Some Spooky Fun

Hi everyone! Since Halloween is just around the corner, and this will be my last blog before all the Trick-or-Treaters are out and about, I wanted to make this week’s post a little more lighthearted. Hope you enjoy!

1.) What does a Panda Ghost eat?

- BamBOO!

2.) What does a Ghost Mom say when she gets in the car?

- Fasten your sheet-belts!

3.) What kind of music do Mummies listen to on Halloween?

- Wrap music!

4.) What is a Vampire’s favorite fruit?

- Neck-tarines!

5.) What do Skeletons order at a restaurant?

- Spare-ribs!

6.) Why can’t Skeletons play church music?

- Because they have no organs!

7.) What do you call two Witches who live together?

- Broom-mates!

8.) What kind of food would you find on a haunted beach?

- A Sand-Witch!

9.) Who helped the little pumpkin cross the road?

- A crossing gourd!

10.) Why was the Jack-O’-Lantern scared?

- Because he had no guts!

11.) What kind of monster loves to disco?

- The BoogieMan!

12.) Why do female ghosts go on a diet?

- To keep their Ghoulish figure!

13.) What do Ghosts use to wash their hair?

- ShamBOO!

14.) What does a zombie call his parents?

- Mummy and Deady!

15.) What do you call a Halloween monster who is really bad at scaring people?

- A Halloweenie!

Have a wonderful Halloween everyone! See you in November!

Sources: 

https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/a32963261/halloween-jokes/ https://www.rd.com/article/halloween-jokes/

How to be a Good Client

Hello all! October is just FLYING by, and Halloween will be here before we know it! Today I wanted to add a third installation to my “how to” series and focused on the qualities of a good client. In order to get the best results from working with an attorney it is incredibly important that you do your part as a client to be as cooperative, helpful, and understanding as possible.

1.) Make sure you set expectations at the beginning. At your initial consultation ask a lot of questions! Discuss costs and fees, how you want to be updated and communicated with, and what goals you want to achieve from this legal dispute. Setting these expectations can help your attorney know how to proceed, as well as be realistic with you about how successful your case may be and what you can expect from them throughout the process.

2.) As always, listening is incredibly important. You may come to speak with your attorney having thoughts and ideas of how you want your case to go, but you should give your attorney a chance to explain their strategy and how they think they can get the best results. You may not completely agree but listening and responding will help the conversation flow better and find a strategy plan that benefits both the attorney and you as the client.

3.) Be responsible. This should go without saying but respect your attorney and the attorney-client relationship. Pay your bills on time, communicate in a timely fashion, and do what you say you are going to. This cooperation will go a long way in resolving your case and maintaining a good relationship with your attorney.

4.) Be responsive. If your attorney reaches out to you with a clarification question or a request for a document pertaining to your case, make sure to respond! Answer as quickly as possible to keep your case moving and be sure to let your attorney know if you will need some time to obtain the requested documents. Even if you cannot get the requested documents immediately, letting your attorney know that you are working on getting them what they asked for will maintain a good relationship and let the attorney know that you are prioritizing getting your case resolved.

5.) Don’t lie or embellish. This is a simple rule, but often one that clients ignore or overlook. Honesty will make resolving your case difficult for your attorney, especially because it is almost guaranteed that the other side will discover your lies, or, that they will come out and do damage to the case that your attorney has built. Disputes can be embarrassing, but if you are not fully honest with your attorney, they will never be able to help you achieve the goals that you hope to achieve.

I hope you all found this week’s “how to” helpful. Whether you have been involved in a legal dispute, are currently involved in one, or just want to learn more about the legal world, these tips will take you far. Although legal disputes can be incredibly stressful, the better you act as a client the better your attorney-client relationship will be, and hopefully help you achieve the best result possible.

***The thoughts and opinions contained in this blog are for informational purposes only and do not constitute any form of legal advice. Please consult with an attorney if you have any legal questions.

Sources: 

https://www.simplelaw.com/blog/basics-good-client 

https://www.clio.com/blog/law-firm-client-communication/ 

https://www.attorneyclientmatch.com/what-should-a-good-client-do.html

How to Prepare for Mediation

    Hi all! Can you believe that we are already halfway through October? The holidays will be here before we know it. This week, I wanted to continue my “how to prepare” series, by giving you all some tips, tricks, and advice to prepare for a successful mediation.

In the past, I have written about what mediation is, what to expect, and the different types. Feel free to look at some of my previous posts if you need a refresher.

