To an attorney attempting to raise their profile and that of the case they’re overseeing, there’s no better friend than public relations.

When an attorney appears on radio or TV show as the legal expert, their credibility grows and millions of people learn who they are.

What are some of the topics that an attorney discusses on these shows? They’re often top legal stories as the Bill Cosby trial. They can also be cases that the attorney themselves is overseeing. A skilled individual can utilize the power of the media to raise public awareness of any case they are involved with.

It’s not uncommon for legal practitioners to see a surge in web traffic and spikes in inquires following their interview especially if they do an exceptional job. In addition to being informative and knowledgeable, attorneys should develop their on camera presence though a respected Media Trainer to enhance the effectiveness of their interviews.

Many legal practitioners will their press credentials on their website – often doing so in the first sentence “See on CNN’s “Nancy Grace” and Fox News, Criminal Defense Attorney……”

To an individual seeking legal counsel, media credentials are a way to captivate their attention and stand out from their competition. In our experience, people feel good knowing their attorney is called upon by the national media to share their expertise.

Another value of PR to an attorney is a successful press conference. Our PR firm for lawyers  has set up and managed several of them over the years. We are never surprised at how powerful they can be or the results they can yield. If an attorney’s client is facing a grave injustice or has a story that resonates with millions of people, the media may take up their fight (they love being crusaders of justice and their viewers / readers / listeners love them for it).

An effective press conference can also lead to many additional TV, Radio, and Newspaper interviews.

Intensive media coverage has the ability to shatter immovable objects and sway public opinion – tools every attorney should have in their arsenal.

Attorneys who regularly appear on TV & Radio and grow their Social Media base (Facebook & Twitter Followers) open the door to becoming future published authors, show hosts, and public speakers. In addition, an enhanced public image puts that attorney in the mindset of potential clients who could change the face of their law practice.

While there are many paths to success for an attorney, effective public relations can make the difference in how fast they reach their ultimate goals.

I often have people ask me when they should file bankruptcy.  Usually the answer is that it depends on your circumstances, and why you need to file bankruptcy.  If you have fallen behind on your home, and you want to keep it, timing is critical in filing your bankruptcy.  You need to file a Chapter 13 before your home is sold at the foreclosure sale.  Foreclosure sales in Texas occur on the first Tuesday of the month.  To be safe, you would want to file your bankruptcy at the very latest by that Monday.  If you need to file a Chapter 13 to protect your home, please call a qualified attorney.

Most of the time there is no pressing need to file a Chapter 7 quickly.  Filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is not going to protect your home from being foreclosed for very long (though it can delay it), and it is not going to protect your vehicles from being repossessed in the long term.  While there might not be a time crunch to worry about in filing a Chapter 7, many people lose a lot of money trying to avoid filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Oftentimes people will deplete 401K or IRA accounts in an effort to pay credit cards or medical bills.  Bankruptcy is intended to give you a fresh start, and part of that fresh start is allowing you to preserve your retirement accounts and other assets so that you can live a meaningful life when you retire.  If you are at the point where you are considering borrowing money from your retirement accounts to pay your bills that are piling up, call an experienced Arlington TX bankruptcy lawyer.

Another aspect to the timing of filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is called the “windfall rule”.  The windfall rule states that if within six months from the date of filing, you come into a large sum of money like an inheritance, or a settlement of a lawsuit, you are not supposed to spend that money.  You are to let your attorney know, and the attorney will speak with the trustee to determine what to do.  If the funds cannot be exempted under state or federal law, the trustee is going to take some or all of those funds to pay your creditors.  A very simple example of this is receiving your tax refund at the beginning of the year.  Typically, I advise my clients to wait until they receive their tax refund before filing bankruptcy, because if they become entitled to the tax refund after they file bankruptcy, the trustee can take the refund if it cannot be exempted.

If you are considering filing a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, an attorney can explain the process to you in a way that you will understand, and will make sure that the process is as stress free and painless as possible.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC for their insight into bankruptcy

The best way to determine if you are eligible for Medicaid is to set an appointment with an Arlington TX Medicaid attorney to access your income and Estate. There are many steps that occur with becoming Medicaid eligible and to ensure your eligibility it is always beneficial to have an attorney assist you with the process. Elder Medicaid is commonly confused with Medicare and the vast difference is that Medicaid pays for long-term care whereas Medicare only pays up to 20 days in a nursing home and partially up to 100 days of care. The hard truth is that only 5% of Americans have long-term care insurance. When you are suddenly presented with the reality of needing a round the clock skilled nursing facility, you will come to find that your options can be very limited.

In addition to the aged, blind or disabled, adults with dependent children depending upon qualified income are eligible for Medicaid. There are several steps to qualifying and income is the biggest portion of this hurdle. For persons that are single, the monthly income is not to exceed over $2,199.99 monthly and not to exceed $3,000.00 for a couple. As for assets, the general rule is that a couple’s assets are to split in half and the person going into the nursing home has to spend down their half before a Medicaid application can be approved. Some asset resources such as your home, a vehicle, and burial policies do not count against you. Whereas mineral interest in property, retirement funds, and your savings accounts can in fact hinder you from qualifying.

If you seek the advice of Medicaid attorney, they may be able to ultimately get you qualified with preserving the majority of your assets. You are able to place your savings and assets into a Miller Trust, Irrevocable Trust or even Qualified Income Trust when consulting with an attorney and not have to worry about spending down your assets. There are even regulations whereas if you are a spouse wishing to remain at home, you may be eligible for not having to spend down any monthly assets so that you may afford to pay your bills while caring for your spouse at a nursing home facility. Therefore, if you are the age 60 or older, disabled, or disabled and on a Medicare plan, please contact a local medicaid attorney today to help you determine if you are eligible for Medicaid.

Thanks to our friend and blog author, Brandy Austin of Brandy Austin Law, PLLC, for her added insight into Medicaid eligibility.