The laws surrounding CAD/CAM systems in dentistry
As computer technology is improving and new ways of production are being discovered, it was only a matter of time someone connected software and hardware technologies and created a new fast, efficient, and automated process for production. CAD/CAM system was developed in the wake of the previous breakthrough.
A CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) is a manufacturing process that is being used in various industries and companies. CAD is used to design products to the last detail and accuracy, then the CAM process is used to produce the design into a tangible product. CAD/CAM is being used by various industries and there are many products and software that aid the users in designing and developing the product.
In the last few years, the process of using CAD and CAM has gained a lot of popularity, and the dentist industry is starting to implement this technology into the process of implanting teeth and other necessary items into the client’s mouth. It is Turing out to be a quick and precise method for creating teeth and other implants to be used in their clients.
How Does It Work?
The process of teeth implant has not changed at all, but the production of those teeth and implants have drastically changed using CAD and CAM. The patient is first scanned using digital devices and design of the implant is created, then the designs are sent to a digital CNC that makes the required part and the dentist implants them as they used to before. The new process has turned the process of implants easy efficient and fast. The new process has turned out to be so fast that, using this technology a dentist can install an implant in a single day, as opposed to multiple days.
The Law and Legality of This Process
Since this is a relatively new process that has been introduced into dentistry, there is a lack of rules, regulations, and laws that are needed to be implemented according to the health and safety of the patients. There is a potential problem regarding machinery as there are multiple companies that provide equipment for 2D and 3D imaging technology as well as different machines for production.
Laws must be established, and each machine and imaging technology must be kept in check to maintain the level of safety, as it is essential for the health of the client.
The machines that are used to create these implants and teeth are capable of creating the implant from almost every material possible, and it can be a potential health risk if a non-suitable material is used to make the implant. A list of medically legal materials should be created and there needs to be check and balance into the manufacturing process so that nobody tries to have an implant that is either illegal or harmful to the user. Significant amount testing, legalization, law-making need to take place so that the process of using CAD and CAM can be made absolutely safe for every client.
10 Best Tips to Choose Good Criminal Lawyers
Do you know what to look for in a lawyer should you ever need one?
No one knows what life can throw at us, so when you’re in a legal bind a lawyer can be a real help. But with so many firms and individuals out there, it can be hard to know what lawyer pick.
Don’t worry! Read on for 10 tips for choosing good criminal lawyers.
1. Pick a Lawyer That’s Responsive
Time is of the essence when it comes to facing criminal charges. If time is being wasted, you might as well throw the towel in on the case. You need a criminal lawyer who will get to work straight away.
When you contact them, they should be quick to reply. You should expect their legal team to arrange a meeting within 1 working day. Make sure they’re quick at answer emails and phone calls. This suggests that they’ll be just as on the ball when it comes to your defense.
2. Make Sure They Specialize in Criminal Law
Make sure the lawyer you’re considering specializes in criminal law. This doesn’t mean it has to be the only law they practice, just the one they’ve selected as a specification. If you can’t find anything about criminal law on their website, look for someone else.
If you want the best job done possible, you need someone who regularly defends criminal cases. This ensures they are up to date with current nuances. They’ll have all the recent, relevant information to win your case.
3. Are They Experienced in the Local Courts?
As we’ve seen, up to date information is key here. Local connections and relationships can be a huge help when defending criminal cases. Be sure to pick a lawyer that knows the ins and outs of your local court system, like criminal defense attorney Matthew Meyer.
Each court will have its own way of doing things, and each judge will too. By knowing each court and judge’s individual methods, it could be a huge advantage to winning your case.
4. Conduct a Background Check
Before committing to hiring, check with the lawyer disciplinary agency that your chosen lawyer is in good standing. Get references and see what others have to say. This is key especially if you’ve found them via the internet.
Also, look for any peer reviews. Peer reviews will give you an unbiased look at a lawyer’s ethical standards and professional abilities. They come from evaluations of other members of the bar and the judiciary so you can trust their opinions.
5. Ask Other Lawyers
Skill and reputation are important to lawyers – so they’re all likely to know of each others’. Ask another lawyer about who you’re considering. They might have insight that you won’t see in any reviews online.