1.) First, and most importantly, get legal advice. A mediator is an important part of a mediation, but they are a neutral party and CANNOT give you or the other side any legal advice. It is always in your best interest to consult an attorney about your case or before a mediation. An attorney can help you with any legal questions or concerns and assist you in how to best prepare and understand how the mediation is going to impact your case.

2.) Come prepared. Discuss any concerns with your attorney ahead of the mediation. If the mediation is in person, make sure you know how to get there, arrive early, and bring any important documents or relevant records with you. Another important part of coming prepared is being sure that you have eaten a good meal and gotten a good night’s sleep beforehand. Bringing snacks and drinks is completely allowed! Mediation can be emotionally and physically exhausting and you want to arrive as your best self so that you are not distracted by hunger or tired.

3.) Set goals. Make sure you come to mediation with some ideas of what you want to accomplish, and what you hope to gain from mediation. However, you need to make sure they are realistic and try to be as flexible as possible. It is important to have goals, but if you come in demanding the world and are willing to give nothing to the other side, you are unlikely to find a resolution.

4.) Expect the unexpected. Mediation is a time to discuss issues and try to come to a resolution. If you come with an all-or-nothing mentality, you are likely to struggle through the mediation and end up leaving you frustrated. Try and approach mediation with an open mind, you may find new ideas or solutions that you had not considered.

5.) Perhaps the most important – LISTEN. As I have said previously, mediation is a time to try and come to a compromise and find a solution that benefits both parties. You are entitled to be upset, want the dispute to go away, and come out successful, but if you listen to the other side you may realize that they are hurting too and you both can come to an agreement on something that meets both of the goals that you brought to mediation.

I hope you all found this week’s blog post helpful and informative. Mediation can be a great way to resolve your legal case, can be less stressful, and save you time and money too! If you have any further questions, our office would be more than happy to talk to you or set up a free consultation with Marcie Baker.

***This blog in no way constitutes legal advice of any form. If you have any questions or concerns about mediation or a legal case, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Sources: 

https://www.flcourts.org/Resources-Services/Alternative-Dispute-Resolution/Mediation-in-Florida http://www.resolutionhouse.com/preparing_for_mediation.html

How to Prepare for a Deposition

Happy Friday everyone! I hope everyone is well. Today I wanted to dive a little bit deeper into the world of depositions. I have explained to you what they are, and why they can be helpful, but today I want to provide some advice and information on how to best prepare for a deposition when the time comes during your legal case.

First off, why are depositions taken? Here are a few reasons:

1.) To discover what you know about the case. Attorneys who take your deposition are looking for evidence.

2.) Depositions can also be taken so that your story is under oath. This helps ensure the truthfulness of what occurred.

3.) To find evidence that may help the attorney who is conducting your deposition use in their case, or to find out the weaknesses in their case.

So, what do you need to prepare for a successful deposition?

1.) Be prepared. I know the blog is about how to be prepared, but this really is important. You should go over the facts of your case with your attorney before the deposition so that it is fresh in your memory and your attorney can help address how to be upfront and truthful.

2.) Think before answering. Try to listen to the entire question that the other attorney is asking and take a moment to collect your thoughts before responding. This will make the deposition smoother if you and the attorney are not speaking over each other.

3.) Don’t guess. If you genuinely don’t know the answer to a question or don’t remember, just say so! You are under oath, so you do not want to lie and it is better to admit you don’t know or don’t remember something than to make a false statement.

4.) Dress appropriately. Whether in person or on camera, treat this as a professional event and make sure you are wearing more than pajamas. They always say dress to impress. This does not mean you have to wear a full suit by any means but put a little extra effort into what you wear on the day of your deposition.

5.) Take breaks! If you are getting tired, emotional, or confused, it is completely fine to ask for a break. We are all human and if you need a few minutes to compose yourself or to talk with your attorney that is completely fine. A deposition is not a trial – you are allowed to be comfortable while it is being conducted.

Hopefully, this post gave you some helpful advice on how to prepare for a deposition. Your attorney will also make sure that you are more than prepared for when the day comes. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our office so that we can help you!

**The thoughts, facts, and information shared in this blog post do not constitute legal advice of any form. Should you have legal questions that you need to be answered, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Sources: https://www.mayorlaw.com/helpful-deposition-preparation-tips/

https://www.leonicklaw.com/top-10-tips-when-preparing-for-a-deposition/