What to Consider When Designing Your Law Offices
You want to do right by the clients you work for, and often that involves having the best quality possible when it comes to professionalism and experience. Often law professionals don’t think too much, however, about how your office itself portrays these qualities. When your office is well-designed, it positively impacts both your quality of work and your customers’ level of comfort and opinion of you. It broadcasts the kind of lawyer you are—for better or worse!
Bring in a Professional Designer
A big thing to consider when getting ready to design an office is if you can fit a professional designer in the budget. Implementing online advice is always better than nothing, but having someone who knows design in and out and can help communicate exactly how you want clients to feel through the design of your workspace is an unparalleled advantage. A good professional designer will get the work done right the first time, so you’re less likely to have to rearrange or rip things out later. They can also make suggestions, at times, that end up saving you money when talking about alternative materials as well as furniture hunting.
Build Conference Rooms
Right next to the waiting room, conference rooms are one the most important rooms in a law office to design well. That is because, unless you have your potential clients and clients meet with you in your personal office, this is the place they will spend most of their time. Personal offices can easily get cluttered and disorganized, lessening customers’ confidence in your professionalism. They’re also harder to utilize technology in—unlike a well-designed conference room, which should have an easy way to project video conferencing as well as important information for the client.
Keep Clients in Mind
In general, everything about the way your office is designed should benefit your clients and potential clients. That means minimal distractions, private but open spaces, and bright but comforting light—and yet also should keep in mind that design choices need to be communicating professionalism, experience, and competency as well. Having law degrees displayed in an area the client will see, for example, increases their level of trust that you can truly help them. Even the layout of your office should ensure clients don’t feel either claustrophobic or lost. When considering all of these other aspects of design, it should always go back to the client.
Select Furniture
Furniture is a big aspect of office design, and should be chosen depending on each space to communicate a different mood and level of concentration vs. comfort accordingly. Comfortable, back-supporting office chairs that easily move in a conference room is important. But if they’re too squishy or high-backed, they can actually make it easier to fall asleep or get distracted! In outdoor spaces, sunlight can damage wood furniture. Get furniture made specifically for the outdoors to put in these places. Inside a building, however, sunlight can give your personal office or waiting room space an older but more comforting feel. Squishy, relaxing furniture in the waiting room is also a smart idea, of course, to lower any anxiety a client may have before the meeting.
Choose Décor
What you put on the walls and next to furniture communicates a lot to your clients as well. Besides just a law degree, it may be a good idea to have professional but interesting decorations in waiting rooms to give potential clients a talking piece, and keep such things minimal in conference rooms to ensure concentration. In your own personal office, displaying family photos and other personable items can also increase trust, as it makes you a more personable lawyer clients will feel they can open up to and rely on.
Think About Lighting
Lighting is so important but so often forgotten. Your clients and you need light to meet under in a practical way, but also to set the mood of the office. The hue of your light fixtures and lamps go a long way in deciding how people feel under it, so choosing office lights is essential to honing a good client experience. Natural light, however, is even more important. If you have an office that obstructs windows or worse, doesn’t have windows at all, your workspace will feel more like a cave than an office. Make sure your curtains or blinds are open, your window glass is regularly cleaned, and your furniture is situated to enjoy the most of the light!
Remember Color
The shade of your walls and colors included in your furniture and décor will determine a lot about how your office feels as well. The psychology of color is amazingly effective if utilized well and used intentionally. Striking a balance in whatever colors you choose to work with and making sure the shade you choose communicates the right mood. This is another good reason to consult with a professional designer in choosing the right color palette for your office.
Use Space Efficiently
Space is one more important factor to consider in your office design because in the end, you will be working and spending most of your day there. Space involves both the square footage of your office that is open and available for movement, but also refers to the feeling of space, which can be manipulated according to your design choices. For instance, the color white can make a space feel much bigger than it actually is—as can incorporating glass as walls within the office. Getting office space organized of course is an even more straightforward option; minimize on clutter and unneeded items.
What you do with your office should always be customized to your clients and your circumstances. There are general tips, however, that can help any lawyer make the most of their office space. Take a look into these factors that can make a big difference in your office design to make the correct decisions for your office, and you will develop a much clearer plan moving forward.
