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20 Dec, 2024 by Mike khan
I cannot thank Scott Spina enough for their exceptional work in representing my son. From the very beginning, he demonstrated professionalism, compassion, and a deep understanding of the legal system. Scott took the time to explain every step of the process clearly, ensuring that we felt informed and confident throughout.
Thanks to Scott dedication and expertise, my son's charges were significantly reduced, and he successfully secured his release from jail. The outcome exceeded our expectations, and we are incredibly grateful for the tireless effort he put into the case.
I highly recommend Scott Spina to anyone seeking skilled and reliable legal representation. He truly went above and beyond to deliver justice for our family.
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04 Sep, 2024 by Victor
Mr Spina was diligent attentive and responsive during the entire process . Highly recommend his services if you need someone to go above and beyond for you .
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29 Jul, 2024 by Jerry guarino
I recently had the pleasure of working with Mr. Spina, and I couldn't be more satisfied with his services. He is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to his clients. Mr. Spina took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided clear, incisive guidance throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Mr. Spina to anyone in need of legal assistance. He truly goes above and beyond for his clients.
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13 Oct, 2022 by Juan perez
I am working with Michael J Nidoh and Linda from this firm - I will post my official review as soon as we are done with the case.
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10 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
I hired Santore Law to represent me however, I worked with Thomas Dooley who is listed an as associate for this firm on their website.
I would not recommend Mr. Thomas Dooley to even my worst enemies. I believe that hiring him and this firm to represent me was the biggest mistake of my entire life. I would not recommend that ANYONE hire Mr. Thomas Dooley for anything.
In particular, I found Mr. Thomas Dooley to be extremely unprofessional, rude, confrontational and just an overall unpleasant human being, imo. PLEASE AVOID THIS FIRM AT ALL COSTS.
I have higher standards of professionalism from people that i do business with.
I will be filing a complaint with the bar association about his conduct however I will not be commenting on specific conduct at this time.
ONE STAR FOR THIS FIRM AND Thomas Dooley based on my own personal experience.
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07 Jun, 2019 by Matthew
I honestly cannot say enough good things about this law firm. I am a first time home buyer and August was recommended to me by many people who used, or wished they used, his legal services when closing on a new home. I hired August in January of 2019 and throughout the entire process - from contract review to final closing- August and Tom walked me through the process, kept me informed, and were always accessible with office meetings, telephone calls, and email. August is extremely knowledgeable in the area of real estate law and he is not afraid to fight and go to bat for his clients! I would highly recommend this law firm to my friends and family for all of their legal needs.
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22 Feb, 2017 by James ball
Did a very good job for me. Get me out of jail. Would recommend him to anyone. I hired him just because I liked the way he spoke in court. Very professional and smart.
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10 Mar, 2023 by Misty elgersma
If you are looking for a top notch criminal defense attorney, look no further. Meg is well versed and very experienced. She is caring, compassionate and very communicative. She goes above and beyond. I highly reccomend this attorney!
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08 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
Ms. Hoerner was a huge disappointment. At first she returned calls and told us all the things she was going to file. Three months went by and she stopped communicating as much and filed NOTHING!!! She's more interested in her podcast than her clients. A typical NJ lawyer. If your civil rights have been violated don't use her because she protects them. That is the truth. Stay away from this attorney. Completely fake. She deserves negative stars.
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06 Feb, 2023 by Earl holloway
Excellent attorney! Highly recommended!
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06 Jan, 2025 by Crystal dasilva
I wanted to personally take a moment to express my gratitude. As a single mom of two it was difficult navigating this process and I’m grate that I didn’t do it alone. Both Kelsey Tubman and Jason Stump did an amazing job on my case and were able to help bring resolve.
They always made time and made me feel safe and heard. It means the world to me.
Thank you.
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02 Oct, 2024 by Lana monroe
Laura Bellini made this process as smooth as possible. Hiring a lawyer is extremely daunting , however, Laura was empathetic to my situation and made sure I was in control of my own process. If I ever find myself in another situation where I need to hire a lawyer, I would definitely call Laura again. Thanks a million.
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09 Jul, 2024 by Ryan meinzer
Look, no one wants to find a lawyer. It is not awesome, and doing it, well, is daunting for those of us who aren't really accustomed to "legal" stuff.