Things they could reveal include their:
- Ethics/personal beliefs
- Personality/demeanor
- Practice habits
- Reputation
- Competency
- Success rates/reliability
6. Do They Know the Basics Off By Heart?
A good criminal lawyer should know the basics of common crimes off by heart. This doesn’t mean they need to be a walking legal encyclopedia though. What you should expect is a quick explanation of possible outcomes for your charges.
They should know what they’re supposed to ask you in order to check if any nuances apply. The best criminal lawyers will have a level of familiarity with the criminal justice system and its laws.
7. Their Fee Structure Should be Simple and Clear
A good lawyer will make it clear how they take payment and will give you a likely fee structure. This should include a list of services and their fees along with a total of what your defense will cost.
Going for the cheapest isn’t always the best option. You should ask what their quote includes. Always make sure your lawyer is up to the task of providing a vigorous and thorough defense. You can’t afford not to!
8. See Their Enthusiasm
You want to make sure your chosen lawyer will mount a thorough investigation. They should only go to trial when it’s the best time to. They should also only encourage you to take a plea deal if it’s in your best interests. Any good lawyer will put you first and be able to back up their decisions to you.
One way to check this is to gauge their enthusiasm. You should always pick someone with experience. But the number of years doesn’t mean everything. Make sure there is sincere interest in their field. And they must show genuine eagerness and drive to defend you.
9. Take an Office Tour
Believe it or not, you can tell a lot about a lawyer but the state of their office. Ask for a brief office tour that takes you out of the conference room or the office you met them in. Check the office is:
- Neat
- Tidy
- Efficient
- Organized
- Well-run
Also, consider what sort of support staff they have and if they’re friendly and helpful. Are the offices local and easy for you to get to? Does it seem understaffed and empty?
You should watch out for:
- Disorganization and disarray
- Empty offices and cubicles
- Unhappy, discontent staff members
These warning signs suggest a lack of ethics and professionality which will likely spill over into your defense.
10. They Are Happy to Take Direction From You
At the end of the day, your criminal charges are yours to defend. No one else’s. This means the big decisions should be up to you to make. Your lawyer should control things like choosing witnesses to call and filing any motions.
Big decisions include whether you want to plead guilty or take your case to trial. Your lawyer needs to take time to understand your goals and opinions. These priorities should be then taken into account as they guide and help you put together a plan of defense.
Good Criminal Lawyers are Easy to Find When You Know How
So there you have it! If you’re even in a legal bind, you’ll know what to look for in good criminal lawyers.
Make sure they have the basics down, and they specialize in criminal law. Check reviews and gauge their enthusiasm to make sure you know they’ll do their best work. And ultimately, make sure they’re putting your interests first.
If you found this article helpful, check out our other blog posts.
Everything to Know about Judgements
It’s impossible to understand how easy it is to fall into financial crisis until it happens to you. If you’ve been issued with a judgement, you’ll probably want to know exactly what it is, what it means for your credit score – and most importantly, how to move on from the ordeal with your head held high.
It’s not impossible to bounce back after being served a judgement by any means. Take a look at this article to learn more about judgements, and equip yourself with the information to prevent yourself from landing in a similar situation again.
What is a judgement?
A judgement is issued by a court, and legally obliges you to pay off a debt. It happens when a creditor sues you for late payment or failure to pay off the outstanding balance on your credit card, and is successful.
How does the process work?
If you haven’t paid off your credit card debts, you won’t automatically be faced with a court hearing. But if your debts have been racking up over a long period of time, and it’s starting to look highly unlikely that you’ll pay them off, a creditor may decide to take action.
Once you’re in court, you can present certain information that may help your case, but ultimately, if you lose, you’ll be issued with a judgement that will order you to pay the balance off within a certain time period.
But I don’t have the money to pay off the debts – now what?
A judgement essentially means that a creditor can gain access to whatever assets you own in order to retrieve the cash value that you owe. This might mean accessing your bank accounts, but if you’re not financially equipped to pay your balance off, it could also include your property and household assets, or chopping into your wages.
How long will a judgement stay on my credit report?
Unsurprisingly, judgements will be documented on your credit report, and they’ll negatively impact your credit. You can expect a judgement to stay on your credit report for seven years – but this doesn’t always have to be the case. It may be possible to have your judgement removed from your credit report at an earlier date, by disputing its accuracy. Learn more about how to do this at Crediful.