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Helpful Tips for Passing an OSHA Inspection
As a business owner or employee, you’ve probably heard about the required OSHA inspections and wondered what you need to do to pass one. Maybe you’ve wondered how the OSHA guidelines would apply to your business specifically, and what you should do to meet them. An OSHA inspector helps to uphold good practices of safety and health in businesses, helping employers and employees alike to avoid accidents, injuries, and death. Here are a few helpful tips that will assist you in knowing how to prepare your business to undergo your OSHA inspections successfully.
Have Your Documents in Order
First off, it is extremely important that you have your documents in order once you know that you have an upcoming OSHA inspection. Of course, this is easier to do if you’ve been keeping careful records of your documents since you started your business. There are a few different types of documents that you may need when meeting with an OSHA inspector. For example, you will need the official company illness and injury logs, any written complaints about work hazards or violations of OSHA safety and health standards so that the OSHA inspector can determine if there are serious violations occurring in your workplace.
Follow the Right Standards
One way to minimize any issues that your OSHA inspector may find upon visiting your business is to follow the right OSHA standards, ideally since you’ve started your company. It is extremely important that you make sure that you stay up to date on the OSHA standards. These standards are prone to updates and changes, as work conditions and the world’s environment is constantly changing. For example, OSHA pipe marking standards refer to an outdated set of ANSI standards, which technically should be good enough, though following the most recent standards is likely to be better. You can resolve problems and protect your employees by staying up to date on the OSHA standards and making sure that they are applied in your workplace.
Know What to Expect
Obviously, you’ll feel most prepared for your OSHA inspection if you know what to expect when your inspector arrives. An OSHA inspection is generally made up of three different parts. It usually begins with an opening meeting where the inspector will show their credentials and listen to your safety or health concerns. Next, the inspector will perform a walk-through, where they examine your workplace and processes, searching for any health or safety violations. Personal interviews with employees may also be performed during this time, as discussions may reveal any possible risks or concerns.
As you’re anticipating your OSHA inspection, remember that your inspector is trying to help your company by promoting health and safety for employees and all involved persons. If there are any issues that need to be resolved, it will be for the benefit of your company. Remember to prepare your company by following the steps that have been described in this article, and you’ll have the best chance of passing the inspection.
How Do Courts Determine What Kind of Trial You Will Have?
If you are facing the possibility of going to court, understanding the process of how your type of trial is determined can help you be more prepared. As you prepare, try to work with effective legal counsel to know what to do and say. Understanding this process and being prepared will give you peace of mind.
Jury Trial
This is the most commonly thought of kind of trial when it comes to criminal defense cases. A jury trial involves six to twelve jurists who are tasked with determining a defendant guilty or not guilty. While the jury is responsible for determining the verdict, a judge will still determine the sentence.
Jury trials can have a lot of benefits for defendants—for one, evidence put forth before the judge deemed inadmissible can be stopped before any of the defendants hear the evidence and are swayed by it whether they want to be or not.
Bench Trial
A bench trial is simply a trial by a judge instead of a jury. In a jury trial, the jury must determine the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt while in a bench trial, that determination falls to the judge or judges.
Determining whether or not you will have a jury or bench trial depends on a number of factors including your jurisdiction, the nature of the offense, and sometimes your preferences. In some situations, bench trials can be advantageous because they tend to be faster and can be more reliable in how they will apply the legal rules.
Civil, Traffic, Juvenile, or Criminal Trial
In addition to having the option of being determined guilty by either a bench or a jury, there are also different procedures depending on the case type for your trial. Depending on the infraction you have committed, your case may be classified as a civil suit—usually involving a dispute between two people or business parties.
Your case may be heard in juvenile court if you are a minor. Depending on your case type, there will be different types of trial—a traffic infraction hearing will not require a jury while a criminal trial will require a jury.
As you plan for and prepare for your court date, make sure to do your research about your particular jurisdiction. Work to understand how different aspects of the law work in relation to your particular offense. This research will help you feel more ease as you think about how your court hearing will go.
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Why You Might Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Getting into a car accident is very stressful and there is a lot you will need to manage afterward. It can be difficult to do this all on your own. Hiring a lawyer after a car accident can be helpful in many ways, and it may even be necessary.
Determine the Value of the Damages
After an accident, one of the first things you need to determine is the value of the damages you have suffered. This can include damage to your vehicle as well as any injuries you and anyone else suffered as a result of the accident. A lawyer can be very helpful in this process. Most often, your lawyer will help you determine the damages based on similar cases they have seen in the past. They can even help you discover other damages that may apply to you. For example, your injuries may cause you to miss work and you could be eligible for coverage of lost wages. All in all, a lawyer can help you see what compensation you deserve.
