Mirror of Justice

Warning Signs of Elder Neglect

July 19th, 2009 at 04:10pm Under Elder Law

You and your family searched for the best care center for your elderly parent. You asked all the right questions and checked the facility’s credibility and reputation. You saw it for yourself and talked to other residents. You did all the right things; but how do you know for sure that your loved one is being treated with the care and dignity they deserve?
The good news is most care facilities and their staff operates with the utmost of morals. They treat their patients as they would their own parents. There are instances, however, where elder abuse is taking place and their loved ones are completely in the dark as to what is going on.
So, how can you spot elder abuse and neglect? There are several signs to watch for, and these should be noted each time you visit your elder:
• untreated bed sores – this could be a sign that they are left in bed all day and not being cared for properly
• dirty and unbathed – if they need help bathing, this could mean your loved one is being neglected
• Soiled bed sheets and clothes – are they being left in their own filth?
• Unexplained weight loss – this is a sign they are not being fed on a regular basis.
• Your elder may show signs of dementia which could actually be signs of abuse: mumbling to themselves, rocking, etc.
There are also signs of physical abuse that are easier to spot than neglect or emotional abuse:
• unexplained broken bones, fractures or sprains
• broken eyeglasses
• bruises
• restrain marks on their arms or wrists
Many victims of abuse will not come forward and reveal that they are being abused. There are many reasons for this. Some victims feel ashamed, some are afraid of further retaliation by their abuser, and some are afraid they will not be believed.
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, get help immediately. Take them to their medical doctor and have them thoroughly examined. If their doctor confirms that abuse has taken place, call the police and file a formal complaint. Call the facility as well and let them know that your loved one is being abused. It is possible that the administrators are not aware of what has been going on, or that it is only one particular person that has been an abuser.
You will also want to hire an attorney that specializes in elder abuse. They will look at the facts of the case and fight for your elder’s rights. They will call in expert witnesses like their doctor to confirm that abuse has taken place, and financial compensation may be awarded.
Most importantly, your elderly loved one will be taken out of the abusive situation and taken care of properly with dignity and grace. Elder abuse is a despicable crime, and those abusers should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. A knowledgeable and skilled attorney will make sure that happens.

Pets Make the In-laws Tolerable

July 14th, 2009 at 04:19pm Under Entertainment Law

Have you ever noticed how a pet, can ease life’s tensions? We all are faced with stress and anxiety beyond our control sometimes. Take for example a simple visit to the in-laws. (If there is such a thing.) None of us like it. There is usually some family dispute that needs to be settled. Or in some cases such a mismatch in personalities that there is nothing to talk about. However, the whole ordeal can be made easy just by bringing your pet along.

First off, you won’t feel alone. There is no greater feeling than knowing you have your best friend with you. When the arguments start flying at least your dog will be on your side. Having your pet with you can make all the difference in the world.

When you are faced with that awkward moment of silence, your dog makes a great distraction. You can start to talk about your dog’s latest adventure and hope to get a smile or even a chuckle. Let the dog break the ice. Then some of the other fun benefits of having your best friend with you are entertainment. If you’ve got a dog that is ready for action, a few chew toys, and a crowd of relatives, you could keep everyone entertained for hours. In my case I don’t even need the chew toys. All I have to do is remind my dog that he hasn’t caught his tail yet, and then round and round he goes. Also, in some rare cases your in-laws may grow attached to your dog. Which in my case makes me very proud.

Then when it comes time for a sleep over situation you can rest at ease, because your dog is still in your care. How many times do we leave our pets with someone or take them to the kennel only to spend the whole time we’re away worrying.

It can be very difficult to leave a friend behind so if given the opportunity, bring them along. You’ll be able to get a good night sleep. You’ll have a lot of fun. You’ll have great topics for conversation. And, you’ll even be able to tolerate the in-laws. Well … I make no promises. Actual results may vary.

The Juvenile Lawyer

July 14th, 2009 at 01:06pm Under Juvenile Law

Sadly, today many youths get into trouble with the law. In fact, in many parts of the world and in the United States itself, this trend is on the rise. While sociologists and social workers along with the police and the courts are trying to resolve the causes of youthful delinquency, once a crime has been committed it is time to contact a juvenile lawyer.

