5 Most Realistic Films About Court Proceedings

There are a lot of television shows, movies and plays out there about court proceedings. There’s a lot of law that happens outside the courtroom. This prep work may not always show up on film. The best films about court proceedings often include a depiction of this background work.

My Cousin Vinnie

Writer Dale Launer consulted with members of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy to craft the dialogue featured in My Cousin Vinny. Because the attorney depicted is not well-versed in criminal law, he receives quite a bit of guidance in the courtroom. This film is actually used in training young attorneys. Your Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer will not need this training, but this film is a great lesson for anyone interested in the law.

A Few Good Men

An attorney’s courtroom voice can have a huge impact on how the jury responds to their client and the outcome of the trial. The portrayal of JoAnne Galloway by Demi Moore is cited as a good example of the difference between powerful and powerless language. Anyone interested in studying the best way to present as a defense attorney in Philadelphia will want to study the inflection and vocal power used in this film.

Salt of the Earth

While legal proceedings generally only refer to one facet of a person’s life, their story matters. Sharing of testimony is important, but a skilled attorney will need to get people to truly share their stories. While racism was once actually upheld and institutionalized by the courts as part of our political system, this movie reminds us of what is possible.

Judgment at Nuremberg

This film offers great examples of how to line up questions in such a way that a witness delivers bombshell answers at the end of a series of questions. Start with a question that will catch the ear of the courtroom and the jury specifically, and end questions with the biggest bang.

Anatomy of a Murder

If you need to deconstruct testimony that doesn’t track, this film is quite realistic. Careful review of a timeline of behavior, particularly in a film that centers around an act of passion, offers the questioning attorney the chance to correct the narrative. In this film, an uncontrollable act of passionate rage by a man defending his wife is shown to actually be a premeditated murder by a cuckolded husband.

What to Expect in Your First Year of Law School

Starting the journey to become a criminal justice lawyer can be exciting. You may find your first year in law school is difficult. The good news is there are ways you can make it easier if you know what to expect.

You Will Have to Take Foundational Classes

The specific classes you take as an upperclassman will depend on the area of law you want to go in. However, there are foundational classes every law student has to take during the first year. Civil procedure, contracts, tort, property law and constitutional law are some of the specific things you can expect to learn.

You Will Have a Busy Schedule

PA criminal defense lawyers will tell you the first year of law school was extremely business. They did not have much time to do anything else. There are many law schools that won’t give you much control over your schedule. There is also a lot of reading you will have to do outside of the classroom.

You Need to Get Involved in Activities Outside of the Classroom

It is important for you to be a well-rounded law student. That is why it is important for you to get involved in activities outside of the classroom. There may not be a lot of extracurricular activities for you to choose from. However, it is important for you to join as many as you can.

You Will Need Study Aids

Your books are not the only things you will need in order to learn. You will need study aids, such as case studies and outlines. You will likely get more out of your study aids than you would if you were to just use your books.

You Should Go to Your Professor During Their Office Hours

Professors love to engage with their students. That is why you should go visit them during office hours. You will get to know your professor. You can also go over things you may not have understood during class. Furthermore, if you have a good relationship with your professor, then it will be easier for you to get a letter of recommendation.

You Need to Study in Groups

You may be used to studying by yourself. However, many people find it is more beneficial to study in groups. It is important for you to select people who are doing well in the classroom.

5 New Laws Brought On By Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a rush of legislation devoted to protecting people and stopping the spread of the disease. With legislation pushed through quickly, it’s easy to lose track of all the changes. Here are five new laws that were instituted as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Called HR 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 gave families everywhere an additional stimulus of $1,400. It also had a few other clauses and decrees. One of them was aimed at protecting pensions. It provided up to $86 billion for employers who were struggling financially. By bolstering them, employers were able to continue to pay pensions.

It also provided $48.3 billion towards public health to help them purchase more PPE and help distribute vaccines.

2. Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

Called HR 266, this law further sought to protect paychecks. It gave several billions of dollars to small lending intuitions, disaster loan accounts, and a few other programs designed for disasters.

It also awarded money to healthcare facilities to help them shoulder the burden of taking care of the sick and help with testing. It asked states and territories to provide information about testing and how they were going to use the resources they were given.

3. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economy Security Act

Called S 3548, this law gave those who qualified $1,200 in stimulus money. It also added $600 to federal unemployment to help those who had lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. Student loans were paused and adverse consumer credit reporting was also halted for 120 days.

This law is still being considered for extension to further help those who are unemployed due to the pandemic.

4. Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Called HR 6201, this one of the first laws directed at COVID. It ensured that COVID-19 testing was free. It required that universal healthcare providers and private insurances covered the costs of the test without co-pay.

It also gave employees emergency sick leave if they found themselves sick. Employers had to pay up to 80 hours of sick leave. It also further protected families that needed to stay home because of school closure due to the pandemic.

5. Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020

Called HR 6074, this was a brief law that authorized emergency spending to help combat the pandemic. It was given primarily to vaccine developers in the hopes of quickly creating a vaccine.

If you believe that you’re in need of a Philadelphia criminal defense law firm, then you should contact Brennan Law Offices. Our Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers can ensure your rights are protected under the new laws.

5 Most Common Types of White Collar Crimes in PA

The type of visuals that often associate with the word “crime” tend to look like muggings in dark alleys, domestic altercations, or white chalk body outlines. But in reality, there are a whole slew of crimes that are not violent or scary, but can also lead to significant penalties. These offenses are called White Collar Crimes, and they are getting more serious attention from judges and prosecutors than ever before. So here is everything you need to know about white collar crimes in PA.

What is a White Collar Crime?

In general, white collar crimes are non-violent offenses with the motive of financial gain. From high-flying executives with an elaborate ponzi scheme to a quiet techie promising subscribers a false service, they cover a broad range of categories that while they may not cause any physical harm, their impact on individuals and the community can be devastating.

What are the 5 Most Common Types of White Collar Crimes?

There are a wide variety of white collar crimes, varying in complexity and severity. While many cases involve different types of fraudulent activity like a stolen identity or manipulation, others are better categorized by the specific financial investment involved. Here are a few of the most common white collar crimes:

• Fraud
  When someone commits a deceitful act for financial gain, this is fraud. There are many types of fraud, however, including:
  • Securities Fraud such as insider trading, which involves a person using confidential information about a brand or business to buy or sell stock. It could also include a company knowingly issuing false public statements about their financial health in order to attract prospects.
  • Insurance Fraud is the attempt to cash an insurance policy by providing false or misleading information. In many of these cases, more than one crime is committed. For example, starting a fire in your home to collect insurance money will also add arson to your charges.
  • Business or Corporate Fraud is different from Securities Fraud because the company is not only making false statements, but also doctoring financial documents to swell profits, hide losses or cover illegal transactions.
• Embezzlement
  Embezzlement occurs when an employee or individual trusted by a company to handle their money or property uses their position to steal funds. In many cases, it involves an employee who has figured out a way to funnel company assets to their private account, but it is also popular among politicians, who use campaign funds to pay for personal expenses.
• Tax Evasion
  When a person or business avoids paying taxes owed, they are guilty of tax evasion. It can occur in a number of ways such as falsifying tax returns, hiding property or assets to minimize taxable obligations, or simply not paying any taxes over time.
• Money Laundering
  Money laundering is the process of disguising money earned from a discreditable source as though it is legitimate. In other words, it makes “dirty money” look clean (hence the term ‘launder’). In almost every case, a crime was already committed to receive the money in the first place, and then an individual or company commits laundering to avoid criminal prosecution or paying taxes on those funds.

What are the Penalties for a White Collar Crime?

The penalties surrounding a white collar crime in Pennsylvania will typically depend on the amount of loss as a result of the fraudulent act committed. For example, if there is a claim of $10,000 in loss, then the guidelines will recommend a certain sentence if the defendant is found guilty that will be significantly lower than if the losses were valued at $300,000.

For fraud on a much larger scale, such as the notorious Bernie Madoff case, the resulting sentence could be life in prison. But reducing the amount of publicity and potential jail time of even much smaller scale cases is so important to protect your reputation and freedom, and only an experienced white collar crime lawyer can help you make the most compelling defense for your case.

If you or someone you know is facing charges for a white collar crime, do not wait to contact our law offices in Philadelphia to discuss your case. Let our team of top criminal defense lawyers analyze the details of your offense and aggressively fight for the best possible outcome for you and your family.