Legal Services & Lawyers

I wear many hats in the legal industry. As a lawyer, I provide freelance legal research and writing services to other lawyers through Lisa Solomon, Esq. Legal Research and Writing. As a business owner, I am a partner in The Billable Hour Company, which sells humorous gifts and greeting cards for lawyers and legal professionals. And as a consultant, through Legal Research & Writing Pro, I help lawyers improve their legal writing skills, and I also teach other lawyers how to start and run successful practices as freelance (a/k/a contract) attorneys.

Lisa Solomon, Esq. Legal Research and Writing

Comprehensive Legal Research and Writing Services for Attorneys
As you manage every other aspect of your clients' complex matters, you may find that comprehensive, in-depth legal research and concise, well-reasoned legal writing are just too labor intensive to take on yourself.

In some cases, it may simply be a matter of time—you're in the middle of a trial and need case law to support an evidentiary or substantive point; or you have to make or respond to a post-trial motion in a timely manner. In other instances, your decision whether to even take on a case depends on the answers to legal issues you've identified, and you need help finding those answers.

Since 1996, I have focused my practice exclusively on assisting attorneys with all of their legal research and writing needs, including preparing and arguing appeals and drafting substantive motions and trial memoranda. I work in almost every area of law, teaming with my clients to determine the best strategy to apply to the unique facts and legal issues in each case.

A Proactive and Personalized Approach to Legal Analysis
When you are faced with a motion, appeal, or legal research issue, you need to know more than the black letter law—you need to know how that law applies to the unique facts of your case. I never give you a "canned" brief; all of my work is customized, to be of most use to the busy attorneys who use my services.

I also take a proactive approach to identifying legal issues beyond the scope of the original assignment that may be crucial to the ultimate success of the project, helping you to be the most effective advocate for your client.

Learn more at www.QuestionOfLaw.net.


The Billable Hour Company

Looking for that perfect gift or greeting card for a lawyer, paralegal, law student, or other legal professional? The Billable Hour Company sells unique clocks and watches with dials divided into six-minute increments; humorous CDs by and for lawyers; law-related books and games; desk accessories; personal accessories; and Survival Kits—gift baskets containing selections of our most popular products. We also offer gift certificates that never expire.

The Billable Hour Card Store is the world’s only online greeting card store featuring humorous and customizable printed greeting cards especially for lawyers and other legal professionals. The store uses print-on-demand technology that allows customers to send highly personalized cards to their clients, colleagues, prospects and friends.

We offer volume discounts and custom logo clocks and watches. Contact us at 815-346-3468 or info@TheBillableHour.com to discuss how we can assist with your corporate gift program.

The Billable Hour Company is run by practicing lawyers Mark and Lisa Solomon.

Visit us at www.TheBillableHour.com.


Legal Research & Writing Pro

I started Legal Research & Writing Pro to help other lawyers improve their legal writing skills, and to teach lawyers how to start and run successful legal research and writing practices.

Studies and surveys show that career satisfaction among lawyers is at an all-time low. Chief among the reasons for a lack of satisfaction is the inability of many lawyers to achieve a balance between the demands of their careers and their personal lives. I believe your law degree shouldn’t be a trap: it should be a liberating, empowering force.

Technology and the outsourcing revolution have joined forces to make this the best time in history to establish a legal research and writing practice.

I’ve been in the field of outsourced legal research and writing since its infancy. When I started my practice twelve years ago, a lot of lawyers didn’t even use e-mail: I had to drag some of my clients, kicking and screaming, into the internet age. Although I could do legal research online, my dial-up connection was painfully slow. But the most difficult challenge to overcome was lawyers’ unfamiliarity with the idea of outsourcing research and writing work to a contract attorney.

Today, all that has changed. E-mail use is well-nigh universal among lawyers. High-speed internet connections make online legal research a breeze. And, most importantly, lawyers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of using contract attorneys to perform discrete tasks, whether the task is making a court appearance, defending a deposition, or researching and writing a brief.

