Jacksonville Legal Market Overview
Jacksonville is a growing center for the practice of law in Northeast Florida. Several large full-service corporate firms are based in Jacksonville, providing a variety of services. Smaller specialty firms provide local knowledge and experience to handle most legal issues through Jacksonville attorneys with wide-ranging practices. Less traditional law firms, such as virtual law firms, are increasingly prevalent, providing services either on a part-time or as-needed basis from offices outside of Jacksonville.
Jacksonville attorneys from established full-service firms are available to assist both businesses and individuals with their legal needs, from business law to estate planning. Most of these firms have a general business practice that can help with basic business formation and regulatory issues as well as provide advice on compliance matters. Several firms maintain a litigation practice, handling not only commercial and contractual litigation but other conflicts such as family and probate disputes, although many if not most of these firms focus only on serving the business community .
Smaller specialty firms in Jacksonville tend to focus on niche practices, such as tax, real estate, labor and immigration law. Many of these firms are boutique-style firms with a small number of attorneys, and provide personalized service to their clients. Multiple firms have put together strong teams of tax attorneys with backgrounds in accounting, finance, and tax controversies to provide comprehensive tax services to their clients. Other firms have created similarly tight-knit groups focused on immigration and labor as well.
There is a firm in Jacksonville to serve the needs of virtually any client, but there are also firms that have no physical presence in Jacksonville. These virtual law firms have lawyers stationed at home offices around the country serving clients in Jacksonville and beyond. Although these firms have no physical office that clients can visit, they nevertheless provide high quality services at competitive rates.
Leading Jacksonville Law Firms
Located in the northeastern corner of the beautiful state of Florida is Jacksonville, a deep-water port city that functions as one of the largest commercial centers located in the southeastern United States. When it come to finding a top-notch law firm to assist you with your case or trial, the options in this region are second to none. Here are just a few of the top law firms in Jacksonville:
Vernis & Bowling is a top-rated law firm with more than 60 years of experience in the legal realm. This firm represents a wide range of clients in sectors such as government contracts, personal injury, auto accidents, real estate, workers’ compensation and many other areas. Its record of success has earned them an impressive reputation in this region.
Friedman, Fraden, Fridman is a well-respected law firm that centers its practice on both commercial litigation and consumer litigation. Since 2007, this law office has been focused on helping families, individuals, businesses, and companies obtain the highest possible amount of compensation for their cases. This law firm has successfully represented more than 450 clients in this region.
Guenther, Scott Avrin & McGowan is primarily known for its litigation work, which includes practice areas such as personal injury, criminal defense, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, business law and more. It also focuses on maritime law, which includes legal representation and defense in both state and federal court. This firm has an AV Preeminent rating and has been helping clients in the area since 1950.
Thomason, Olstein, & Stein is a highly recommended law firm in the region. Founded in 2003, this law firm is proud of the large number of clients they have represented, as well as the high success rate they have achieved. They focus on areas such as business law, real estate, employment law, construction law, litigation, contracts, professional licensing, maritime law, and oil and gas law.
Jacksonville Law Firms’ Practice Areas
Law firms in Jacksonville typically have a diverse set of practice areas. Among the more common are Corporate and Business, Estate Planning, Family and Divorce, Personal Injury and Real Estate. Corporate and Business law is a staple in any business community and is necessary to help support the many business interactions that shape a local economy. Family law is another common practice area, as family matters affect so many aspects of everyday life. Personal injury is also a vital part of the daily practice for many Jacksonville attorneys as these cases often provide vital services and assistance to those in true need. Real estate law is another common area for many law firms in Jacksonville, as all communities-Jacksonville included-rely heavily on the real estate market.
Selecting a Law Firm in Jacksonville
With a large number of highly regarded firms in our area, coming to the decision on which legal team to work with has never been easier. With that said, you want to be sure that you are making the right choice for your unique situation and that is where these 5 points come into play:
1. Referrals – Ask around to find out what other people think about the firms you are considering. Ask your friends, family, co-workers, accountants, even other lawyers. Just be sure that the lawyers you ask do not have a conflict of interest.
2. Track record – Are they rated highly in their field of practice? Do they have experience with cases like yours?
3 . Comfort level – Do you feel at ease discussing personal matters with the attorneys you meet with? Are the employees responsive to your concerns?
4. Experience – Is the firm dedicated to their work? Do they attend workshops, lectures, or other educational opportunities to stay up to date with the law?
5. Cost – What works for your budget? Make sure that you discuss fees, upfront, and that you are clear on what you will be charged for when you use the law firm for services.
Arming yourself with as much information as possible is the best way to make this important decision. It is important that you find a law firm to meet your current needs and what you will need in the future as well.
Jacksonville Legal Trends and Developments
Jacksonville is home to a myriad of law firms and legal practices, but just what are the legal trends and significant developments shaping law in the region? The information presented here offers just a hint at a few of those legal trends and developments.
Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Filing Marred by Unsubstantiated Allegations
Controversies about the credibility of foreclosure and bankruptcy filings have caused several judges to refuse to apply the summary judgment rule to foreclosure and bankruptcy filings in the hope that it will discourage lenders from relying on this legal tool. In many cases, borrowers expect or are hoping to stave off foreclosure proceedings by filing for bankruptcy. Some bankruptcy courts have even been forcing lenders to verify the truth of their claims about borrowers’ abilities to repay loans.
Florida Continues to Lead Nation in Foreclosures
From the middle of 2010 to the middle of 2011, 1 in 12 households in Jacksonville received a foreclosure filing. In fact, a greater share of homes in Jacksonville were in the process of foreclosure than in any other city in the U.S., which is somewhat surprising given that the city’s home values significantly increased over the past year.
Prevalence of Senior Citizens and Increased Need for Elder Law
Significant numbers of seniors and retirees reside in Jacksonville, and their legal needs often go unmet. In fact, the number of lawyers who specialize in elder law remains inadequate to meet demand. But the need for these legal professionals will continue to rise as the percentage of elderly continues to increase in this dynamic region.
Contacting Law Firms in Jacksonville
You can connect with your Jacksonville law firm and discuss your case in a number of different ways. When you visit your law firm’s website you will likely see that they offer online consultations via the internet. You will fill out a questionnaire that you submit to the firm. The firm will get back to you via e-mail or telephone. This way, no one needs to make any long distance phone calls.
In addition to e-mail, there are likely direct telephone numbers for the law firms you want to contact. Suppose you are searching for an estate planning lawyer. You can call your potential lawyer and ask him or her whatever you want. You can talk to them about wills, trusts, probate and power of attorney. You may even want to ask your potential lawyer about certain costs associated with your estate planning needs. Be sure to ask them if they have billing offices available for reviewing your estate plan .
Some times business owners decide that their online business listing on Google is no longer working for them. They may decide to go with specific law firms, such as Orange Park Family Attorneys, even without additional search engine optimization. If this is the case, these business owners can simply call their potential lawyers and make an appointment with them. There is of course the option of an in-person meeting at the office of your potential lawyer, depending on the type of legal matter that you discuss during your consultation with them.
Once you contact your new potential lawyers their legal office has to consider you as a potential client. Your lawyer will have to determine whether or not he or she can help you win your case or handle your legal matter. Both the lawyer and the client may sign a fee agreement to proceed with the case.