3 types of criminal lawyers and why you would need one

Before we look at the different types of criminal lawyers, let’s look at why you would want one on your side in the first place. If you’re in the unfortunate situation where you find yours..

Before we look at the different types of criminal lawyers, let’s look at why you would want one on your side in the first place. If you’re in the unfortunate situation where you find yourself soon to be in criminal court, you already know how serious your state is. You also know you’re not an expert in the situation you find yourself. A criminal attorney, however, is. He knows the intricacies of criminal court and, more importantly, how to find success at the end of the process. Now that we know why you would need a criminal attorney, let’s look at the different types. These are three types of criminal lawyers and what their roles are in criminal court.

Public Defender

            A public defender is a criminal attorney appointed to the accused by the district, state or county in which the prosecution takes place. Under the 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution, every individual is afforded legal representation. Therefore, those who cannot provide it for themselves are given a public defender. Each public defender receives a salary from the government district, state or county for which they work. Many have a very heavy caseload, but also substantial experience.

Private Attorney

            A private criminal attorney is one hired by the accused personally; defendants privately pay these individuals themselves. Many private attorneys work within private firms and specialize in certain areas of criminal defense. While sometimes an effective route, private attorneys are often expensive. All the same, many find success in their expertise and, therefore, find them worth their hefty price tag.

District Attorney

            A District Attorney is a government-appointed attorney who prosecutes the criminal offenses in his area. The highest office in the legal department of jurisdiction, a District Attorney is either elected or appointed. Across the United States, those in this position are responsibility for the prosecution of crimes within their districts.

3 questions to ask a criminal lawyer

Under United State’s law, every United State’s citizen can and will be given due process in the court of law for any criminal offense brought against them. However, the average citizen doe..

Under United State’s law, every United State’s citizen can and will be given due process in the court of law for any criminal offense brought against them. However, the average citizen doesn’t necessarily possess all the tools to navigate the ins and outs of criminal court. As such, experts within the judicial field (i.e. attorneys) are allowed as guides within the system. However, not all criminal lawyers are created equal; some are certainly more qualified than others. It’s important you pick the criminal lawyer, which is not only perfect for you, but also your case. Here are the three most important questions to ask a criminal lawyer before you hire him.

1. Are they a certified Criminal Law Specialist?

Not all those who practice criminal law can admit to this title. However, you want only those certified in the field on your case. Therefore, first and foremost, find out if your potential attorney-to-be is, in fact, a certified Criminal Law Specialist. If the answer is no, you can move on to other potential attorneys. If yes, proceed to ask the next two questions.  

 2. What is his experience, both in general and in cases like yours?

Next, you need to find out both his general experience and his specific experience with cases like yours. Ask how long he has practiced, how many cases he has worked and each of their outcomes. Also, inquire if and how many cases he has had like yours and, again, what their outcomes were. The answer will provide you with valuable insight into his success as an attorney, as well as his potential performance in your specific trial.

 3. What is their specific strategy for your case?

Finally, you need to begin to discuss the details of your case and ask how he will approach it. How will he handle the evidence? What will he do to find a successful outcome? Again, his response will provide you with insight into his potential. If his answers put you at ease, you’re with an attorney, which may be great for you. On the other hand, if his statements fill you with doubt, you should move along for a better.

How to Find a Great Attorney for Your Case

Hiring the right Orlando criminal defense attorney is very important. You must hire a professional and well experienced defense attorney to handle your case. 

Finding a good attorney is not an easy task. There are several factors that need to be considered while hiring the criminal defense attorney.

Here are some easy methods to spot a great lawyer between the hundreds out there.

1. Do some research on the web and make some calls. Lawyers will have excellent staff who will handle enquirers. They will be competent to confirm the types of cases the lawyers from the firm deal with.
   
2. Most large firms cover different types of issues and have lawyers who specialize in several areas. Some deal with household court and divorce, while others can be criminal specialists, for example. Think about the reasons you need a lawyer and then find a very good litigator who specializes in of which area. If you do this you'll have much better chance of success. You can also visit http://www.ladanlaw.com/ to get some idea about the roles of defense attorneys.
   
3. Asking for recommendations is a terrific way to find out about good lawyers close to you. Family or friends will have the ability to give you their suggestions. Maybe you want a good divorce lawyer, so it's a wise decision to ask a friend or relative that has been through a divorce and had a superb attorney supporting them when they went through it.
   