Fight an Insurance Company Refusing to Pay
One of the hardest parts of post-accident negotiations is dealing with the insurance company. Often, you will need to work very hard to prove your case and receive compensation. An attorney can improve your chances of winning a settlement. When an insurance company sees that you have brought an attorney on board, they are more likely to take your case seriously. Additionally, your attorney has the expertise that can help you find ways to prove your case. They also understand how to negotiate with the insurance company in your favor.
Handle All the Legwork
If you were injured during an accident, you might not be fit to handle everything on your own. Additionally, the trauma of the accident can make it difficult for you to approach the situation and think clearly. If you hire an attorney or lawyer, they can handle everything for you. They can take care of the paperwork, filing documents, and gathering evidence. They are the experts and you can count on them to get everything done. You also don’t need to worry about the time-consuming work. Overall, it can be a major relief to have someone helping you through the process.
Accidents are very stressful when they happen, but it doesn’t end there. A lot needs to be taken care of post-accident and it can be hard to do on your own. Hiring a lawyer will be in your best interest.
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How Business Owners Can Stay Compliant with Local Regulations
There’s no two ways around it – being a business owner takes a lot of work. At the end of the day, the buck stops with you, which means that you are ultimately responsible for everything involving your business. One of those things that you need to stay on top of in order to remain in business is regulatory compliance.
Consult with Attorneys
It’s pretty tough to stay in compliance if you don’t know what you’re supposed to be complying with. Consulting with a compliance attorney can help you understand what your business needs to do in order to be in compliance with regulations. Compliance attorneys can help with compliance documents and compliance issues as they relate to partners and vendors. They can also help you if you need legal support if you’re facing an audit. Being audited can be intimidating, but they have an important role to play in making sure your business is operating as it should.
Create a Safe Workplace
When you think about organizations that govern workplace safety compliance regulations, OSHA is probably the one that comes to mind first. There are a lot of different things that go into making a workplace safe for your employees, and it all starts with identifying risks so you can address them. Employers are responsible for placing labels on objects or areas that pose a risk to employees. They’re also responsible for making sure that employees have the appropriate PPE to get their jobs done in a safe manner.
Know Your Industry
Some regulations are applicable in an overarching way to virtually every business. When you start to dig into the nuances, however, things can change from business to business and industry to industry. If you want to stay in compliance, you need to know what regulations apply to your specific industry. For example, if your industry deals with known fire hazards, the idea that you must provide appropriate PPE applies to you, but it will mean something different for your business than one that works with animals.
Staying compliant with regulations at every level, from local to national, is essential if you want to stay in business. Consulting with attorneys, creating a safe workplace, and knowing the regulations that govern your industry are just a few of the things you can do to help your business stay in compliance. It can be a lot of work, but it’s all part of the responsibilities of being a business owner.
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Legal Issues a Manufacturing Facility Needs to Understand
Navigating legal matters is a natural aspect of doing business. It doesn’t really matter what industry your business operates in—legal issues are bound to come up sooner or later. One of the things that will help a manufacturing facility navigate them is understanding what issues you’re likely to face. Here are a few important issues you should be aware of!
Environmental Impact
Manufacturing, by nature, is going to produce some degree of waste. Even if your facility works hard to minimize the waste you produce, it’s inevitable that you’ll still end up with some. Waste production and the consumption of natural resources takes a toll on the environment. Regulations are often put in place to encourage businesses to use more environmentally responsible practices. Failing to do so could result in your facility being fined or even sued, depending on the outcome of your failure to comply with regulations.
Employee Injuries
While it’s not the most dangerous industry out there, manufacturing isn’t the least dangerous industry either. Working with heavy machinery tends to increase the risk of employee injuries. Slips and falls can be a big issue too. Taking steps to prevent employee injuries is an essential responsibility for any employer, and one that you are legally obliged to undertake. The lockout/tagout process can prevent serious injuries from occurring around heavy machinery. Using warning signs for slippery surfaces and installing guard rails where falls might happen can also help reduce the rate of injury. Don’t forget to provide the proper protective equipment for your employees too.