The juvenile lawyer is special in that, in addition to a degree in law, the lawyer must possess a vast amount of patience and a fine understanding of the thought patterns of teens and other children. The reasons for this are simple. Children, like their older models, adults, lie. While it’s generally more transparent when a juvenile is being dishonest, there are often extenuating circumstances for such deception, usually involving protecting a friend or family member from incarceration, and thus emboldening the child to maintain the lie at all costs.

For this reason, juvenile lawyers have the added task of determining whether their client is the true culprit, or if he or she was influenced by an adult or an older child.
Further, the arrest itself is important. It is of great importance that the police follow proper procedure in all arrests. Due to the nature of arresting a youth, many police while polite, will often violate the legal rights of a child, feeling that a child is beneath such understanding or need of such procedure. It is the duty of the juvenile lawyer, subsequently, to determine if procedure was followed correctly, and if not, to document this and prove it in a court of law.

Moreover, sometimes getting at the truth is more than just sifting through a pile of police reports and ruminating upon the tangled cobweb of data. It is with the art of the interview where the juvenile lawyer either shines or falls flat on her face. This includes speaking not only with police officers, hospital personnel, witnesses, and other relevant people, but especially with discussing the situation with the child in question.

This involves not only gleaning information about the case from the youth, but comforting him or her, while at the same time explaining the legal situation in terms the child can understand. In some cases, juvenile lawyers have had to explain the law in simplified terms for the minds of children as young as 9 or 10 years of age.
It is no easy task, yet the juvenile lawyer also gains great joy when she can aid her clients successfully.

California Child Custody – Who Gets Custody?

July 13th, 2009 at 02:53am Under Child Custody

Like most states, the standard for child custody determinations in California is the overall best interest of the child with an emphasis on assuring the “health, safety, and welfare” of the child and “frequent and continuing contact” with both parents absent child abuse, domestic violence, or where the contact would not be in the best interest of the child as provided in the California family code section 3011 (See California Family Code Section 3011, 3020, 3040, 3080). Further, according to California family code section 3040, child custody should be granted in an order of preference and according to the best interest of the child.

A common challenge for the court is to decide who will get custody of the child. Child custody may be petitioned by parents, grandparents, stepparents, or any person who believes they can provide suitable care and guidance to the child. So how does the California family court or a California judge handle competing persons seeking custody of the child? According to California family code section 3040, child custody should be granted in an order of preference and according to the best interest of the child. The court looks first to grant custody to both parents jointly or to either parent before looking to grant custody to other persons. California however does not currently establish a preference or a presumption for or against joint custody arrangements. Instead, it allows the California family court or California judge to make the parenting arrangement decision on a case-by-case basis according to what it believes reflects the overall best interest of the child. If neither parent is granted custody, then the court may look towards the person’s home in which the child has been living and the stability of that environment and then to any person deemed by the court to be able to provide appropriate care for the child. In short, the court will typically look to grant child custody first to the parents according the best interest of the child and if they are deemed unfit the court will then look to grant child custody to other persons according to the best interest of the child.

If you are involved in a child custody battle with the other parent, grandparent, stepparent, or any other person, you would be wise to consult a California family law attorney to help you learn where you stand legally and what your legal options are with respect to your child custody rights and visitation rights.

Copyright © 2007 Child Custody Coach

Law as Career

July 11th, 2009 at 11:37am Under Administrative Law

Law as a profession is in great demand these days. Due to the changing economic and social scenario and the ever-increasing regulatory role being undertaken by the government there is a growing demand for the lawyers. Besides being financially lucrative, Law is an adventurous and thrilling career option.
Some of the personal characteristics that one needs to have to become a good lawyer are: good intellectual ability, the ability to assimilate and analyze facts quickly, excellent communication and presentation skills, self confidence, and physical and mental stamina to cope with the long hours of work and work related stress.Law Courses in IndiaB.A. L.L.B: This is a 5-year course and the students can pursue this course after passing Class 12. L.L.B.: This is a 3-year course, open for graduates.L.L.M.: This is a postgraduate course in Law. The duration of the course is 2year. Students can pursue this course after completing B.A. L.L.B. or L.L.B.
There are various specialized branches of Law. These include:

Here is a list of some of the top Law Colleges in India:

For better guidance contact your nearest Employment Exchange