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27 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
Mr. Wilson has been myself and my brother and sister attorney on our case. CPS has hurt our family in more ways then one! Mr. Wilson has yet to interview me nor my brother or sister. Mr. Wilson put his (quote: In my reason to believe that in the best Intrest of the children not to be placed back with our parents!) Now how can Mr. Wilson be a good lawyer and represent us in our case if he doesn't practice Family Law, nor consult with me or my sister or brother that CPS has miniplulating everyone's statements , hasn't let us see our parents , CPS also haven't followed the guidelines of there duties bounded by the state of Texas , Violated our 4th and 14th admendments rights , one other thing is the CPS Investigator Joseph out of Floresville forced me to stay in a room at school just me and him and forced my hand off door knob and told me to sit down ! Now should this Lil description of what is going on in my case along with my Lil brother and sister case still keep us away from our parents , with Mr. Wilson being our Lawyer ? No It Sure Shouldn't Keep Us Away! I hope and pray to God up above that this review would be seen by the right person and get us some Help or the right Lawyer that will do something besides coward behind CPS horrible miniplulant lies!
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06 Mar, 2018 by Joao
Felt overwhelmed about speaking with this attorney. I needed some legal and being from South America, it was very nerve racking trying to explain my situation to this woman. I felt ignored and patronized as though I was a child. I did not feel I could trust this persons ability in understanding and relaying my situation in court.
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06 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
When I voiced my concerns about my safety in my case towards my abuser, she gave me no help. She mocked my intelligence and raised her voice at me when I asked to speak with someone else.
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26 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
My husband has been locked up for 6 months she has been to see him once. .. he has written her and I have called several times left messages and no response . My husband hasnt even been indicted. .. and she is the only one who can ask for his release.. we have three children who miss thirty dad. . But he is stuck there cause she wont respond. . So I am not very pleased with her services. .
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08 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
This woman makes it her mission to destroy lives. She is an old, balding, narcissistic, horrible woman. Her only goal in life is to turn other peoples life’s upside down. She also lies. Never did I think someone would lie so much
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24 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
Gets slaughtered in important trials. Hates being told good morning. Fired from her last job. Juries think she is a b**** Doesn’t care about justice. Zero stars if I could.
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22 May, 2023 by Rene
Bottom Line Upfront (BLUF): DO NOT Hire Mr. Lopez or Mrs. Acevedo. They will insist and demand a high retainer and provide inferior services. I will rate Mr. Lopez’s and Mrs. Acevedo’s competence in four professional skills and accepted legal categories. In addition to rating their professional and legal skills, I will write a final assessment based on their performance. I hired Mr. Lopez’s wife (Rochelle Acevedo) to help me modify a custody and child support court order in Bexar County. I paid Mrs. Acevedo 3500.00 upfront at 350 USD an hour. The agreement covered court fees, written modification to the order, and a court appearance. Upon completing these tasks, I will provide additional funding at $350 an hour for other services. I had one meeting with Mrs. Acevedo to review my evidence and conducted a mock cross-examination in preparation for the trial. She was not prepared for our appointment. I was disappointed at her lack of effort. After our meeting, Mr. Lopez contacted me and said, “Rochelle’s caseload is overloaded; I will handle your case.” A Bar certified lawyer; decided to change my legal counsel. She violated our contract; furthermore, without accepting a financial loss, I had no choice. At a minimum, Mrs. Acevedo would have charged me for services rendered, or Mrs. Acevedo and Mr. Lopez would have stolen my 3500 completely.
Categories are as follows:
Experience: both attorneys work in criminal, family, and civil law. Based on my family law case, their caseloads are overextended, and they need to develop expert knowledge in family law. They couldn’t coordinate a court date.
Communication: Mr. Lopez’s phone voicemail is full. You cannot leave a voice message. He will not respond to emails in a timely manner.
Professionalism: Mr. Lopez will not attend the 8:00 docket. He will schedule a meeting and will arrive late.
His office space is a run-down shack at a terrifying location.