4. Call the state bar relationship. They will be able to generate recommendations for you. In most cases they will send you a list of suitable attorneys in the point out by either letter or mail. They also may give you the main points of certain firms over the phone if you need answers quickly.
   
5. You can also contact their state bar association to check if the attorney you are looking at is reputable and is fully qualified, and whether they are the subject of any complaints or inquiries. The most beneficial lawyers will have an excellent record and come highly recommended from every avenue.
   
6. The most important course of action is act. Don't put it off. If you need a legal professional, get out there and find one by making contact with firms and finding the right one available for you and your personal needs.

Family Law - Internation Abduction

Briefly summarize the position in your jurisdiction.

The UAE is not a signatory to the Hague Convention. Within UAE laws, there are no statutory provisions specifically dealing with child abduction.

Leave to Remove/Applications to take a child out of the jurisdiction

Summarize the position in your jurisdiction

Post divorce, if the custodian of the child is other than the child’s mother, he or she must obtain the written agreement from the guardian before taking the child out of the UAE. If such permission is withheld by the guardian, the custodian may obtain permission for the child’s travel from a judge (Article 149 Personal Status Law).

During the marriage, a mother cannot take the child out of the UAE without written permission from her husband. After divorce (and the conclusion of the waiting period), the mother may take the child out of the country without the father’s consent unless it harms the child in some way (Article 150 Personal Status Law).

The guardian of a child has the right to hold the child’s passport for safekeeping, but must hand the passport over to the custodian when it is required for the child’s travel. Furthermore, the judge may order the passport to be kept with the custodian if they experience difficulty dealing with the guardian when the passport is requested (Article 157 Personal Status Law).

Under what circumstances may a parent apply to remove their child from the jurisdiction against the wishes of the other parent?

The custodian of the child may not permanently settle the child in another country if it would cause harm to the other parent, and if the distance between the two countries prevented the non -resident parent from visiting the child and returning home in one day (Article 151).

If the guardian can prove that his residence in the UAE has expired due to valid reasons such as the end of his employment or due to any other reason, which the court will not find arbitrary, the court may allow the guardian to take away the children and the mother will have the choice to join them or not.

Power of Attorney in the United Arab Emirates

A Power of Attorney is a notarized letter of authority given by a person or a company to another person or a company, which allows them to act for and on behalf of the original person in various government departments and for contractual purposes. The attorney and the person giving it must be over 21 years of age and must be of sound mind.

A Power of Attorney is also required by lawyers prior to acting on behalf of their clients. If a Power of Attorney is executed in Dubai by a resident expatriate, a local citizen or a visitor, it must be signed by the person, bearing his original ID (Emirates ID or passport), in front of the notary public. After annotation, two copies are given to the two parties and one is retained by the notary public for their records.

If a Power of Attorney is executed outside the UAE for use within the UAE, it has to be signed in front of the notary/magistrate/solicitor in the country of origin, attested by the foreign office in that country and legalized by the UAE embassy in the country of execution. The same document shall then be translated into Arabic in the UAE, attested by the Foreign Office in the UAE and legalized by the Ministry of Justice.

A Power of Attorney (POA) allows the attorney to sign in all capacities as stated in the instrument. This can include the right to buy and sell property, file cases in court, sign contracts etc. There is a trust relationship between the person giving the power of attorney and the attorney. Any misuse of the POA is an extremely serious offence and is considered a crime either through a breach of trust or fraud, and can be tried both under criminal and civil procedures in court. Although uncommon, one should take all necessary precautions while issuing a POA and if the POA is given for a specific task the executor should make sure that the instrument is cancelled following the correct procedures after the task is completed.

There is no concept of a Lasting Power of Attorney under UAE law, which means that any POA is automatically cancelled at the death of the executor. Lasting POAs which have effect even after the death of a person are special Power of Attorneys under the common law.

Irrevocable Power of Attorneys cannot be signed in Dubai. However, it is possible in other emirates like Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Each different Power of Attorney might have additional requirements according to the department using them. For example, a POA to sell a property cannot be given without being accompanied by the original title deed. A general POA to sell the property is generally no longer valid or accepted by the Dubai Lands Department. Any such Power of Attorney shall be accompanied with a title deed and shall have the address of the unit it is being given for.