How do I recover after being served judgement?
It’s never nice to have a judgement issued against you, especially if it results in the loss of your personal assets. However, it can act as a wakeup call if you’ve been struggling financially for some time now. It’s the biggest sign you’ll get that something in your life needs to change, whether that means moving house, getting a better job, or altering your lifestyle.
You’ll never have to face a judgement again if you can learn to manage your finances better. It isn’t always easy – and you should seek help and support from both your family and a professional should you need it. If you require legal advice, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney.
Laws & Tips for Tenants Looking to Rent Abroad
The latest study in 2016 estimated that nine million US citizens were living abroad – a huge increase from the 1999 figure of between three and six million – while between 4.5 and 5.5 million Brits live abroad, totaling around 8% of the UK population, according to the latest statistics from World Bank.
The figure for those living overseas is likely to rise, with multinationals offering jobs for those looking to move, language barriers being reduced through technology, and methods of communication with those back home improving. But are there laws and tips tenants looking to rent property abroad should consider before taking the plunge?
Know Your New Area
Here’s a weird law. Did you know that, in Germany, renters are prohibited from playing instruments at certain times of the day and have a cap on how long they can practice in order to be respectful of their neighbors? Or that while the Swiss Homeowner’s Society encourages landlords to make their own rules for tenants, most abide by the rules that you can’t flush a toilet or run a bath after 10pm so as not to create a lot of noise? There are many rules when it comes to living abroad, and it’s important for tenants to get to know an area and to understand local idiosyncrasies when it comes to laws before they move there.
Don’t Go It Alone
While there’s no real harm in a trial-and-error approach to acceptable noise levels, some things can lead to more severe punishment if not done correctly. The process of renting abroad differs from country to country, and sometimes prospective tenants are required to go through different measures. So, it’s important to ensure you are fully equipped when navigating an unfamiliar legal system, which usually requires a professional who is familiar with the area or, in some cases, actually speaks the language of wherever you are hoping to end up. Lawyers that specialize in the rental sector will be best primed to ensure you are fully protected and receiving your rights.
Consider All Choices
When there is so much choice on where to rent and who to rent with, combined with our lack of detailed knowledge about a new area or even a country, our rental choices can be influenced by how easy the process is. However, the process of finding properties to rent using criteria such as price and area has become simpler in recent years, with real estate listing portals such as Bayut making it easier to find the necessary information to start the process of choosing somewhere to rent. Being able to see the choices in front of you can help you to make the decision in a more logical way.
Renting in your own country can come with various hoops to jump through, so renting abroad will obviously be more difficult. But, by ensuring you are familiar with the local area and customs, have someone by your side to ensure you are doing everything by the book while you move abroad, and being able to consider all options when it comes to making your choice, you will be in a more informed position to choose where to rent.
Rahul Balaram, Experienced Attorney, Shares the Misconceptions of Misdemeanor Charges
The legal machinery in the U.S. and in many other countries is geared towards offering those found guilty of felony a fair chance at justice and rehabilitation. Those accused of misdemeanor, on the other hand, are often ignored and left fighting for themselves. Even in wealthy states like California, courts that hear misdemeanors are often crowded, and the accused are routinely denied a lawyer if they can’t afford one themselves. Guilty verdicts are casually handed out to the accused by courts that hardly give them a chance to defend themselves. However, many continue to think that misdemeanors will hardly ever affect them. In this article, criminal defense attorney Rahul Balaram shares his concern about this misconception.
Despite the common notion that misdemeanors can’t hurt a person’s record or reputation, misdemeanors can often negatively influence a person’s life, especially if they are young. A misdemeanor conviction is not a small matter — it can hurt your chances of success for life in many ways.
A misdemeanor charge will likely show up on background checks and can limit a person’s options in areas, such as housing and employment. It can also affect their finances and career since many punishments require a person to pay fines, attend classes, carry out community service, and, in extreme cases, result in jail time.
Parents especially need to be very careful in making sure that their children understand what happens when they are caught in the act of a misdemeanor.
There Can Be Jail Time
In some cases, a person may be sentenced anywhere from a couple of days to 2.5 years in jail for a misdemeanor. While jail time for a misdemeanor usually only lasts a few days, the overall experience can often be quite traumatizing for a person.
