Legal Question in Appeals and Writs in California

Re: questions to ask

As indicated by Mr. Hoffman key questions to ask involve experience, but I would not limit the inquiry to similar cases. If the attorney has experience handling more complex cases, it may be an indication that he has some competence. Certification in appellate matters or criminal law would also be an indicator of professional competence. Both Mr. Hoffman and myself are certified appellate specialists by the California State Bar Committee on Legal Specialization. It is also sometimes helpful to find out whether the attorney you are communicating with is the attorney that will be handling the appeal. Often attorneys have paralegals who they rely on to do the majority of the work. It is better if the attorney is the one who will be doing the work on the appeal. This eliminates the risk of missed communications or omitted details. Is the attorney close to the court that will be handling the appeal? Travel time can be expensive. You may want to inquire about fee arrangements. I'm sure there are many other questions that might prove critical, but these are a few of my thoughts on the subject. Good luck, Jim Goff

Re: questions to ask

Ask for copies of appellate opinions in cases won by the attorney.

Re: questions to ask

Ask how many similar cases he/she has handled. Mr. Stone's suggestion that you ask how many the attorney has won is not such a great idea, since each case is unique and the odds of winning this case have little to do with the particular cases the attorney has handled previously.

You might also want to ask if he/she has been certified by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in appellate law. As of last month I believe there were only 214 certified appellate specialists in the state, and most of them handle only civil appeals.

As you might have guessed, I am a certified appellate specialist and I handle both civil and criminal appeals. Please feel free to contact me about your son's case.

Re: questions to ask

You should find out the experience of the attorney handling the appeal, how long he has been in practice, and the fees, including costs for appeal. Should you have questions please contact me. Our firm handles cases throughout California. 714 363 0220.