That said, I found myself in that spot. I connected with Greg Kirschenbaum, and he really changed my mind about lawyers (on most things). He was personable, as he took the time to listen and understand the annoying details of the situation and the nuances and things that I cared about. He represented my interests well and kept me informed and comfortable with the process and events. I don't have anything bad to say about my time as a client with Greg; it was quite the opposite. If, and I doubt it, but if I find myself in that situation again, or something akin, I would call Greg before anyone I know or could look up.
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07 Nov, 2024 by Kenneth rotondella
Me & my family are forever grateful & will never need any other attorneys then the ones at Rudnick, Addonizio, Pappa & Casazza PC the dream team & staff!
They are top notch professionals who truly treat you like family not just another docket # thanks for all your efforts & dealing with me for 4 long years! I know I'm brutal & relentless not always easy to deal with but we got it done with the results we both wanted.
Cheers to the best attorney ever. Mark F Casazza! Not just another attorney he is now considered family to us.
Thank you,
Kenneth R Rotondella
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09 Sep, 2024 by Judy scheller
We recently used Gabriella Russo at Rudnick Law for our home purchase and she was excellent. She was on top of everything, quick to answer questions & act and made the closing process as easy as possible. Would highly recommend her and this law firm!
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26 Jan, 2024 by Pete o'mara
I've been practicing law for 35 years, and Mike is one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the State. His knowledge, experience, and calm, cool demeanor will ensure that you get the best possible outcome if you ever need his services. Very highly respected by cops, prosecutors and his fellow attorneys.
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24 Feb, 2019 by Anonymous
We hired “Danny” to assist with some real estate counsel and he was an ambidexter from the start. Matters that should have been turned around quickly took months and the communication was poor; he was impossible to get a hold of after we retained him. We received bogus charges for communication with his secretary and decided to hire someone else. There are much better attorneys in area for the money, think twice.
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20 Aug, 2017 by Edie
Danny is a Great Lawyer!!!
We hired Danny for a shoplifting charge against my daughter and the charges were dismissed against her, when we went to court.
Danny worked so hard and kept us informed at all times. Danny is such a pleasant man to have as your lawyer. I have only very good things to say about him.
If you ever need a lawyer Danny is the one to have !
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10 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
When our minor son was involved in a legal incident we were completely foreign to the legal system and found ourselves in need of an Attorney. Daniel was highly recommended to us and was the perfect fit. Daniel was extremely professional coupled with compassionate as we were unsure of our options. Daniel guided my Son (and us) through the legal process step by step and was accessible the entire time to answer all questions and concerns. Our incident ended in a positive way thanks to Daniel. I highly recommend calling Daniel if you are in need of legal assistance.
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07 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Extreme miscommunication. More interested in what I could gain personally vs my family as a whole. I regret not moving forward with someone who keeps family values in mind while pursuing a divorce. He is a “one size fits all” solution type of attorney.
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02 Nov, 2017 by Gene
Paris and his team always had my back. He was always 2 steps ahead of my ex wife's attorney. He was always there to guide me, and called me out when I made mistakes. Paris always tells it like it is. No beating around the bush. I would absolutely recommend him and I would absolutely use him again. He got the best possible outcome for my boys and I.
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20 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
I began my divorce proceedings with a lawyer who only concerned himself with separating the client from his or her money and drag out the divorce to that end. I fired that lawyer and hired Paris P. Eliades, Esq., who is the exact opposite of the first lawyer.
Mr. Eliades strives to complete divorce proceedings as efficiently as possible, always with an eye to saving his client paying unnecessary monies towards that end. Mr. Eliades is always prepared in court, unlike some other attorneys I have observed. He and his staff are competent and knowledgeable regarding their jobs and responsibilities to their client. I recommend Mr. Eliades highly if you are in need of his services.
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01 Oct, 2024 by Anne marie
Mr. Eric McKinley handled an extremely complicated legal matter for our family. After fourteen months of very nerve-wracking discussions we were able to shake hands with the opposing lawyer, and walk away with a sense of relief. Mr. McKinley handled the entire legal process with great skill and patience. We always had direct and constant communication with him by way of phone calls, emails, and most importantly one-on-one meetings to discuss the progress of our case. Mr. McKinley demonstrated a true compassion and understanding for all parties involved. He was the answer to our prayers. It was the best money we ever spent! Thank you kindly, Mr. McKinley!