Jail time can also negatively impact a person’s career, especially if they are jailed for an extended period of time. Employers may choose to fire them for serving time, particularly in cases where they miss more than a few days of work.
Fines Can Be Financially Damaging
If a person is going through a hard time, financially-speaking, a hefty fine from a misdemeanor can hit them hard.
Some fines can be as much as a few thousand dollars, and for someone who cannot afford it, they may need to borrow money from a lender. It may take years for them to be able to pay it back, and until then, their credit score may take serious hits for any missed payments, which can impact their ability to buy or rent cars and housing.
Even Teens Are Affected
A common misconception is that a youth record can’t hurt a person’s future, but it can.
Teens who commit misdemeanors are more likely to follow the wrong path later in life, and some employers can see whether they have a youth record, which can affect their career.
Parents should talk to their teens and work with them to ensure they understand the consequences in order to prevent future poor decisions from being made before it becomes a habit. It may be just teenage rebellion now, but talking to them early can guide them to their best possible life.
Eliminating Pilot Fatigue – FAA Duty Limitations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) passed new rules in 2011 to minimize the fatigue of pilots. It has given two years to the airlines to do the required changes to adjust with the new regulation before enforcing it. The older rules had set different standards for the international, domestic, and unscheduled and scheduled flights. The new rule does not have distinct rules for different types of flights. It will be applicable to all eliminating any distinction. Here are the details of FAA duty limitations, time limitation, and break rests.
FAA Duty Limitations
Duty Limitations
The flight duty starts when the pilot reports for duty and ends after parking the plane of his last flight. It excludes any rest break that meets Federal Aviation Administration standards. Duty limitations are decided on the basis of the first flight of the day, the number of legs in the flight, the number of pilots in the flight, and the availability of the rest facilities in the flight. With a single pilot, it will range between 9 to 14 hours. When the number is more, the flight duty limitations will vary between 13 and 19 hours.
Time Limitations
As per the new rule, the flight time is the period between when the plane is under the power and capable of moving. It goes beyond the actual flight time. It includes other tasks such as waiting time, taxing, and deicing when the engine is on. For example, when the first flight of the pilot begins between 5 a.m. and 6-59 p.m., the maximum flight time limitation will be 9 hours with only one pilot on the plane. When the first plane of the day starts at any other time, the maximum flight time will be 8 hours. Private companies may have different time limitations as commercial companies. Private jet company Lido Jets says the time will extend depending on the number of pilots on the flight. When the number is three, the maximum flight time limitation will be thirteen and with four pilots, it will be seventeen hours. Their most popular service that will be effected are their private charter flights to Las Vegas from mostly all destinations as it’s the most popular.
Rest Periods
According to the old rules, rest periods are for at least 9 hours. However, airlines reduced the rest breaks to 8 hours. The new rule brought a positive change by extending it 10 hours with no allowable reduction. This change will allow pilots to sleep for eight hours during their rest breaks. Moreover, the rest break period will not start until the pilot is released from his duty and it will end when the pilot will report back for his duty. Also, the new rules want airlines to make sure that pilots are free from a minimum of thirty consecutive hours of duty in a week.
Cumulative Limitations
The new rule will limit pilots’ hours on flights to sixty hours a week, defined as the 168 consecutive hours. This pertains to commercial and private and doesn’t matter if you’re on the fastest private jet, or the slowest. In a consecutive 28-day period, the time will not exceed 290 hours of which 100 hours will be the flight time. In 365 consecutive days, they will not be able to exceed the period of 1, 000 fight time hours.
The latest FAA Duty limitations have brought some positive changes to eliminate the flight hours of pilots. Now they will have more break rests than before. There are also cumulative limitations for the benefits of pilots.
Are Your Tires Legal? Think Again
The government has passed several regulations for tires over the past years. Every tire dealer and fleet need to understand the contents of the legal provisions. For example, the Code of Federal Regulations describes eight parts of truck tires. According to the regulation, a vehicle should not be operated if has a flat tire, has an audible air leak, or any thread separation.
Regulations For Tires
Regulations are different depending on the types of tires you have and the vehicle that you own. For instance, truck drivers have different regulations than cars. Truck regulations prohibits operating overloaded trucks. Truck drivers are required to carry up to the limit indicated on the sidewalls of a tire. Part D of the program affects buses. The provision prohibits the use of retreaded tires on the front tires. Speaking with professionals at Element Wheels, they even go on to say the regulation also outlines the recommended tread depth, especially on particular Ferrada wheels made after 2000.
