. All actions should remain transparent. This is also true when considering the financial holdings of politicians, they must be held accountable for honesty and integrity, and by opening up certain information to the public this might serve to prevent politicians from activities such as bribery, extortion or other illegal activities in the realm of corruption.

The Need for Transparency in the Fight Against Corruption is a post from: PRSky

Compliance Regulation

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:45:31 +0000

The term ‘regulatory compliance’ refers to a set of standards, to policies and specifications that are clearly defined, in regards to how companies conduct their business affairs. Breakdowns in companies or scandals such as the 2001 case of Enron made presidents, CEO’s and the U.S. Government more aware that the previous set of standards were not strong enough. In 2002, the Senate and the Congress developed the Sarbanes-Oxley act. This act provided definitions regarding the responsibilities of members in the top managerial positions in the major corporations with regards to the accurate reporting of financial transactions and of the legal necessity of accurate book keeping. In the United States, this means that companies must comply with the regulations and the laws and that those who do not comply face civil or even criminal penalties and consequences.

Although the guidelines may be difficult to understand, small businesses can find help by going to a website set up in 2006 by the U.S. Government’s division of Small Business Administration. This site provides access to the information and the services provided by the government that will assist in those small companies and their compliance to the regulations. Other organizations provide information as well, such as HIPAA, FISMA and GLBA. Issues regarding health insurance and the release of information, which applies to many medical and mental health facilities have been the main topics in recent years. These issues are now a bit more difficult due to the electronic storage of personal information and just how secure that information is online. Businesses involved with such delicate material involving the personal information of their clients are becoming more aware of the need for the protections of privacy and the need to ensure that information is secure. These are just two simple ways in which each employee can be certain that they are complying with the regulatory acts and laws.

Compliance Regulation is a post from: PRSky

Phoenix Lawyer Finds Sense of Community in Sharing of Afflictions, Gives Back

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:15:06 +0000

Phoenix lawyer Gary D. Ansel gives back to the Phoenix community in a big way by participating in pro bono work benefiting Phoenix Diabetes Community. Gary was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the fall of 2005.

Quoting from his “Letter of the Week” on Diabetes Health , Gary stated:

“I was asked to take on a pro bono case involving an eight-year-old girl whose public school refused to let her test her sugar more than once a day and would not give her insulin injections. Her father kept her home from school for safety reasons while he tried to work with the school or get his daughter into a different school. He was charged with criminal truancy. I got in touch with the American Diabetes Association and learned that there’s a network of more than 500 attorneys nationwide that volunteer for cases like this. I learned that Phil Higdon of Perkins Coie in Phoenix was part of this group, the local ADA Leadership Council, and a member of the National Board of Directors. Knowing that the case we had in Phoenix was one of many across the country, I was honored when the ADA and Phil asked me to help.”

Gary Ansel is a partner in the Phoenix law firm Shughart Thomson & Kilroy.

Phoenix Lawyer Finds Sense of Community in Sharing of Afflictions, Gives Back is a post from: PRSky

Find a Good Las Vegas lawyer to Help You with DUI or Personal Injury Case

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:41:03 +0000

Las Vegas lawyers of all kinds – DUI, personal injury, reckless driving, etc. – have helped all kinds of Nevada residents looking to safely maneuver through the maze of the law. Las Vegas lawyers have aided those arrested for reckless driving, drag racing, reckless endangerment, aggressive driving, DUI and other vehicular crimes. A Nevada attorney from a reputable Las Vegas law firm can help you understand the law and the consequence of being convicted, including fines and penalties, your rights, and the probable outcome of your case.

But a competent Las Vegas lawyer will also tell you fines and penalties are not the only problem you face – If convicted of violating the reckless driving, drag racing, DUI/drunk driving, reckless endangerment, or aggressive driving law in Nevada, you could face a serious consequence to you and your driver’s license — namely in having it suspended or revoked.

Las Vegas lawyers have helped many people — from those who’ve simply met with a ticket to those formally arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or felony. A good Las Vegas law firm will gladly assist you in getting your charges mitigated or negated, and your life back to normal, with as little cost to you in money and time as possible.

If you have received a ticket for reckless driving, reckless endangerment, aggressive driving, DUI or any other crime, and have been charged with a serious crime, or are looking for competent Las Vegas lawyers, and would like an experienced attorney who’s used to prosecute vehicular crimes, then check out our online resources. A reputable Las Vegas law firm will be more than happy to answer your questions about the potential consequence, fines, penalties and law itself, and should ask for no up front fees, but instead give a free consultation.

Find a Good Las Vegas lawyer to Help You with DUI or Personal Injury Case is a post from: PRSky

Successful Drug Gets Class Action Lawsuit

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:06:45 +0000

Analyst Charley Travers said, “Drug fails, get sued.” Vertex Pharmaceuticals however, is getting sued after one of its drugs apparently succeeded.

Shareholders filed class action lawsuits against the company last week related to its reporting of clinical trial results for its hepatitis C treatment, telaprevir. The lawsuits charge that the company violated federal securities laws by issuing a series of misrepresentations about telaprevir to the market last year.

One suit claims that Vertex “shocked investors when it disclosed less than stellar results from a phase of testing [PROVE-2],” and that “the results came as a surprise to investors since the company failed to indicate the findings of PROVE-2 during the Class Period.”

All the shareholder lawsuits appear to be based on Vertex’s PROVE-2 phase 2 telaprevir study results, announced last year, which appeared somewhat underwhelming at first glance. For instance, compared to the control group in the study, telaprevir improved on the number of patients cured of their hepatitis C only by six percentage points.

However, the class action lawsuits don’t mention that the control group in this study performed unusually well, with 59% of patients showing no signs of hepatitis C, when the interim PROVE-2 results were announced last year. Even more importantly, the control group study results were still not yet complete. Such results almost always get worse over time, as some hepatitis C patients experience relapses (a phenomenon known as viral rebound). More on this class action lawsuit

Successful Drug Gets Class Action Lawsuit is a post from: PRSky