For years, lawyers across the country have called and e-mailed me asking for advice on how to start and run a legal research and writing practice. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to help so many lawyers get their start in this practice area. But I realized that I could help so many more people in a much more comprehensive way if I compiled everything I have learned over the past twelve years and made it widely available.

I can understand if you’re a little leery: after all, why should I share what I’ve learned with thousands of potential competitors? The answer is simple: I think there is amazing pent-up demand for high-quality outsourced legal research and writing services.

As a solo practitioner, I need only a handful of good clients to support my practice. According to the American Bar Association, as of December 31, 2005, there were over 1.1 million practicing lawyers in the United States. In a 2000 statistical survey, the American Bar Foundation found that 36% of lawyers were solo practitioners and 38% worked in small firms. Small firms and solos are the most likely potential clients for a legal research and writing practitioner. As these lawyers search for their own work/life balance, they’ll be more and more interested in outsourcing their excess workload to specially-trained legal research and writing providers.

At the same time, based on my research, there currently are very few lawyers out there who actively promote themselves as dedicated legal research and writing service providers. In fact, I have located fewer than 100 lawyers in the United States whose web sites indicate that they perform legal research and writing services of any sort on a contract basis. (Of course, it’s likely that many more lawyers take on contract work, including legal research and writing projects, but do not advertise that fact.

All this talk of work/life balance and professional satisfaction might sound very “pie-in-the-sky”—even utopian—to most of us, almost too good to be true. You suspect that this kind of work must pay a pittance. But you really can have it all: a challenging career, the flexibility to enjoy personal and family time and a comfortable living.

To find out more about how LRWP can help you achieve the professional satisfaction you're looking for, visit our products page. There, you'll find more information about my new book, Contract Lawyering Success; our monthly group coaching calls; our library of recorded teleseminars and expert interviews; and personal, one-on-one private coaching sessions. These resources—in various combinations—are the keystones of our Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus Memberships.

Visit us at www.LegalResearchandWritingPro.com

New Jersey attorney engaged in private practice with the law firm of LoFaro & Reiser, LLP. Areas of practice include bankruptcy & creditors' rights, business & corporate law, criminal law, debt collection, foreclosure, Internet law, and complex commercial litigation in state & federal courts.

Andrew Lavoott Bluestone is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and specializes in Legal Malpractice Litigation

Ms. Lippy focuses her practice on Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation. She has successfully tried numerous cases before a Judge and Jury. She has a love and passion for the law that she puts to use in the courtroom and prides herself in her ability to relate to clients and jurors alike. She was born and raised locally and attended the Norristown Area High School. She was a member of the Schreyer Honors Program at the Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated in 2000 with a major in Speech Communication and a minor in German. Her major, Speech Communication, has helped her immensely in trial work, as a main focus of her undergraduate studies was linguistics and the art of speech. After graduating from Penn State, Ms. Lippy was awarded an academic scholarship and attended Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. At Temple Law School, she was a member of the nationally acclaimed trial team, where she was recognized for her skills in advocacy through awards from the Center for Forensic Economic Sciences, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and was also awarded Best Advocate in the Region during the Final Round of a competition. Ms. Lippy continues her involvement with Temple Law School as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy on a part-time basis.

Ms. Lippy has been recognized for her legal skills by being named a “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” by the Legal Intelligencer, an award that is only given to 30 lawyers in Pennsylvania on an annual basis. Further, for the last two years, she has been named a Rising Star by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.

As an attorney, Ms. Lippy has recognized the importance of giving back to her community. Accordingly, she has volunteered for several different organizations. Most recently, she was the chair-woman of Norristown’s Municipal Waste Authority. She is extremely active in the local bar association and is currently a Co-Chair of the Member Services Committee. She has acted as President of the Montgomery American Inn of Courts, the local branch of a National Organization that consists of prominent trial attorneys, is the immediate past-chair of the Young Lawyer’s Section of the Montgomery Bar Association, a past chair of the Women in the Law and a member of the Criminal Defense Committee. Not only does Ms. Lippy have excellent oral advocacy skills, but she is extremely apt in writing and is the Immediate Past-Editor of the Montgomery Law Reporter. She also volunteers her time to act as the Assistant Solicitor of the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Committee.