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01 Oct, 2024 by Ricardo kiocho
23 Aug, 2024 by Martha gil
Hello everyone I want to share my experience with you guys starting from the top Mr.Helmer was very honest and welcoming and informative, his secretary in Vineland office Mrs.Doris is amazing,now getting to the point I had Attorney David Branco and assistant Michelle thru the whole process of my case they were very informative never lied always stayed facts and walked me thru what I was facing, not only that while inside never once did they not answer my call and always kept me updated on everything, I was very emotional but Michelle always put me at ease and Branco always explained everything even if I didn't understand, even after my case I needed something Michelle and Helmer still managed to guide me thank you all for everything guys amazing team from the beginning to the end!!!!!!
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08 Nov, 2024 by Anonymous
I would give him 0 stars if possible,he is a cop out lawyer who doesn’t care that he is working with a persons life!He will always try to get u a conviction in order to get home no matter how weak the case is.Hes going to ask for $10000 then act as if u work for him and its sad because he is BLACK and doesn’t realize how important black lawyers are to the community (Essex County).I guarantee anyone who has him on retainer will tell u the same thing.He has a lot of people behind bars really pissed off with him.No one cares about you being the bow tie bandit n balenciaga sir.U come from a hard working family that knows about trials and tribulations and your father worked hard as a janitor for the Newark school system to get u to b able to get this far and your doin ur community a disservice.I urge anyone that actually cares about their future when it comes to legal problems to stay away from this dude.Im not trying to hurt his business but I have to b honest and bring awareness to his actions for the people that are incarcerated who can’t speak and currently depending on him as we speak.I truly hope Mr.Hussain Gatlin makes some changes or leave this field because this is about people’s lives.
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28 Aug, 2019 by Derrick
I want to say that the positive reviews are well deserved. Mr. Gatlin and his office staff were a pleasure to work with. They were very detailed and professional in every aspect of my case. They made sure all of my questions were answered and that I was informed and comfortable throughout the entire process. I was extremely pleased with the outcome which actually exceeded my expectations. I can't thank them enough for their assistance and I would definitely recommend them to anyone seeking excellent legal representation.
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31 Jan, 2019 by Augusta
Mr. Gatlin is a superb lawyer who exude a lot of strength and character. He was upfront and matter of fact in my mom court case. He was able to get a very serious traffic violations dismissed. He gave my mother battling with early onset of dementia something we take so much for granted. Although she barely drives, she will still be able to make her Sunday trips to Harlem for church. And that means everything for her. Again thank you so much!
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04 Dec, 2024 by Telmo moreira
I hired John Pihno , possibly the worst communication process , I’ve been dealing with this office for a year and never met my lawyer , couldn’t get him on the phone his assistant Suzette never responded back to emails or calls . I felt like I was constantly chasing them . A lot of the things that happens during my case as , surgically etc. would have never happened unless I pushed and of course these people want a piece of your check when it’s all over . I HIGHLY DONT RECOMMEND THIS LAW FIRM . Please trust the reviews . I can’t believe I didn’t look them up before . Other say the say NO RESPONSE
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17 Sep, 2024 by D c
09 Jul, 2024 by Salvatore mattiaccio
We did a project which included several change orders asked for by the Hicks at his residence . Mr. Hicks, a partner at this law firm , acted very unprofessional, his wife actually contacted my employees via text causing tortious interference with our contracts. While completing his contracts, we found his soil was sub par and full of clay and needed to be remediated. He and his wife practically had temper tantrums causing for an unbelievably unsuitable work environment at his home. Even with their attempts to cause harm to me and my company, we competed the contract. A year later, he claimed that some of the brick pavers moved, I explained to him that he refused to pay to remedy the soil situation and therefore it was not covered by our warranty. He proceeded to use his law degree to sue us, he filed suit for over $24,000.00 which included almost $12,000.00 in new landscaping which was not part of my contract. While delivering the discovery to his house, the driveway which he claimed to have been removed and reinstalled in his lawsuit had the same pavers sinking in the same spot a year after they were supposedly replaced.. if this partnership allows attorneys like this, who use their law license to try to steal from hard working contractors then I would say run away from this firm. They support disgraceful behavior like this from their partners! We just recently went to binding arbitration. The arbiter threw out 99% of his case and awarded him $2300.00, one tenth of what he was fraudulently suing me and my company for!
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16 May, 2023 by Rudy
I had to call him several times to set-up an initial meeting. He was a no show and had to reschedule. He was supposed to send me a retainer but couldn't even do that. I tried to contact him but has been MIA since.