Loyalty: Mr. Lopez is not loyal and only seeks his financial gain. After a full year of court delays, Mr. Lopez’s attempted to negotiate a modification. The modification did not favor my position. At this point, I was highly disappointed in Mr. Lopez’s poor legal representation. After his poor negotiation skills, I told him “ I could have negotiated an insufficient modification myself”. He then said,” You know your child custody could be supervised.” I immediately stop all communication with him!
Final assessment: No one is paid 350 an hour. If a lawyer is paid 350 an hour, I expect hard work, honesty, and loyal legal representation. Mr. Lopez will not look out for your best interest, and his work ethic could be better. Mr. Lopez has a poor google rating; his wife submitted a five star google review. Very sad. I do not recommend Mr. Lopez and Mrs. Acevedo’s services.
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11 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
I had the horrible pleasure of coming in contact with Mr. Edmond O'suji through a referral. In all my years I never seen such fraud, deceit and misrepresentation so much before in my life. This attorney has been deemed negligent, he failed to allow or advise me on proper process or ethical process of my case, he accepted a plea without my knowledge, he entered into a financial arrangement regarding my case without communicating anything to me. As a result my integrity and my case has been compromised. Future word of advice to any future prospects that are considering retaining this gentleman. Please do yourself a favor and save yourself the headache of dealing with dishonest attorney that will make provisions and accept pleas without your knowledge. He does not care about the consumer and has been known to misinform clients for his own gain.
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12 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
I had a horrible experience with Carmen Smith. Never returned phone calls, emails or anything for that matter. Went to court to find out a class needed to be taken ( that I was unaware of ) She was my attorney for almost 1 year! Divorce decree was wrong by a year and we had to file a "nunc pro tunc" to get it straightned out. ( So, from the AG standpoint, it looks as if I have back child support that needs to be paid) ;/ If you have never dealt with the AG consider yourself lucky!!! It took almost 3 years for the AG to finally understand that I am not behind. I would advise to spend your money elsewhere. I wish someone would have given me that advice years ago.
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26 Jul, 2018 by Linda
I feel Patrick was not interested in my case after I hired him 09/2017. He gave me little options or advice on my divorce case when we went to court for the temporary hearing. After that hearing, I had to do all the calling to his paralegal and that's what most of my charges were for. Patrick neglected my case, by not trying to move it forward. He spoke little to opposing counsel and again, gave me options because I didn't know what to expect. I feel he folded when he found out who opposing counsel was. He made charges on my account that he never preformed. At least one was credited back to me. Because of his neglect, I was Discovery and Mediation was never done. I lost out on property and monies because of that. I finally had enough and had to hire another attorney. That attorney was only granted two weeks. Once we had a face to face with opposiing counsel, the new attorney asked for more time and the judge denied. I therefore, was never given Discovery or Mediation. The good news is new law got the divorce done 07/2018 that Patrick could not move forward. If you desire to lose your case, this is your attorney, but please take my advise and pass him by. You will lose, no matter what your case is if you hire this attorney.
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26 Dec, 2007 by Anonymous
Family Law. I am a father who had a favorable social study and custody from 5/04 to 3/06. This attorney never presented our case before a judge. My ex-spouse had her cousin go to CPS and accuse me and my son of abuse to our youngest. Ruled out in less than two months. Advice of Lawyer was to give her custody. I never received child support. This CPS false allegations are common in custody cases. I do not recommend this lawyer for any task. I will be happy to give more details.
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06 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous
She is definitely not the wonder I was told she is. And, she definitely cannot handle hard cases. She never does what she promises to do. She won't return your calls or texts. And, she is never prepared for court. Overall, I would never recommend her to anyone.
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04 Jun, 2021 by Angel estrada
He only accepts cash because he screws the IRS. So he quotes you on price for cash and another for check. If you fail to pay by just one day, he will withdraw. I have never seen such a miserable machismo man in my life. His years of practice mean nothing when you can't win and no ADA will work with you. This is a sad attorney.
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09 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Right now, I can't imagine a worse fate than Charles Maduka being my lawyer.