Any person giving a Power of Attorney should be careful about whether they do so jointly or individually. A joint POA can only be used in the presence of both attorneys mentioned. This will make the POA both more secure and less flexible.

A Power of Attorney also contains the option of being delegate to another party. In such a case, it should be clearly written that the said Power of Attorney is delegate at the discretion of the attorney. In such instances, the attorney, for his convenience or in the event he is unable to be present, can delegate the POA to a third party who will then as a result also act for the executor under the same principles as contained within the given POA.

A POA can be cancelled by the executor at any time. The cancellation is done at the notary public and generally does not require the presence of the other party. However, some POAs require the other party to be present at the time of the cancellation. Additionally, if the POA is stipulated by a time frame, it automatically expires at the conclusion of this period, with no further notice.

A Lawyer During a Divorce How to Forego

Not all couples go into divorce prepared for a spartan-style battle. For those who can mutually agree on dividing assets, debts and alimony, a lawyer may be an unnecessary expense.

While many divorces are messy, spewing with emotions, dramatics, and battles, some couples manage to keep the peace. And in a world filled with hefty price tags, especially for the soon to be newly singled, hiring a divorce attorney may seem like an unwanted expense; is it one that spouses can truly forego?

Arizona does offer uncontested divorces, meaning both parties agree to the terms of the divorce. In this situation, many people feel comfortable moving through the legal system without council- but it remains imperative the proper sets are followed.Phoenix divorce lawyer DeeAn Gillespie offers the necessary steps both parties must follow to successfully avoid living out a divorce horror story.

Before breaking down the steps, here are a few basics surrounding uncontested divorces. Arizona requires a 60-day waiting period from the date of service prior to obtaining a final decree. One person may file for one of two types of uncontested divorce, default or consent. The person who initiates the process is, and always will be, the Petitioner. The other spouse is legally called the Respondent. All divorces begin the same way- with an initial filing with the Court.

THE FILING: The initial filing includes state required documents, summons and a petition, hence why they become the petitioner. The petition tells the Court what the petitioner is seeking from the divorce: division of property and debt, spousal maintenance, custody, parenting time, child support, etc. None of these requests should come as a surprise to the other spouse, as uncontested, again, means both parties talked this out and agreed previously. Filing fees for the petitioner vary by county.

THE SERVE: One spouse is not officially known as the Respondent until they’ve been served. In Arizona, service can be completed in a variety of ways, the most common being through a licensed process server. But if all is amicable between two spouses, the petitioner may ask the respondent to sign an Acceptance of Service, requiring a notarized signature. A third option is by mailing the notice, but still must be signed and filed with an affidavit. If the spouse can not be located after several attempts, publication may be considered as a last resort. The 60-day waiting period does not begin until the service is complete.

THE DEFAULT DIVORCE: A summons is also included in the service specifying the amount of time the person has to respond to the divorce petition. If the respondent fails to meet the time-frame, the petitioner may file for an Application and Affidavit of Default, notifying the Court the petitioner wishes to pursue, despite no response, as a default divorce. From the date of filing, the respondent receives 10 additional days to file a response. If they fail to do so again the default will be granted. 

THE HEARING: A hearing is required in Arizona if a divorce involves children or spousal maintenance. If there are no children and no request for spousal support, the parties have an option to schedule a default hearing or file a Motion or Affidavit for a Default Decree Without a Hearing. It’s often more difficult for parties to forgo a lawyer when spousal support is brought into the divorce- for insight into Arizona’s considerations regarding alimony, visit Gillespie’s post on working as a Phoenix spousal support attorney.

THE CONSENT DIVORCE: If both parties agree to the terms of the final decree, a consent decree is filed. Before it’s completed both parties must pay their filing fees (or have them waived or deferred by the Court), sign the decree and have it notarized. Once the decree is submitted to their assigned judge, the judge will schedule a hearing or send the decree back to both parties if they require revisions. Once signed by the judge, the decree is filed with the Court and copies provided to both parties.