Commercial Vehicle Inspection by CVSA
Law enforcement officers from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) are mandated to inspect all commercial vehicles on highways in the country. The alliance publishes an annual manual which outlines out-of-service criteria for trucks in North America. The manual specifies truck violations that can render them unqualified to drive or to be put out-of-service. You will also find specific truck tire issues that are termed as violations by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
The SmartWay Program
Another program that was initiated by the government that affects truck tires is called SmartWay. The program is run by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is involved in tire regulation to ensure fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions which have a negative impact on the environment.
The Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Program
The fourth program by the government to regulate truck tires is called Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA). The U.S Department of Transportation runs the program. It has been used for almost a decade now, and the primary objective of the program was to improve the safety of all commercial vehicles on national roads. Some of the auto parts that the program pays attention to during inspections include brakes, lights, and tires.
CSA carries out live inspections on national roads and penalizes drivers and fleets using a score. The program may give tires a score of three or eight points depending on whether they are in good condition or not. If a truck is found to be operating with a flat tire, exposed tire cords, or using tires with treads below the recommended tread depth, the eight points can be given. They can also take into account the type of suspension a truck has. An Accuair suspension might put a little more pressure on the tire, resulting in a different shape point. A flat tire is defined as a tire whose current inflation pressure is 50% or less of the recommended pressure.
If one of the tires of a truck is given eight points, the vehicle is rendered out-of-service, and a CSA officer will call a roadside service provider as the drivers are not allowed to drive it in the current condition. On the other hand, if a tire is assigned three points, it would mean that CSA considers it to be underinflated. Unlike the case of a flat tire, the regulation does not define under-inflation. Therefore, an officer may decide to assign three points and write a citation saying that it is underinflated even if the inflation pressure is less by 5 psi.
Deal in Auto Accessories? Know the Law
Many people are unaware that there are quite a few laws set in place when it comes to auto accessories. Herein we will go through these auto accessories and the law that will help you not violate them. Many people feel the need to express their personalities and lifestyle preferences by accessorizing their vehicles. If you have such needs, it is important to know the rules and the limits to how much you can change or should we say accessorize your car.
Auto Accessories and the Law
There are six main categories to cover when it comes to auto accessories and the law. These are as follows:
- Noise related laws
- Car suspension related laws
- Vehicle exhaust modifications laws
- Insurance rates impact laws
Before we take a closer look at each of these, we should point out that we will mostly focus on the USA (especially on the 19 states that require yearly car inspections). However, there are very similar laws in place in almost all countries of the developed world – in some, these are more strict than in others. Most of these laws can be found in vehicles or traffic codes.
Noise Related Laws
You’ve all heard of noise pollution before, right? Well, when it comes to vehicles, there are two standard ways one could be in violation in this area – sound system (speaker & horn) modifications and exhaust modifications.
The exact levels of permitted noise differ from state to state. Basically, there are cited levels (95 dB in California), which your speaker, horn, and exhaust noise should not surpass, otherwise, you are in violation of peace disturbance and excessive noise.
To avoid getting a ticket, you should avoid playing loud music in the residential areas and make all alterations to your exhaust and horn to fall in line with the law. Even the consist sound of the famous forged wheels could raise eyebrows.
Car Suspension Related Laws
Many individuals like to play around with their car’s suspension. However, you are not allowed to raise or lower your car as much as you’d please either. We saw many individuals abuse the popular McGaughys lift by modifying it that went against manufactures guidelines. Most states have exact limitations for both ends (Utah for instance requires all cars to have a minimum of 3 inches of ground clearance). This is to ensure the safety of your car, you, and other people.
Normally, any suspension alterations that affect car’s safety are not permitted. Professional suspension companies will know what laws your car needs to follow.
Vehicle Exhaust Modifications Laws
We touched this one above in the noise pollution section, but there is a more serious law in place regarding the air quality, also known as the California Air Resource Board (CARB) laws, which is the most strict in California.