Mr. Maduka was inflicted on me by the Court. As my court appointed attorney he has never once acted as my advocate . To the contrary, as "my attorney" , Mr Maduka continues to disregard his obligation as my legal representative . He couldn't care less and remains permissive while my rights as a defendant reasserted by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and fundamental and guaranteed by the Constitution are disregarded.
It is on every level and it is obvious . He repeatedly asking me to sign inaccurately dated information.
I could go on for days..
He could not provide one example of anything he has done as my advocate
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04 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
During the time I was interviewing attorneys, Ms. Klager seemed to be exactly what I was looking for to represent me on my family law case. After I paid her retainer, her true colors revealed itself. She suggested I withdrawal my suit, because of a rumor she heard from the opposing attorney! On the day of our hearing, literally right before our case was to be heard, she informed me to not mention anything we had originally planned to use as our argument. I felt as though I was set up to fail. Her opening statement was that her client seeked the "advice" of the court...no, I was making a request and was hoping that it be granted!! I've encountered plenty of individuals in my life that take advantage of me in some way. But, Ms. Klager did nothing but make false promises and take my money.
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14 Mar, 2024 by Barbara
Will not fight for you, don't care anything about your case, just wants to get it over with and move on. My Grandson was in jail for 5 months, was able to talk with him one time. Wouldn't take call, wouldn't return calls and the next and only other time he saw him was in court. In court tried to get him to plea for maximum time and wouldn't even try to get a lighter sentence for him. I'm writing to every place I can, this attorney shouldn't be allowed to represent a dog not to mention people
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20 May, 2021 by Anonymous
This lady was court appointed in my cps case and she did a very poor job non professional. She was never at any of the meetings, that's when she did inform me of a meeting. I missed very important meetings for my voice to be heated because she never kept us up to date on the case. She is the reason my rights were terminated. Her and cps case worker were more worried about argun in front of my daughter at the visits, or at court in front of cps lawyers because she did not want to inform the judge about me wanting to address the court of ongoing problems. Also she handled my appeal Wich I was never in person at none of the court for that. She just sent me a big yellow envelope in the mail notify me of terminated rights. So sad this lady needs to quit her dam job and quit ruing and taking the states money. Shame on you.
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16 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
She refuses to answer calls. She won't even file a simple motion of continuous. She didn't tell me that I could have a jury trail for my cps case. She didn't even tell me that they moved the court date from June 6th to September 26th.
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12 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
Or what you don’t pay for. Would not meet for an hour like most attorney’s. Lied about what my hearings were covering and did not believe my side/statement as her client. She did not try to have the outcome in my favor. I wanted to contest and she lied and said something else bc I wasn’t aware of the process. Run away if this lawyer is appointed to you/ your case. Immediately request a different attorney.
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18 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Patricia was not interested in helping me with my case. I was just another case on the court docket. She did not remember things we spoke about anything regarding my case we just watched the videos and she basically told me what I needed to do to comply with court and instead of guiding me to make the best decisions for me. I first had to reachout to the court clerks to have her get back in contact with me regarding my case after several left messages and weeks of no response from her. Mrs. Deaton would not advocate the things I felt needed to be advocating regarding my case. She threatened me with trial if I did not take the plea on the day of court. She told me I know what the court is going to do as if the only choice I had was what the courts & l
Prosecutors had in store for me I would not recommend her as a court appointed or hired lawyer. This is just a 9-5 for most of these attorneys. They do not have your best interests even though your life freedom and dignity lies in their hands.
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06 Sep, 2013 by Tierra
This lawyer did not represent me properly and screwed up my life! In 200 I was charged with assault on a person hat had been harassing me for months with threatening phone calls, voicemails, and stalking me at my place of residence. The young lady came over to my apartment and when I opened the door she barged in with a knife and attacked me. My mother and I called the police but she claimed that I stabbed her. So I was placed in jail for three weeks and charges with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. My mother hired Jeff Buckwald to represent me and he urged me to plead guilty. I was 18 years old and scared out of my mind because I did not want to go back to jail. So I plead guilty following my attorneys orders and was convicted. The only thing he was concerned with was getting more money from me. I was young, naive and did not know what I was getting myself into. Now I have been living with a criminal record all this time and my chances of ever getting a decent job or place to live have been ruined. Do not hire this attorney if you want to be represented fairly.
