Learn the Need for Legal Services
In South Central Michigan, legal services encompass a wide range of areas. From civil to criminal matters, family to corporate law, it’s important to be aware of the different types of legal support that are available in your local area. Civil law is one of the most common forms of legal services. It involves disputes between private citizens, such as personal injury cases, contract disputes or property issues. Civil law representation is typically sought after when someone has been harmed or damaged in some way by another person or entity, and they wish to seek compensation for their losses. Civil representation can also be sought in cases where a contract has been broken, and one party seeks compensation for the damages resulting from the breach. Criminal law, on the other hand, is responsible for dealing with crimes and offenses. Criminal law representation is sought after when a person has been accused or charged with an offense. A criminal charge can be any number of things , but they are generally divided into two categories of misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors are less serious charges that carry lighter penalties. Felonies are usually more serious and carry heftier jail time or more serious fines. Family law is the legal area responsible for all family-related matters, such as divorce, child custody, and adoption. As a result, a family lawyer in South Central Michigan handles many different types of issues, including those involving the allocation of child custody, parenting time schedules, residency, and child support in addition to spousal support, maintenance, and property division. Corporate law, also known as business law, is the legal area responsible for managing all the legal and contractual aspects of running a business. Business lawyers in South Central Michigan can assist with business formations, contract negotiations, business sale and purchase transactions, and corporate legal services, among other roles that may be vital for the continued operation of the business. Legal services providers in South Central Michigan can assist citizens with all of the above and more. While some attorneys provide a broad range of services, other may be more specialized in their practice areas.
Selecting Which Lawyer is Best for You
Finding the right lawyer is a crucial step in resolving any legal issue, such as a family law matter or an estate matter. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether you should keep your current attorney, switch to a new lawyer, or work with a local law firm for the first time. These factors include an attorney’s specialization and experience, as well as client reviews of the specific legal services offered by the firm in question.
As mentioned, it is important to work with a lawyer who specializes in the specific practice area that is relevant to your case. For example, if you are dealing with a divorce, you want to find a lawyer who specializes in divorce proceedings, even if your current attorney handles family law issues in general. This can help ensure that the legal professional you hire is truly knowledgeable in your specific area of need.
Client reviews are also critical, because these can give you a sense of the quality of customer service the firm you’re working with provides and what kind of experience you can expect moving forward. Such reviews can carry a lot of weight in your decision to retain or switch to a different law firm.
Of course, experience is always a significant factor in how much you can trust a law firm to handle your legal needs. It is typically wise to seek an attorney with years of relevant experience under his or her belt. An experienced attorney can provide you with the best and most effective legal representation possible.
Best Law Firms of South Central Michigan
Three of the top law firms in South Central Michigan have offices in Battle Creek – Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, Miller Canfield, and Willingham & Cote. All have attorneys who belong to the Michigan Bar Association and are well-versed in various practice areas relevant to the needs of small and large businesses in the region. Jaffe Raitt specializes in real estate, commercial litigation, IT consulting, business law, environmental law, tax law, trademarks, estate planning, intellectual property, and probate law. Notably, founding partner David Jaffe co-chaired the Real Property Law section of the State Bar of Michigan in 2010 and execution counsel to the Council of the International Association of Lawyers in Rights of Employees (A.I.D.A). The firm has been a top-ranked law firm within the region since 2013. Miller Canfield provides intellectual property protection and advice to businesses, entrepreneurs, and even municipalities. It also protects litigants in cases involving negligence, auto negligence, insurance and res ipsa loquitur. Other claim areas include non-competition agreement and whistleblower protection as well as bank collections, creditors’ rights, foreclosures, employment discrimination, personal injury, consumer protection, and civil rights. Miller Canfield has been a nationally recognized law firm within the region since 2000, earning top ratings in U.S. News & World Report and Chambers USA. Principal counsel Stephen Polish earned the "Lawyer of the Year" award in 2013 for his work in Corporate Law.