How to take a health car

Medigap

A Medigap policy, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is an add-on to your original Medicare coverage that takes care of all of those coverage gaps. In case all of these letters weren’t confusing enough, Medigap coverage comes in Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. But the good thing about these letters is that all Medigap policies are standardized. You don’t have to compare coverage details as you would for a Medicare Advantage plan. If you want Medicare Plan F, you can compare different companies that offer the plan. It’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Of course, you'll owe a premium for a Medigap policy on top of your other Medicare premiums. (For more, see Medigap Vs. Medicare Advantage: Which is Better?)

Medicare Advantage

There are all kinds of problems with Medicare. The one you should be most worried about is the coverage gaps. Part A has that $1,288 deductible and Part B requires that you pay 20% of your expenses regardless of how high your medical costs soar. That could be a lot of money.

Because of those gaps, most Medicare recipients purchase additional coverage to close the gaps. Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, helps to plug those holes. After you have enrolled in Parts A and B, you can apply for Part C, which will cover what A and B – and often D – don’t. These Medicare Advantage plans are similar to private health insurance. You can purchase an HMO or PPO plan, and most will have some sort of limit on how much you pay out of pocket annually.

Like any plan, you have to compare your options and decide which is best for you. Medicare helps you by standardizing the plans. Each company must offer everything covered by original Medicare (Parts A and B) with the exception of hospice care. Most will also offer some sort of prescription drug coverage, but not all do. You can use Medicare’s Plan Finder to find options in your area.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Ongoing care for an illness or just for somebody suffering the effects of aging can be expensive. Nursing home facilities alone can cost between $150 and $300 or more per day. Long-term care insurance covers all or a portion of these charges once you reach 65 or suffer a disabling condition earlier in life. Most agents recommend getting long-term care insurance once you reach your mid 50s.

Although you may be in fine health in your 50s, the longer you wait, the costlier the policies. As with most insurance products, there are different types of policies when it comes to long-term care insurance. The key is to find a policy with a rate that covers most costs and also adjusts upward with inflation.

A common policy would charge about $5,100 for a couple and pay a maximum of $200 per day with a 3% compound inflation rider. With the average cost of nursing home care about $250 per day for a private room, this policy wouldn’t cover all of your costs. (For more, see Choosing Long-Term Care Insurance: Which is the Best?)

10 things you should know about preparing as awitness

You should follow the rules in this article when answering questions from both your counsel and opposing counsel. However, these rules will likely be most beneficial when dealing with opposing counsel. Your counsel is not out to "get you" or trick you. However, opposing counsel’s job is to further the other side’s case – which is often in opposition to what you will be testifying to.

Rule 1: Tell the Truth

Rule 1, by far, is the most fundamental rule of all. Make sure to always TELL THE TRUTH. Before you can testify as a witness you will have to take an oath to tell the truth.  You’ve heard the oath (at least on TV), "Do you promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" When the witness answers "I do," this means that he or she agrees not to lie. Deliberately lying while testifying under oath is called perjury. Witnesses convicted of perjury can be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including jail.

Telling the truth may not be a problem for many people. But many people err on the other side – they give more information that what they are asked. This is bad for many reasons, but most of all because no matter how nice opposing counsel may seem, he or she are not on your side! This leads us to Rule 2.

Rule 2: Do NOT Volunteer Information

This may seem obvious, but it is perhaps one of the greatest flaws of all witnesses. This means to answer only what you are asked, and nothing else! To do this correctly it means you must LISTEN to the WHOLE question and only answer what you are asked. Following Rule 2 is often more difficult than it sounds. Many people hear the first few words of a question and automatically begin to formulate their responses.

Let’s go over a brief example to clarify. The (STOP) indicates where the witness should have quit talking:

Counsel: Please state your name for the record.

Witness: Brian Rogers

Counsel: What is your occupation

Witness: I am a mechanic (STOP) and I work in the brake room where I spend most of my time fixing auto brakes.

Counsel: Where were you on the night of August 21?

Witness: I was at the Ron’s Steakhouse. (STOP) I went there with two friends for a late night snack.

As you can see by the (STOP) signals, answer only what you are asked and nothing more! There are many reasons why a witness should only answer what he or she is asked, but one main reason sticks out: the more information a witness gives the more it may hurt your side’s case.

For example, in the last statement made by Witness above, Counsel may have not known that there were "two friends" that came along. This fact may have a tremendous bearing on the outcome of the case depending on what the case is about. If the case concerns a murder, and Witness says he never saw the killer, opposing counsel might want to question the "two friends" about Witness’s statement. The two friends may have information that incriminates Witness!