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19 Aug, 2016 by Jmontalvo
Mr. Del Rio is the best lawyer ever. He represented me twice, once for not completely stopping at the stop sign and he got the points down to zero and all I had to do was pay the fine. The second time I was going 20 miles overs the speed limit and once again Mr. Del Rio worked his magic and and got my points reduced to NOTHING and I just paid the fine... I would recommend him to everyone.
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04 Feb, 2016 by Alina
Es el mejor abogado en estos casos y en cuestiones de licencias.
Se entrega de una forma apasionada a sus casos.
Tengo 9 años usando sus servicios y nunca me he arrepentido. Dios lo bendiga.
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20 May, 2024 by Anonymous
he’s not good at all, if i could give 0 stars i would he showed up twice and wasn’t saying nothing then he said he’ll meet up with the client ( my child’s father ) and never did .. i could on and on but please don’t book look up mark fury everything the reviews say is true
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28 Nov, 2023 by Deborah
This review is long overdue. The only reason he got a 1 star is because it wouldn't allow me to choose nothing. Let's begin with the price change. I was quoted one price and then told I owed a balance after it was paid off. A few thousands. I worked hard to get the money up for my brother's case. I had to continually call in for him to schedule a phone visit with my brother. His court date came still no visit or phone call, it was done a few minutes before court. Everything he promised me as far as the case was NOT fulfilled. Never got the charges downgraded, never went over the discrepancies on the discovery. Oh, and it took a few months for him the send the discovery to us, after numerous phone calls. Eileen was wonderful with her communication, but the ball stopped at Fury. So, I started communicating via email for documentation. The judge even yelled at him in court because, things my brother asked for wasn't given to him, we were a 1 -1/2 years in. Things like a full discovery, video etc. Even after that, I had to call into the office 3 weeks later and ask if he was going to send the discovery to my brother. The one my brother received was different form the one I got, and his son got. My Nephew hired a public defender, he had everything in a timely matter and walked out of the jail a free man. We hired a paid attorney and didn't receive half of what he got for free. Three parties were involved, the charges should've been equal charges. He came highly recommended but did nothing for my brother's case from a friend of his. That was the first sign. That was easy money he basically took from me, I burst my behind getting that money together for him, it was all on me. I'm not getting into my brother's case, that's a whole different scenario. I gave yall, the important details. If you need a shark look elsewhere, it's not here. Less is not best. Well, his less went up on us. Check reviews, scheduling a free consult means noting. He will talk a good game. A shark game, but he is not!
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26 Jan, 2023 by Linda
I would give this review 0 stars if it was possible because Mark Fury did absolutely nothing for me. I paid him and his office never sent any documents to the court to request a date, so my license was suspended over a speeding ticket. His office never returned my calls, never sent a single email confirmation as they said they would, and when I called his secretary Irene to explain the issues she was rude and unprofessional. At one point she hung up the phone on me because they charged me twice and I said with him showing up 2 hours late for a VIRTUAL court date that the overpayment is due back to me immediately. I would have been better off without his representation. Even a public defender would have been held more accountable. If you are looking for a professional attorney do not hire Mark. He is the farthest from professional. I am still waiting on my overpayment that he claimed would mailed to me almost 2 weeks ago. His entire office is clueless and a total waste of your time and money. You have to check in on him all the time like he’s a child to make sure he is doing his job, for the service you are paying for! He never is and his office didn’t return any of my calls. If you want to pay twice, not be represented, sent zero correspondence, hung up on, given the run around, and pull your hair out he is your guy! If you want to hire a professional look elsewhere. Completely disgusted!