Terry D. Horner is of counsel to the Law Firm of Marco Caviglia. A practicing attorney for 28 years, he is a 1978 graduate of New York University and a 1981 graduate of Brooklyn Law School. Mr. Horner is admitted to the New York Bar, all four federal District Courts in New York State, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Horner has represented civil and criminal clients in more than 115 appeals in the New York courts, with successes in the Court of Appeals, all four Appellate Divisions, and Appellate Term. Mr. Horner has been approved to handle assigned criminal appeals in the Second and Third Departments of the Appellate Division. In addition, he has researched and written over 1,000 motions across the state involving a wide range of procedural and substantive issues.

Mr. Horner was formerly an appellate partner in a major state-wide personal injury law firm, and was in public service as Chief Appellate Counsel for the Office of the Public Defender in Dutchess County, New York.

Michael Pollok is an experienced criminal defense attorney who focuses his practice on criminal matters in federal and state courts, as well as regulatory investigations and hearings. Mr. Pollok understands that, whether a matter involves a complex white-collar investigation or a misdemeanor or domestic dispute, a client involved in criminal or regulatory proceedings deserves sensitive, effective counsel with the experience and judgment to handle all aspects of the judicial process.

Marco Caviglia has been a trial attorney for 29 years. He graduated from Colgate University in 1973 and from Albany Law School at Union University in 1980. He is admitted to the New York Bar and the Bar for the Federal Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He has served as Chief Assistant to the Dutchess County Public Defender, Assistant District Attorney in Dutchess County, and as County Legislator of Dutchess County. He has also served as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Poughkeepsie and Special Counsel to the Town of Wappinger Falls.

Mr. Caviglia is a Diplomate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy in the teaching of trial advocacy skills to attorneys. He is one of the few attorneys in New York State that is 35-b Board Certified to try capital cases and has been lead counsel in four death penalty cases. Mr. Caviglia serves as Arbitrator on the Second Department Appellate Division panel for fee disputes in matrimonial and other legal cases, and is the legal advisor to the Community Advisory Board of the Hudson River Psychiatric Center. He is also a member of the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Board of Directors.

Mr. Caviglia is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers' Association, the Dutchess County Bar Association, the New York State Criminal Defense League, and the New York State Defender's Association.

Mr. Caviglia is an Adjunct Professor at SUNY New Paltz in the subjects of Criminology,Deviant Behavior and the Sociology of Law, and is a former Adjunct Professor in Paralegal Studies and the Department of Criminal Justice at Marist College, and the Department of Criminal Justice at Dutchess County Community College, and has authored several articles on legal subjects. Mr. Caviglia was also both the host of "Legal Brief," a radio law program, and a columnist for a similarly titled weekly newspaper column.

Patrick W. Begos is a founding member of the firm and senior partner in the Westport office. He heads the firm's trial and appellate group. Pat brings 19 years of litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiation experience to the firm.

Prior to forming Begos Horgan & Brown, Patrick was a partner in the New York City litigation firm Molton & Meekins (1995-1998), and he was previously associated with Weil, Gotshal & Manges (1990-1995); and Lane & Mittendorf (1988-1990).

He is a current member of the Trial Tactics and the Life, Health and Disability Sections of the Defense Research Institute, and a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. He is also a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Trial Evidence subcommittees of the American Bar Association. He is a past member of the Committee on Art Law of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and he is admitted to the bar in New York and Connecticut.

Patrick received his legal education from Columbia University School of Law (J.D) and did his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University (BA with honors).

Pat works primarily on cases involving business and personal disputes in a wide variety of commercial areas including:
- ERISA benefits
- insurance coverage
- securities transactions
- real estate development and property management
- employment
- copyright and trademark
- internet commerce
- secured lending
- fine art acquisitions and sales
- products liability
- real estate transactions
- bankruptcy
- corporate governance

His day-to-day practice includes:
- Defending ERISA claim administrators and disability insurers at trial and in appellate courts
- Pursuing lender liability and predatory lending claims on behalf of borrowers
- Representing real estate owners, buyers and sellers in disputes over sales, construction and land use
- Assisting business owners in solving problems with partners, shareholders, creditors and suppliers

I've been defending clients charged with both Federal and State Criminal Charges for 21 years.