So, answer only what you are asked and nothing more.

Rule 3: If You Don’t Understand a Question, Say So.

 Once again, this is common sense (but common sense isn’t always so common). If opposing counsel asks you a question you don’t understand, ask for clarification. Or if opposing counsel mumbles something and you couldn’t hear the complete question, ask to repeat the question. Often, lawyers do a poor job of phrasing questions, and a witness should never attempt to answer a question which he or she doesn’t understand.

Next, we’ll take a look at Rules 4-6 in being a good witness.

Rule 4: Think Before Answering

Rule 4 goes hand-in-hand with the 3 previous rules. Always listen to the FULL question before you begin to answer. Take a few seconds before you respond, if you need the time. You can even ask counsel to repeat the question if you need a little more time to think about your answer. However, don’t use this technique often, as you may upset the presiding judge.

Some things to keep in mind:

Do not say "yes" if you really mean "maybe."
Do not say "no" if you really mean "I do not recall."
The word "no" means NO – absolutely not!
The word "yes" means YES – absolutely yes!

So, if certain answers are maybe, say "maybe." If opposing counsel instructs you to answer yes or no, and you cannot, then say you cannot answer yes or no. Sometimes opposing counsel may phrase a question where you may want to answer yes or no, but a fact or two may require you to answer "maybe" or something else.

Let’s go over an example:

Counsel: Have you ever met a person named Angela Merkel?

Witness: I may have.

This could be a good response if you are not absolutely sure as to whether you have met such a person. If Angela Merkel is your best friend, then definitely respond "yes," but offer nothing more. In other words, do not tell opposing counsel Angela is your best friend unless you are specifically asked if she is your best friend.

Rule 5: Prepare Before You Testify.

You should review any documents, statements, or other records you may have made that opposing counsel may question you about. This does not mean you should prepare like a test. What is means is that you should go over the relevant facts that opposing counsel will likely question you about. Then, you’ll have an idea of what opposing counsel might ask and this should help to limit any surprises. Still, even with preparation, you can never know with 100% certainty what opposing counsel will ask – but you can often come fairly close with solid preparation.

Your lawyer should go over with you what you may or may not be asked. However, your lawyer is not allowed to coach you – i.e. this means your lawyer cannot tell you what to say. Coaching witnesses is against the law.

Rule 6: Do Not Argue.

Remember this: Lawyers argue and witnesses testify.

Follow the rules stated in this article, and answer opposing counsel’s questions to the best of your ability. It is your lawyer’s job to object to hostile, offensive, or intimidating questions directed at you. Do not shout back at opposing counsel, even if he or she tries to get "under your skin." Be as professional as possible.

Keep in mind that you may still be required to answer questions that make you feel uncomfortable. As long as a question is relevant and no objections exist to combat it, you may have to answer the question. Therefore, make sure to prepare mentally for any questions you (and your lawyer) believe you may have to respond to. It should help to calm your nerves.

Next, we’ll go over the last 4 rules to be a good witness.

Rule 7: Correct Your Mistakes

No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. If you state something that is inaccurate, correct your mistake the first chance you get. But make sure what you said was inaccurate. Obviously, try to keep mistakes to a minimum. And remember, if you do mess up, make sure you fess up.

Rule 8: Distinguish What You Know From What You Have Been Told

What a non-party to the case (i.e. neither the plaintiff nor defendant) tells you about something, it is usually hearsay and it can often be successfully objected to. What you directly hear or see with your own senses is generally not hearsay and usually cannot be objected to. In other words, you may not have to answer a question that is based on hearsay – as long as your lawyer objects to the question. You often will have to answer a question that is based directly on what you heard, saw, smelled, felt, or tasted. If this sounds confusing, don’t worry about it. "Hearsay" can be tricky to determine, and it often takes a seasoned lawyer to understand all the ins and outs of hearsay.

For purposes of this article, let’s go over a common example to illustrate what you know from what you have been told:

You are standing at the corner of an intersection waiting to cross the street. Suddenly, a car whizzes by you, knocks over a nearby mailbox, and continues down the street out of sight. You stand there in amazement because the car nearly hit you and you barely saw the car. Later that night a few of your friends tell you that the person in the car was Al Smith. On the stand, counsel asks you the following questions:

Counsel: Were you nearly hit by a car at the corner of the intersection?