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13 Aug, 2018 by Andrea
My sister and I hired Janet Chaplan Pew in January of 2018 when my father had a heart attack and we needed someone to help apply for his Medicaid application. We had spoken to a few Medicaid specialists who seemed competent, but decided to hire a lawyer in case there were any difficulties with our dad's case and we needed someone to advocate on our behalf. We hired Janet, who talked a good game, but after we hired her, we realized she had only applied for one other Medicaid application before, and that was with the help of her Paralegal-- and what was a big red flag for me, was that when I would ask her questions and mention to her what the other Medicaid agencies were doing, she would ask me in-depth questions about their procedures, as if she wanted to know what SHE should be doing, and in one case I had a hand-out of another agency's list of procedures they followed to get Medicaid, and she asked me for a copy, (I gave it to her). By this time, it was too late to hire another Medicaid specialist, and I was filled with grief over the fear that my father would die, busy making medical decisions for him, taking the train back and forth from Boston to NJ to take care of my dad, it was exhausting, and Janet took advantage of that. The final injury, was that she finally managed to get $10,000 of our dad's money-- in the beginning she promised it would never be more than the $5,000 another agency was charging, even though she charged by the hour. She assured me her fee would never go as high as these other agencies. But she kept asking for more money and we gave it to her. I realize Medicaid is a complicated application, but it's still only an application that simply requires accurate and complete information, and my dad was a perfect candidate for Medicaid. I don't know why she kept asking for more money, we gave her all the information she needed--I assume it just simply took her longer to do the application since she had little experience and didn't understand the ins and outs. (and maybe she figured she might as well ask for more money since we had to run down our dad's money anyway). In May, we gave Janet an additional $3,000 in case we needed her to help us with any difficulties after the application went through. But my dad died on June 3rd and the application never went through, and so that $3,000 was never spent by her/she did no work for that money. When I spoke with her about a month later, she refused to return the unused money. Her reason for not returning the money was this: "Oh, there are lots of reasons I can't return the money." I was astonished. She then sent us a lawyerly letter explaining how she had used/or would use the money in the future. It was incomprehensible. I spoke and called her again, she didn't return my calls, but finally agreed to return $2,700 of the money (I don't know why she didn't return the full $3,000). She wrote a check out to the estate of my father. I will say, she seemed nice in the beginning, she always responded to my calls, even if she did tend to go off on strange tangents during our conversations and wouldn't let me get a work in edge wise, and she seemed eager to do a good job in the beginning. I think ultimately she was in over her head. The most disappointing and hurtful thing was her greed with our dying dad's money. I realize that there are people who go into elder care because they really care about the elderly, and people who go into elder care because they see it as a quick way to fill out an application and make some good money. It hurts, and I never want another family to go through what we did. We needed help, and instead we found someone who took advantage of our fears and sadness to make a buck. I hope this review helps.
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23 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
I asked my divorce attorney for a referral because the case was not in her normal realm of work. She reached out to her network and Mr Begley came back expressing interest. I was not comfortable with him during the first call. I thought he came across a bit crude and a braggart. He didnt feel we had to meet in person - This was a fairly simple insuance claim. The decision was made to hire him. It is still not settled after 4 months, but more disturbing is that Mr. Begley has gone MIA. He's not returning calls, emails or texts. I am leaving messages asking for a final bill/ accounting of what was done so we can terminate the relationship. The lack of communication and sloppy communication when he does is my main reason for rating him so poorly.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Juvenile Law Lawyer Can Do for You
A juvenile law lawyer specializes in legal issues involving minors, including those facing criminal charges, child welfare matters, or status offenses (like truancy or curfew violations). Juvenile law lawyers aim to protect the rights of minors and advocate for rehabilitation rather than punishment in criminal cases. They also help families navigate child custody, abuse, neglect cases, and other legal matters involving children.
If your child is facing criminal charges, or you are involved in a child welfare case, a juvenile law lawyer can help protect your child’s rights and work toward the most favorable outcome.
When Should I Hire a Juvenile Law Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a juvenile law lawyer in the following situations where minors are involved in legal matters:
- Juvenile criminal charges: If your child is accused of a crime, such as theft, assault, or drug offenses, a juvenile lawyer can represent them in juvenile court, advocating for leniency and alternatives to detention.
- Delinquency proceedings: A lawyer can help navigate delinquency charges, defending your child’s rights and seeking rehabilitative outcomes like counseling, probation, or diversion programs instead of incarceration.
- Status offenses: If your child has committed a status offense, such as truancy, running away, or underage drinking, a lawyer can help you resolve these issues in juvenile court, often focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
- School disciplinary issues: If your child is facing school suspensions, expulsions, or other disciplinary actions, a lawyer can help protect their educational rights and challenge any unfair or unlawful school policies.
- Child protective services (CPS) investigations: If your family is being investigated by CPS for alleged abuse, neglect, or dependency, a lawyer can represent you and protect your child’s rights throughout the investigation.
- Custody disputes: A lawyer can help in cases involving child custody or guardianship disputes, ensuring the child’s best interests are prioritized and advocating for the child’s rights.
- Emancipation: If your child seeks legal emancipation from their parents or guardians, a lawyer can assist in navigating the legal process and help the child understand their rights and responsibilities.
Hiring a lawyer early in the legal process ensures that your child’s rights are protected and that the best possible outcomes are pursued.