Insurance Rates Impact Laws
Any type of alteration to your vehicle can get you into problems with the law and also with your insurance. As you are not allowed to drive around without the proper car insurance, it is of extreme importance to make sure your car is in line with all the laws. If any alterations made to your car are not within the limits, an insurance company can deny issuing the necessary paperwork for your vehicle.
Takeaway
When it comes to auto accessories and the law, the easiest and safest option is to simply keep your car as it was manufactured. However, if you do have a need to make any alterations, make sure those are not violating any of the above laws, otherwise, you could get a hefty ticket or even end up in jail.
How to Choose a Lawyer After an Auto Accident
Finding a lawyer for an auto accident isn’t too difficult.
Many people struggle to defend themselves in cases that involve auto accidents. This is because there are usually injuries involved, hefty fees, and it’s difficult to find evidence. However, a lawyer can do everything for you.
Some of the best lawyers can handle a case and get their clients the full compensation that they deserve. When it comes to finding one of these lawyers, you’ll have to do a little research, but nothing too difficult.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to choose a lawyer for an auto accident!
What Does a Lawyer Do?
Auto injury lawyers exist to ensure that their clients receive compensation for damages. Whether you’re suspected to be at fault for an accident or are a victim, a lawyer will defend you to convince a judge why you’re in the right.
A car accident injury lawyer will go through several steps during the process:
Gather Evidence
Auto accidents can be a difficult thing to gather evidence for if you don’t have anything but your word. However, lawyers will go to local businesses and homes around the scene to see if they can find any witnesses.
Many accidents happen in high-traffic areas that have cameras set up nearby. Intersections and stop lights are the most common areas, but establishments usually have cameras outside, too.
While the lawyer is gathering evidence, they’ll go to the defending party and ask them information about the incident. This lets them know if the stories line up so that they can form a case. In many cases, the defendants won’t speak to a lawyer besides their own.
Represent You In Court
Aside from getting evidence, lawyers represent their clients in court. Most people aren’t sure of how to compose themselves during a trial, so lawyers make sure that nothing is said that could weaken your case.
Lawyers will talk with their clients about the case and the evidence that they have. They’ll prepare them for when the judge asks the client to speak. Whenever the defending party is on the stand, a lawyer can object something that’s said and can’t be used as evidence.
Get Referrals
When it comes to choosing the best car accident attorney, getting referrals is an easy way to see how they are. You can get referrals from someone that you know or you can look on the internet.
If you look up an attorney’s office on Google, you’ll see reviews from people that have worked with them in the past. Go through the reviews and see if people have won their cases with a particular lawyer.
Doing this will prevent you from hiring someone that isn’t known for winning cases. You can also find out how much they charge for their services. Keep in mind that some of the best lawyers will charge more because they’re more likely to win a case, so the demand for them will be high.
Look for a Lawyer with Experience
Experience is one of the most important factors that determine whether a lawyer is good. You don’t want to get someone that’s fresh on the job because auto accidents typically involve a lot of money.
While it’s reasonable to get a newer lawyer for something like a petty crime, auto accidents have to be dealt with by the best, especially if injuries are involved. While you’re looking at reviews or getting referrals, you’ll learn more about their previous cases.
You can also access public records to review cases and see who the lawyers of each party were. Records will show you the events of an incident and what took place in court. While this may seem like a lot of work, you have to remember that you’re trying to find someone that will guarantee you a win.
Ensure That They Communicate with You
The best lawyer for car accident injuries must be able to communicate with you during the entire process. If you’re left out of the loop, you won’t understand what’s happening and what your chances are of winning.
Because compensation is what most people seek, a good lawyer will give you an estimate of how much you could get. Providing that they gather sufficient evidence, you’ll most likely be able to get fully compensated.
If you get a lawyer that doesn’t tell you what’s going on, you’ll run the risk of saying the wrong things or getting your hopes up. Again, this info can be found in reviews or referrals.
Some of the things that a lawyer should tell you are your rights, what evidence they have, and how much compensation you should seek. Knowing your rights will be important in court because it allows you to stay safe and avoid getting pressured into saying or doing something.
Now You Know How to Choose a Lawyer
If you’re looking for the best auto accident lawyer, you don’t want to get someone that will beat around the bush and hide things from you. Inexperienced lawyers often lose cases because they’re not sure how to represent clients or go about getting evidence.