You: Yes.

Counsel: Who was in the car?

You: I do not know.

This is the proper response. If you had answered "Al Smith," that would have been hearsay – because you heard it from your friends. There are many exceptions and exemptions to hearsay, and so your lawyer can go over the relevant hearsay exceptions and exemptions with you before you testify.

Rule 9: Do Not Guess If Asked About Statistics

If opposing counsel asks you how fast the car was going in the above example and you didn’t see it, then say you didn’t see it. If you did see the car for a moment or two, in most instances you can make an educated estimate. But make sure to emphasize this point.

For example:

Counsel: How fast was the car going?

Witness: About 35 to 45 mph.

This is a good and fair response, as long as it reflects your best memory.

Rule 10: Take Your Time and Relax

Finally, relax and take your time. This will help you with all of the above rules, especially with Rule 4 - Think Before Answering. Do whatever you need to do within reason and remember to relax.

So, now you’ve been informed about the basics in being a good witness.

How to be come a lawyer

You hear about lawyers and lawsuits in the news all the time. But have you ever wondered what it takes to be a lawyer? What do lawyers do on a day-to-day basis? What salary does a lawyer typically earn? Why is a law degree one of the most sought after professional degrees?

For starters, lawyers come from all walks and stages of life. For example, some people decide they want to be lawyers at an early stage in their lives and attend college on a "pre-law" track. Others may decide to enter law school after graduating from college because they aren’t ready for a "real job" or because someone in their family is a lawyer. And other people go to college and enter the work force, only later deciding to pursue law as a second career. People who become lawyers as a second career are made up of former teachers, accountants, nurses, engineers, librarians, or any other profession you can imagine. The bottom line is this: lawyers come from every kind of background and stage of life.

While lawyers’ backgrounds are diverse, there is a general path that must be followed to be a lawyer. In short, in order to be a lawyer you must: (1) graduate from high school (or get your GED), (2) graduate from a 4-year college with a Bachelor’s degree, (3) graduate from law school, (4) pass a state bar exam, and (5) find a legal job.

Once you become a lawyer, the possibilities of what you can do with your law degree and training are quite numerous. For example, you could work as a trial lawyer, be a law clerk for a judge, join the military as a Judge Advocate General, become a special agent with the FBI, enter the business world, etc. The main point is that a law degree opens many doors.

As you can begin to see, what lawyers do on a day-to-day basis and the career paths that come with achieving a law degree can vary drastically from one lawyer to another. However, certain careers and educational backgrounds tend to better prepare one for becoming a lawyer. And if you know what you want to do with your law degree before you enter law school, you can choose the studies and training to get you where you want to go quicker. We like to call this "thinking backwards" – i.e. think about where you want to go (your goals), then figure out how to get there one step at a time.

In this article, we’ll explore where lawyers come from, what it takes to be a lawyer, what lawyers do, and the timeline in detail for becoming a lawyer. We’ll explore all these questions and more to see if the legal profession is one that appeals to you.

Trained Lawyer

                                                         

Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult for foreign-trained lawyers to sit the bar exam in the US. Completion of the LL.M. degree in itself does not guarantee eligibility to take the bar exam. Most states do require a J.D. degree for a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia. In this case, however, foreign-educated lawyers must begin the process by getting their law degree reviewed and analyzed by the American Bar Association, and it can take up to a year to before the foreign law credentials are even assessed. Once reviewed, the application is either accepted or deferred. If accepted, foreign lawyers are allowed to sit for that state’s bar exam in much the same way a domestic applicant would. In New York, one of the jurisdictions most open to foreign lawyers, this would allow foreign lawyers to sit for the bar without being forced to complete any further law school study in the US.

Fortunately for anyone taking the bar as a foreign lawyer, preparing for the bar exam is a typical—if daunting— challenge. Many American law students spend months preparing to sit for the bar exam by taking bar review courses and classes and foreign-educated lawyers should consider doing the same. Regardless of their backgrounds, so many applicants take these review courses that the model answer the examiners are looking for is invariably in the style taught by these courses. Such classes can be time consuming and expensive but well-recommended ones are generally worth it. After all, the goal of taking the bar as a foreign lawyer is well within sight!