I've handled tough cases and defended clients on charges ranging from Organized Crime to Conspiracy.

Here's a look at the Criminal Charges I can help you or a Family member with.

FEDERAL CRIMES

* Conspiracy
* Narcotics/Controlled Substance Offenses
* Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Credit Card Fraud
* Health Care Fraud
* Immigration Fraud
* Bank Fraud
* Securities Fraud
* Accounting Fraud
* Insurance Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Money Laundering
* Illegal Money Transmitting
* Counterfeiting
* Antitrust Violation
* Extortion
* Bribery
* Obstruction of Justice
* Perjury
* Embezzlement
* RICO Violations
* Tax Fraud
* Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
* Insider Trading
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices
* Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems
* Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
* Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
* Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
* Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device
* Criminal Copyright Infringement
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services
* Computer Hacking
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels
* Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances
* Launching Spam Email Attacks
* Identity Theft
* Credit Card Fraud
* Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
* Phishing

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES

* Grand Larceny
* Petit Larceny
* Scheme to Defraud
* Theft of Services
* Unlawful Use of A Credit Card
* Criminal Possession of Stolen Property
* Trademark Counterfeiting
* Forgery
* Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument
* Criminal Possession of Forgery Devices
* Criminal Simulation
* Criminal Possession of an Anti-Security Item
* Fraudulent Making of an Electronic Access Device
* Falsifying Business Records
* Tampering with Public Records
* Offering a False Instrument for Filing
* Offering a False Certificate
* Offering A False Financial Statement
* Insurance Fraud
* Commercial Bribing
* Bribery of Labor Official
* Sports Bribing
* Tampering With a Sports Contest
* Fraud in Insolvency
* Fraud Involving a Security Interest
* Fraudulent Disposition of Mortgaged Property
* Fraudulent Disposition of Property Subject to a Conditional Sales Contract
* Issuing a Bad Check
* False Advertising
* False Personation
* Criminal Impersonation
* Criminal Usury
* Unlawful Collection Practices
* Making a False Statement of Credit Terms
* Conspiracy
* Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Credit Card Fraud
* Health Care Fraud
* Immigration Fraud
* Bank Fraud
* Securities Fraud
* Accounting Fraud
* Insurance Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Money Laundering
* Illegal Money Transmitting
* Counterfeiting
* Antitrust Violation
* Extortion
* Bribery
* Obstruction of Justice
* Perjury
* Embezzlement
* RICO Violations
* Tax Fraud
* Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
* Insider Trading

VIOLENT CRIMES

* Murder
* Manslaughter
* Criminally Negligent Homicide
* Attempted Murder
* Assault
* Vehicular Assault
* Gang Assault
* Aggravated Assault
* Menacing
* Hazing
* Reckless Endangerment
* Kidnapping
* Unlawful Imprisonment
* Custodial Interference
* Coercion

SEX CRIMES

* Prostitution Offenses
* Obscenity and Related Offenses
* Offenses Against Public Sensibilities
* Offenses Involving the Sexual Performance of a Child
* Sexual Misconduct
* Rape
* Consensual Sodomy
* Sodomy
* Sexual Abuse
* Aggravated Sexual Abuse
* Course of Conduct Against A Child
* Child Molestation
* Possession of Child Pornography
* Female Genital Mutilation
* Prostitution
* Patronizing a Prostitute
* Promoting Prostitution
* Permitting Prostitution
* Loitering For the Purpose of Engaging in a Prostitution Offense
* Obscenity
* Disseminating Indecent Materials to Minors
* Public Lewdness
* Exposure of a Person
* Promoting the Exposure of a Person
* Public Display of Offensive Sexual Material
* Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance
* Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
* Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
* Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child
* Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child
* Statutory Rape