What Does a Juvenile Law Lawyer Do?
A juvenile law lawyer provides various services to help minors and their families navigate the legal system. Their responsibilities often include:
- Representing minors in court: A lawyer will represent your child in juvenile court, advocating for their rights and seeking rehabilitative outcomes rather than punitive measures.
- Filing motions and legal paperwork: The lawyer handles all necessary legal filings, including petitions, responses, and motions to dismiss charges or suppress evidence.
- Negotiating with prosecutors: In some cases, a lawyer can negotiate plea deals or diversion programs that prevent the child from having a permanent criminal record or serving time in detention.
- Advising on rehabilitation programs: Juvenile law lawyers often focus on alternatives to incarceration, such as counseling, community service, or probation, helping minors avoid long-term legal consequences.
- Handling CPS and child welfare cases: If your family is involved in a CPS investigation or child welfare case, the lawyer can advocate for your child’s safety and well-being, ensuring that their rights are upheld.
- Defending minors against school discipline: A lawyer can help challenge unfair or excessive disciplinary actions taken by schools, ensuring that your child’s educational rights are protected.
- Advising families on legal options: A lawyer will explain the juvenile legal process to families, offering advice on the best legal strategies and what to expect during the case.
How Are Juvenile Law Lawyers Paid?
Juvenile law lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the time involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many juvenile law lawyers charge by the hour, with rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Flat fee: For simpler cases, such as status offenses or school disciplinary hearings, a lawyer may charge a flat fee that covers all legal services related to the case.
- Retainer: In more complex cases, such as defending against serious criminal charges or handling a long-term CPS investigation, a lawyer may require a retainer, which is an upfront payment billed against as they work on the case.
- Sliding scale or pro bono services: Some juvenile law lawyers offer sliding scale fees based on income or may provide pro bono (free) services for families who cannot afford to pay full legal fees, especially in cases involving child welfare or delinquency.
Discuss the lawyer’s fee structure during your consultation to understand the total cost and payment options.
How Much Does a Juvenile Law Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a juvenile law lawyer depends on the complexity of the case, the lawyer’s experience, and the time involved. General cost estimates include:
- Juvenile criminal cases: Legal fees for defending a minor in juvenile criminal cases can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the severity of the charges and whether the case goes to trial.
- Status offenses: For cases involving minor offenses such as truancy or underage drinking, legal fees typically range from $1,500 to $5,000.
- CPS or child welfare cases: Legal fees for representing families in CPS investigations or child welfare cases can range from $2,000 to $8,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
- School disciplinary hearings: Legal fees for representing students in school-related issues may range from $1,000 to $3,500, depending on the legal work required.
Make sure to get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure you understand the full scope of fees and services.
Top Questions to Ask a Juvenile Law Lawyer
Before hiring a juvenile law lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they have the experience and expertise to handle your child’s case effectively. Key questions to ask include:
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What experience do you have with juvenile law cases?
Make sure the lawyer has handled cases similar to yours, whether it’s juvenile delinquency, child custody, or CPS investigations. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, offers flat fees, or requires a retainer. Ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my child’s case?
Ask the lawyer for an honest assessment of the case, including potential challenges and likely outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Juvenile cases can vary in duration, so ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to last and what factors might affect the timeline. -
Will you personally handle my child’s case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of the case. Make sure you know who will be managing the case and representing your child in court. -
What rights does my child have?
Ask the lawyer to explain your child’s legal rights, including their rights during police questioning, school disciplinary actions, and court proceedings.
How to Check the Credibility of a Juvenile Law Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable juvenile law lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for juvenile law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in juvenile law and have successfully handled cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and success rate in juvenile cases.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on juvenile law matters.
- Check for certifications or memberships: Look for memberships in organizations like the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) or certifications in juvenile law, which can indicate a lawyer’s dedication to representing minors.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a juvenile law lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Court documents: Bring any legal documents related to your child’s case, such as summons, complaints, or court orders.
- School records: Provide any relevant school records, including disciplinary reports, attendance records, and communications from school officials.
- CPS or investigation reports: If your case involves child welfare, bring any reports or documentation from CPS or other investigating agencies.
- Timeline of events: Prepare a detailed timeline of events related to your child’s legal issue, including interactions with authorities or school officials.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions about the legal process, your child’s rights, and potential outcomes for the case.
Being well-prepared will help the lawyer assess your child’s situation more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice tailored to your needs.