Product Liability
The purpose of manufacturing is to create a product. The hope is that it is done correctly, that the product functions as it is meant to, and that whoever buys it uses it as it was intended to be used. That’s not always the case, though. A problem with any one of those areas can result in a manufacturing facility being put on the spot for a product liability suit. This is why it’s a good idea for any manufacturing facility to carry product liability insurance, and also do more than a few tests on a product before it ever hits the market.
Understanding the legal issues that pertain to a manufacturing facility is an important step in protecting the facility. These are just some examples of what legal issues a manufacturing facility could find themselves facing. If you don’t understand your responsibilities well enough, or if your facility finds itself in trouble, be sure to consult with a lawyer who has experience dealing with your specific concerns.
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Life Settlements Are Trending, But Are They Legal?
A major concern for senior citizens in our society is outliving their financial resources. Many seniors worry that they will become a financial burden to loved ones in their later years. This concern has caused spawned the life settlement industry.
What Is A Life Settlement
A life settlement is the sale of an unwanted life insurance policy. The seller of the policy will receive a lump sum amount of money and the buyer will become owner and beneficiary of the policy. As the owner of the policy, the buyer becomes responsible for the payment of all future premiums.
This arrangement provides seniors with a financial boost that is considerably more than the cash surrender value of the policy while also providing a future profit for the buyer.
The growing popularity of life settlements for seniors and investors alike has caused many to seek more information regarding this type of financial arrangement. Many have also questioned the legal and ethical merits of life settlements.
History of Life Settlements
The United States Supreme court determined in 1911 that life settlements were private property and could be legally transferred, based on the case of Grigsby versus Russell. This marked what would be the beginning of the secondary market for life insurance policies.
Prior to these events, holders of unwanted life insurance policies could either sell the policy back to the life insurance company at a loss or allow the policy to lapse and receive no compensation for it.
Benefits to Investors
Life settlement investing offers a number of exciting potential benefits.
- Value of life settlements unaffected by other markets
- Major life insurance companies are amongst the most stable corporations in America
- Provides portfolio diversification
- No active management required
- Regulated by the state department of insurance
Risks to Investors
Risks associated with investing in life settlements are minimal but do exist.
- Non-liquid asset
- The longer the insured lives, the less value the policy holds
Legal And Moral Concerns
The sell and purchase of life settlements in the United States are completely legal but still make some investors uneasy due to moral and ethical concerns. Many investors are simply turned off by the idea of profiting only at the ending of a human life.
Those who would counter argue this position point out the fact that death is a part of life and that investing in life settlements provide seniors with a living benefit to their life insurance policies.
Conclusion
Most people familiar with the life settlement market believe these transactions to be a win for all parties involved. Seniors are given access to much-needed funds to provide them with financial security in their later years. And investors get to purchase a stable buy and hold asset with good profit potential. The growth of the life settlement market should continue for the foreseeable future.
Some law requirements to hot mop your shower
As a land lord you must be very cautious before you lease a home to tenants. The laws are in place to protect the renters not the owners, therefore make sure that you do everything within your power to protect yourself and your property. An often overlooked service which is hot mop shower pans, this ensures that you bath/shower will be waterproofed, which will eliminate leak, which will reduce mold. These are big issues that you can avoid if you take the proper time and find a specialist to get it done right and will reduce your long term liability.
• The beneficiary must meet the building code needs of his or her home
• All lining material should be pitched at a quarter of every foot to weep the holes in the drains with the aid of a smooth solidly-formed sloping sub-base
• The membrane of the hot mop should extend upwards to the side of the walls and the rough jambs of the said shower. This membrane should not be extended to a point no fewer than 3” atop the completed dam or threshold.
• All weep holes should be free-flowing and clear of clogs and any obstructions
• An appropriate water test
We typically spend hundreds and thousands of dollars in protecting the outside of our homes from the perils of water entry. We understand that water, unchecked in the home, can cause damages. Since the shower area and shower pan water system is not what you will typically look out for, the lack of a hot mop system means that damages and leakages in your home can linger undetected for months to come. This water can run into the walls and cause mold to form and affect drywalls by compromising their strength and integrity.
A hot mop shower pan helps to avoid all the potential damages that can arise from a failed water system. A hot mop solution ensures an efficient water-in, water-out system that serves as the best defenses against intrusion that can damage your home.
How To Determine Your Status As An Employee Or Independent Contractor Under California Laws?