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04 Jun, 2015 by Maribel martinez
Be careful calling for information from this office. On my first call there, Mary Alice seemed slightly pestered, to say the least, by my need for information, stating that another person had already called to ask similar questions. I explained that this other person was somewhat confused, so I wanted to hear it straight "from the horses mouth". On my second call, I encountered a fully irritated Mary Alice, so I thanked her for putting up with me and for causing so much agitation. I do not plan on calling again, even if my loved ones life depends on it. Praying God softens these peoples hearts with compassion, sympathy and a better understanding for client's needs, in Jesus' name, AMEN.
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07 Aug, 2012 by Anonymous
This lawyer failed to keep me posted on my case. He constantly promises to call about my case but winds up never doing that. I had to call him akin to a debt collector to have any response from him. Calling him once just wouldn't cut it, it seems. Cause a huge amount of stress over it.
Failed to prepare me when the opposition was taking my tape recorded statement
Messy unprofessional office, it's no wonder that he did not have my paperwork. Had tried this lawyer due to a acquaintance recommendation when I should have use one of the lawyers that had worked with me before.
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19 Oct, 2022 by Ranjeet
False lawyer don't exist anymore. Does not exist. Phone number disconnected. Office is a furniture store.
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06 Jan, 2020 by David mcnees
Mr. Torres did a pro bono case for me and it came to a point In my case I needed him to contact the attorney general for paper work. Bexause he was the lawyer on file and straight out told me no "im not gonna do it, im not gonna argue with you. So I said ok and fired him right there.
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09 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
JULIANE CROW IS SUPPOSE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTREST OF THE CHILD BUT IS MAINLY ABOUT HER PERSONAL FEELINGS OF THE PARENTS, SHE ONLY WORKS IS ONE COURT BECAUSE OF HER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JUDGE PHILLIPS I WILL NOT RECOMMEND HER. AND ANYONE FACING A CASE AGAINST HER IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A FAIR TRAIL MAKE SURE ITS IN A COURT OTHER THEN COURT 314TH, JUDGE PHILLIPS WILL NOT HEAR ANYONE OUT EXCEPT HER IN A CASE BETWEEN ATTORNEY CROW AND YOURSELF. IT HAS BEEN SAID THE THE TWO OR RELATED IN SOME WAY OR EITHER CLOSE FRIENDS OF SOME SORT.
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29 May, 2022 by Anonymous
This fat Mexican was thrown off the bench by the good folks in Hood County! He was a dishonest, two-faced, drunkard who never shaved and always had a worn out judge robe on. Now that he was booted out of office he should go back to school to learn the law.
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21 Jul, 2014 by Chris
I tried to hire this lawyer for a traffic ticket. He does not seem to be a knowledgeable about traffic tickets. He said I had to appear in person with him (I have had several tickets dismissed by other lawyers without me being present). Then he said he would accept my case through Hyatt Legal plans. Then he told me not to file an online petition to contest my case. Next, he went silent for several days and would not respond to my emails and phone calls. Finally, he comes back and says he cannot take my case. By this time, the time to file online expired making my case more difficult.
Thanks for absolutely NOTHING!
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18 Dec, 2013 by Anonymous
Henry Campbell is a very unprofessional lawyer. He doesn't care at all about his clients. I switched lawyers due to his lack of contacting me about anything! I always contacted him or didn't hear from him for days if I did call him and left messages. He didn't show up to my case and decided to deal with another persons case that day! That's when I finally decided to change my lawyer. And everything turned out great! I don't recommend Campbell to ANYONE!
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05 May, 2010 by Kathy
Do not use this attorney if you have a divorce complicated by a business, personal property, 401K monies, a child, & the list goes on. It is almost 1 year after my divorce & I still do NOT have personal items that were mine before I ever knew a man that had been married 8, yes that is right, 8 times before me. This attorney verbally approved the final divorce document (typed up by another attorney) without my consent. I refused to sign the document, so the Judge signed it for me.
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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:
-
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.