Now that you know how to choose a lawyer, you’ll want to find someone that can communicate with you. They’ll provide you with all the information about the case, such as your rights, evidence, and total damages. You can find a good lawyer by getting a referral, reading reviews, and looking to public records.
Browse our blog to find more articles about lawyers and how they can benefit you.
Six Tips for Writing Legal Documents Everyone Should Know
The whole point of writing legal documents by yourself is to reduce legal expenses, which are, at times, very high. However, it is not a walk in the park, and it doesn’t have to be challenging also, as there are thresholds that come with legal writing. Legal documents should be clear and should convey information in line with legal requirements and standards.
Lawsuits, divorce documents, contracts, wills, estates, and trusts are areas that require legal documents, hence legal writing. You do not have to draft legal documents on your own entirely, but you could do a portion of the document and leave a lawyer to handle the rest.
Working on your legal document requires putting the following into consideration:
- The outline of your workings
- Working on the definitions sections
- Abiding by principles of legal writing
- Proper citation
- Formatting
- Signatures
Work with a Proper Outline
Planning your document is an essential part of the entire writing process. The outline determines how the contents of the document will appear, and the sections under which the content will appear. Every legal document has a heading which may contain a letterhead or just the document’s title. How the heading looks like will entirely depend on the legal document that you are writing.
Other sections of the document should be carefully worked out to ensure that the entire document has some form of structure and organization.
Include a Definitions Section If Necessary
In the course of writing your legal document, there are chances that you could use abbreviations of companies or some terms like ‘business’ that explicitly refer to a particular business. Proper legal writing has the goals of clarity, conciseness, and objectivity. Towards these ends, you have to ensure that your work conforms to these standards.
Whenever you use abbreviations of terms unknown to the audience, or specific words like ‘business’ to refer to a particular entity, you need to include a definitions section that will expound more.
Abide by Principles of Legal Writing
Legal writing is different from other forms of writing in many respects. When working on your content, you have to ensure that it is relevant to the document that you are writing. Avoid repetition, and do not use slang in your writing. This will impair its conciseness and clarity. Passive voice is unwelcome in legal writing, and this means that you should stick to active voice when working on the content of your legal document.
Further, you must write your content in order of its significance. The most important content should be given the top priority in writing. To avoid clutter, ensure that you use simply wordy phrases and short but compact paragraphs. This works to ensure that the content has and maintains clarity and conciseness. Further, each paragraph should work on one point of focus. If you are having trouble here, you can check out various academic writing websites where you can hire a professional to assist you and find writing guides.
If you are going to use lists, ensure that they are clear and have a logical structure. Given the goal of clarity and relevance, avoiding redundancies, repetitions, and needless words gives a boost to your content’s overall quality.
Citation
Some legal documents require you to refer or use some legal authority, including statutes or case laws. Legal authority helps to back your content and also reinforces what you are outlining in your document. There is a whole world of difference in citing legal documents and other works of writing, such as academic documents. Depending on the legal document that you are working on, you need to ensure that you cite legal authority according to stipulated formats. There are manuals and resources on the web that highlight how you should go about citing legal authority. These resources could come in handy when making your citations.
Formatting
To ensure that your document has a proper outline, you need to format the work properly. Use fonts that are visible and help to improve the clarity of the content. Number your paragraphs, and make your headings and sub-headings bold. This enhances the readability of your work. It is highly important that, throughout the document, you maintain consistency.
When numbering your work, it is better to use numbers all through than mixing numbers and numerals. This affects the cohesion and flow of the content. Some jurisdictions have distinct rules on the preparation and formatting of legal documents. You might want to put this into consideration so that your document is relevant when you submit it to the appropriate audience.
Signatures
In the case of writing legal documents about estates, trusts, and wills, signatures are an essential part of the document. You must provide space, at least a line for each party or individual that will be signing the document. You should write or type their name and give an allowance that could be a line that will harbor the signature. Apart from the typed name, you might also want to include a date for relevance purposes.
You do not have to be in the legal profession to write legal documents. Tried, tested, and recommended tips can help you write your legal documents from scratch. The indisputable fact is that legal writing is expensive, and you are highly likely to fork out significant sums of money if you hire a lawyer to work on your legal documents. Working on your writing, formatting, and editing skills can help you immensely when it comes to legal writing, which can turn help you save your hard-earned money.
