PRACTICE AREA DEFINITIONS
Administrative Law - disputes to be heard/resolved by a board or government entity instead of in a court of law; ex. Social Security benefit case, licensed professional in jeopardy of losing license, real estate agent with complaint
Adoption - a court proceeding that creates the relation of parent and child for people who are not the natural parents
Alternate Dispute Resolution - negotiation, mediation and arbitration are options for resolving disputes without going to court
Appellate Practice - research and review of a case in which an application is made to a higher court to correct or change the judgement of a lower court
Bankruptcy - Business - resolution of a corporation's or partnership's financial difficulties; Chapter 7 (liquidation or straight bankruptcy), Chapter 11 (reorganization) or Chapter 12 (adjustment of debts of a family farmer with regular annual income)
Bankruptcy - Personal - resolution of a individual's financial difficulties; Chapter 7 (liquidation or straight bankruptcy), Chapter 11 (reorganization), Chapter 12 (adjustment of debts of a family farmer with regular annual income) or Chapter 13 (adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income)
Business & Corporate - pertaining to a corporation or partnership, general business/commercial legal problems, setting up a business, shareholders' rights, problems involved with franchises
Contracts - an agreement between competent parties that requires each to do or give something in exchange, ex. prenuptial, real estate transaction, business, etc.
Criminal Defense - representation of an individual who has been accused of a crime, involving arrest, ex. driving under the influence
Divorce - ending of a marriage, annulment or legal separation, child custody, child support, visitation
Elder Law - needs of the elderly including Social Security benefits, VA disability compensation, Medicare, Medicaid, nursing homes, durable powers of attorney, wills, probate, trusts and estate planning
Employment - on-the-job discrimination (race, sex, color, religion, national origin, handicap), hiring and firing an employee, problems with job status in governmental jobs with civil service classifications
Environmental Law - disputes concerning the conditions surrounding people affecting their comfort and well being, ex. air pollution, water pollution, heat pollution, noise pollution, solid waste disposal and weather modification
Estate Planning and Probate - issues related to planning how to give away property and personal items after death, determining the validity of a will, the process of appointing a person to oversee the distribution of an estate after estate taxes and debts are paid and heirs are identified
Family Law - divorce, annulment or legal separation, child custody, child support, visitation, adoption, juvenile delinquency, child abuse, grandparents rights
Financial Institutions and Banking - involving transactions with banks, credit unions, leasing of office, retail, industrial properties or apartment buildings, mortgage loan financing
Guardianship - appointment by a court to care for a child or incompetent adult, and possibly for his/her property or estate, guardian ad litem, conservatorship
General Practice - includes a wide range of expertise in many areas, is the most common practice area for Oklahoma attorneys
Immigration - obtaining a U.S. work visa, student visa or green card and how to become a citizen, illegal entry and undocumented alien issues, citizenship problems
Indian Law - issues related to disputes or crimes taking place on tribal land, tribal sovereignty, rights of Native American descendants
Insurance - disputes with insurance companies
International Law - imports and exports, establishing import-export companies; establishing business abroad; customs classifications; valuation and rate of duty of imported merchandise; assessment and enforcement of customs; unfair practices in import trade; U.S. export and import licensing requirements
Labor and Employment - usually represents employers in matters relating to discrimination or hiring and firing of an employee, wage laws
Oil, Gas & Mineral - leasing and right-of-way agreements, royalty ownership, property owner rights, shareholders, all issues related to the drilling of oil and gas wells, laying of pipeline and mining of coal, ore and other minerals
Patent, Trademark & Copyright - to apply for and register patents, trademarks and copyrights to protect ideas, designs, literary works, creative materials and inventions, infringement problems, unfair trade practices, disputes involving inventions, proprietary ideas and literary material, licensing agreement preparation
Personal Injury - a hurt or wrong to the physical body of a person or to the reputation of a person or both, ex. injury from an automobile accident, injury from a lawnmower or other product, medical malpractice; See Workers' Compensation for injuries occurring on the job
Probate - see Estate Planning and Probate
Real Property - also called real estate, all land and buildings including estates and interests in land and buildings, home sales, closings, mortgages, insurance, foreclosures and zoning, landlord/tenant issues
Social Security - see Elder Law
Taxation - Federal and State income tax preparation and audits, hearings and appeals of tax matters, individual and business tax planning, rulings, regulations, underpayment and nonpayment of taxes
Trial Practice - representation of a client that involves a trial or court proceeding before a judge and usually a jury
Wills & Trusts - preparation of a document directing how and to whom your property and personal items should be divided after your death, guidance in selecting a trust, setting up a trust and trust administration
Workers' Compensation - job-related injury or occupationally related diseases, obtaining benefits, hearings and appeals on claims and denial of benefits
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