The present ruling by the Supreme Court of California has changed the laws in which the employees were put under the label of independent contractors. As there is no set definition devised for ‘independent contractor,’ it purely depends on a particular area of law. Like, if there is an issue with the wage claim and employment status becomes questionable, then Division of Labor Standards Enforcement or DLSE will use the ‘five-prong economic realities test’ to give a decision. If you are not aware of some of the proceedings, it is advisable to contact a Certified Public Accountant in Burbank, California.
Significant Proceedings under the Californian Law
Until 2016, there were nearly 8.4% of the independent contractors, which means nearly 12.5 million people were recognized as the independent contractors by the businesses. The recent changes carried out by the court have made it difficult for employers to classify the workforce. For this, the employers and employees both can take assistance from the experienced CPA to understand the changes. Let us see some of the important proceedings:
- Analyze and research the working relationship before its establishment. If there is a problem in the pre-assumption of the status, then the worker is recognized as an employee by DLSE under the Labor Code Section 3357.
- To be recognized as an independent contractor, the employer has to show that the worker is not under the control of a core business. The person independently engages in the trade or business.
- A few cases were put up in the court where the employers have an agreement signed from the employees that they are independent contractors. This means they were not given minimum wages, meal periods, rest time, or any kind of overtime. In this scenario, where a written agreement has been made to sign does not make a particular worker an independent contractor. The Labor Commissioner and the Court determine it only after analyzing the facts.
- The employers who are not able to understand present changes in the Californian Laws regarding employees v/s independent contractor status can take the advice from Tax Accountant in Burbank, CA. It is important to understand the facts based on which you are establishing a relationship with a particular worker. The reason being, in case of any dispute, the DLSE will presume the worker to be an employee only.
To sum up, as there is no concrete definition provided for independent contractors, the employees and employers must seek the nature of a job before establishing any relation.
Does the Kind of Car You Were Driving Matter in Your Personal Injury Case?
Auto accidents happen on a regular basis in Texas, and a lot of factors go into how insurance companies determine liability and settle the insurance claims. While there are a lot of obvious factors like points of collision, what actions led up to the accident, and any road violations, a little-known factor that can play a role is what kind of cars are involved. The type of car you are driving can have an impact on the amount of settlement you’re offered, as well as even factor into the liability in some rare cases.
Safety
Safety standards have come a long way in recent years. While newer cars have bonus safety features like automatic parking and steering for aiding in avoiding collisions as well as multiple cameras and sensors to help increase awareness, older vehicles may just have the basic safety equipment. There are certain safety requirements that are constantly being updated, a minimum standard that must be met by newer vehicles being manufactured.
Regular inspections are also required to ensure vehicles remain in safe drivable conditions. In the case of many vintage vehicles, they may no longer measure up to these newer standards. While it’s not illegal to drive these older vehicles, your insurance may consider an assumption of risk on your part for driving a vehicle not necessarily up to code. This assumption of risk can be used as an argument that in knowing the risks, you may not be entitled to as much of a settlement for injuries sustained in a collision.
Damages
Not all vehicles are made equal. While driving a premium vehicle may not affect much in the way of your medical expenses and injury coverage, the kind of vehicle you drive can certainly have an impact on how much you’ll be covered in terms of vehicle damages. Premium car interiors are similar to luxury cars and can be equated to a similar cost. This means that repairs might be more expensive, but you’ll also be getting more from your insurance company, or the other party’s insurance, to cover them.
A higher car value also means that it will be less likely that your car is a total loss. Generally, a car is deemed to be a total loss if damages exceed a certain percentage of the car’s value. A more valuable car has a higher threshold before being deemed a total loss.
Negligence
The last thing that generally factors into your case comes down to negligence. Depending on what actions were taken by both drivers leading up to the accident, a certain degree of negligence or liability can be placed on each driver, determining what portion of their claim an insurance company would be willing to pay.
If you were the primary cause of the accident, by let’s say driving through a red light, chances are the other party’s insurance wouldn’t offer you much for your damages, and going through your own insurance if you have the proper coverage would be ideal. Texas specifically follows Modified Comparative Fault laws, which state that a driver cannot pursue the other party for damages if they are 51% at fault or higher.
There are many things that tie into how much money you can recover from a personal injury case, especially when it comes to auto accidents. If you have been injured in an accident, it is best to reach out to a personal injury attorney to help defend your case and make sure you get the proper compensation for your damages.
Texting and driving can have serious legal implications! Click here to learn more.