Tremblay & Smith, LLP, lawyers in Charlottesville, VA, Virginia

Prepaid Legal Service Plans

Many middle-income individuals in America need the help of a lawyer but are unable to afford one. Prepaid legal service plans offer affordable legal services to middle-income individuals and families. Prepaid plans emphasize preventive law. By allowing a plan member easy access to an attorney, legal problems can be avoided or resolved quickly. This article explains how prepaid legal service plans work. It also outlines the types of legal services available through such plans. More...

Writs of Mandamus

A writ of mandamus is a court order that directs a person (such as a public official) or entity (such as a company or a lower court) to perform a specific act that is related to that person's office. A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary legal remedy, which should only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Where another adequate remedy exists, the courts will generally refuse to issue a writ. More...

Legal Ethics and Legal Malpractice

After successfully completing law school, a law school graduate is required to pass a state bar examination before he or she will be admitted to the practice of law in the state. After passing the bar examination, an attorney takes an oath of office. Once admitted to the bar of a state, an attorney's conduct is regulated by rules of professional conduct. More...

Judicial Conflicts of Interest

Our legal system requires a fair and independent judiciary. In order to maintain public trust in our system of justice, judges must conduct themselves in an ethical manner. There are codes of conduct, which set standards of behavior for state and federal judges. These standards are aimed at assuring the impartiality of judges and reducing the possibility of conflicts of interest. More...

Preclusion and Effect of a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit

There are several doctrines of preclusion in civil procedure. Some of these doctrines are res judicata, collateral estoppel, judicial estoppel, full faith and credit and law of the case. More...