DRUG CHARGES

* Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
* Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance
* Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near School Grounds
* Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument
* Criminal Injection of a Narcotic Drug
* Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia
* Criminal Possession of Precursors of Controlled Substances
* Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance
* Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
* Criminal Possession of Marijuana
* Criminal Sale of Marijuana
* Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions
* Criminal Solicitation
* Conspiracy
* Criminal Facilitation
* Money Laundering

COMPUTER - INTERNET CRIMES

* Computer Tampering
* Unlawful Duplication of Computer Related Material
* Criminal Possession of Computer Related Material
* Mail Fraud -1341
* Wire Fraud - 1343
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers - 1030
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices - 1029
* Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems - 1362
* Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications - 2511
* Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications - 2512
* Unlawful Access to Stored Communications - 2701
* Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device - 3121
* Criminal Copyright Infringement - 17 USC 506 and 2319
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services - 2320
* Computer Hacking
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels - 2318
* Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances - 2319A
* Launching Spam Email Attacks
* Identity Theft
* Credit Card Fraud
* Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
* Phishing
* Internet Fraud
* Computer Fraud
* Sale of counterfeit goods over the internet
* Software Piracy
* Computer Game Piracy
* Video Game Piracy
* Music Piracy
* Internet Pornography
* Possession of Child Pornography on a PC or Computer
* Use of the Internet to disseminate child pornography
* Instant Messaging (IM) Sexually Explicit Material to Children
* Online Child Sex Solicitation
* Cyber Stalking
* Crimes Against Computers and the Internet
* Hacking and Computer Sabotage
* Internet Gambling
* Cyber Terrorism - Stealing Data and Shutting Down Computers

David S. Rich is the founding member of the Law Offices of David S. Rich, LLC. Mr. Rich litigates civil, commercial, employment, and securities matters in federal and state courts in New York and New Jersey, and arbitrates such matters before FINRA and other arbitral bodies. Mr. Rich also litigates appeals.

Mr. Rich has represented clients in, among other civil and commercial matters, breach of contract actions, business torts cases, bankruptcy and adversary proceedings, civil racketeering actions, oppressed minority shareholder disputes, product liability litigation, franchisor-franchisee litigation, qui tam actions, divorce actions and post-divorce judgment proceedings.

Mr. Rich has represented clients in, among other among other labor, employment, and employee benefits matters, breach of employment contract actions, employment discrimination cases, retaliatory discharge actions, sexual harassment cases, actions for breach of non-competition or non-solicitation agreements, ERISA actions to recover pension or health benefits, and employee benefit funds' actions to recover withdrawal liability payments and delinquent ERISA contributions.

Mr. Rich has represented clients in, among other securities matters, securities fraud cases, breach of fiduciary duty actions, actions for breach of investment management contracts, and arbitration proceedings to recover unpaid bonuses.

Before founding Law Offices of David S. Rich, LLC, Mr. Rich was a partner of a boutique litigation firm in New York City. Mr. Rich has also served as an associate of two prominent, mid-sized law firms in New York City and New Jersey, respectively. Mr. Rich has litigated many noteworthy cases, such as JLM Chems., Inc. v. Summit Resource Group, Inc., No. 08-CV-10296, 2009 WL 1108662 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 24, 2009); Barron Partners, LP v. Lab123, Inc., No. 07-CV-11135, 2009 WL 129043 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 20, 2009); Barron Partners, LP v. Lab123, Inc., No. 07-CV-11135, 2008 WL 2902187 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2008); Pastore v. Witco Corporation Severance Plan, 196 Fed.Appx. 18, 2006 WL 2335161 (2d Cir. 2006); and Donohue v. Teamsters Local 282 Welfare, Pension, Annuity, Job Training & Vacation & Sick Leave Trust Funds, 12 F. Supp.2d 273 (E.D.N.Y. 1998).

Mr. Rich earned his Juris Doctor Degree from the Columbia University School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in English from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. Mr. Rich is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, and in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and for the District of New Jersey. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association.

I have been a partner in a law firm since 1999 with Jeffrey Zuber. We work in all areas of civil litigation, transactional work and real estate.
In addition, I am a Certified Civil Trial Attorney.