Pricing Legal Services
The cost of legal services can vary tremendously depending on their nature and complexity. For example, simple will and estate planning documents tend to be the least expensive, while the legal services involved in a contentious divorce can be on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Fortunately, our firm offers a free initial consultation for most legal issues . During the initial consultation, the lawyer will explain to the client the anticipated scope of services and the associated costs, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer requirements, etc. Clients are offered every opportunity to ask questions and better understand the costs involved in retaining our firm. In addition to billing by the hour, our firm also offers some flat-fee arrangements for certain legal services and acceptable payment arrangements for those who are facing financial difficulty.
Discovering Free Legal Help
For those that qualify, there are a variety of places in South Central Michigan that have free or low cost legal assistance available. I have provided some information about where you might find pro bono resources directly below.
The State Bar of Michigan maintains a list of "Pro Bono and Volunteer Opportunities in Michigan". They update this list regularly so you are encouraged to check back if you do not see a resource where you live.
Among the most comprehensive services in South Central Michigan is Wayne County’s "Free Legal Aid and Pro Bono Lawyer Referral Program" that allows qualifying individuals access to free legal assistance. It provides information, assistance, and/or referrals for people who cannot afford legal services. It is important to understand they cannot take every case that walks through the door as their resources are limited – however – they will refer you to a number of sources that can do everything from give you legal advice to help you fill out the correct form.
The Macomb County Bar Association also runs a "Pro Bono Program". This program – which has been serving Macomb County residents since 2002 – provides legal assistance to low income residents and those seeking to expunge criminal records.
Wayne County residents may get low-cost legal services under the Detroit Legal Services Plan. People who meet the criteria laid out in the plan will be eligible for those services.
The Lenawee County CASA & Friends organization offers a "Pro Bono Program" for people in need. Their program serves those who are eligible under federal poverty guidelines.
Oakland County Legal Aid offers a wide variety of programs that work with lower income individuals and seniors. In addition to their pro bono services they also provide legal training to self-represented individuals through online videos & resources, seminars and clinics.
Legal Resources and Aid
There is a wealth of resources available to the public through legal aid clinics, pro bono programs, and online tools in South Central Michigan.
First, the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Michigan Legal Help program is one of the most comprehensive resources for self-represented litigants. The website is a good starting point for anyone trying to navigate the legal system without formal legal representation. Michigan Legal Help offers articles on a variety of legal topics, court forms, a directory of state courts, as well as the Michigan Legal Aid Resource Center. The site even has a "Find a Lawyer" tool to match you with non-profit or private lawyers who may be able to assist with your legal problem.
Second, the Michigan Courts runs a similar service called Michigan Courts Self-Help Center. This website features basic information on how our state court system works, how to represent yourself in a case, and links to legal assistance in your area. While it is user friendly, Michigan Legal Help has more advanced features that Michigan Courts currently lacks.
In addition to websites, many legal aid organizations in South Central Michigan hold free legal aid clinics through the year at various locations throughout the region. A major challenge to accessing justice is the limited number of attorneys who provide free legal services . In fact, there are no legal aid organizations directly serving Monroe or Hillsdale Counties. That does not mean that people in these counties cannot find assistance. Pro bono programs, or programs that utilize the support of volunteer attorneys, help bridge the gap from time to time. For example, the Washtenaw County Bar Foundation’s (WCBA) pro bono program runs a Family Bar Project where volunteers help clients navigate family law cases. WCBA also runs a civil legal aid clinic.
Legal support for low-income residents in South Central Michigan is also available through Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan (NLSM). NLSM serves Monroe, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. Like many non-profits, NLSM tries to maximize its impact by targeting those who are most vulnerable. NLSM specializes in family law matters, housing matters, public benefits appeals, guardianship, and preserving domestic violence protections. NLSM accepts applications for full representation and limited-scope cases. Eligible clients must be low income.
In addition to pro bono programs, legal aid organizations, and online support, local bar associations also support access to justice. Several county and district bar associations have their own pro bono programs, legal clinics, and referral programs.