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Showing posts from December, 2015

Running Your Own Business: New Year's Resolutions

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As the owner of your new business, you are mostly responsible for your company's success. Your daily habits and business practices will directly impact the success of your company. As we enter into a new year, it is the perfect time to evaluate your current procedures and identify where to make improvements. As your trusted business attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks , the attorneys at the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. are here to help you brainstorm some ideas for the coming year. New Year's Resolution #1: Only Keep Top-Performing Employees Your employees' behavior (like your own) directly impacts the success of your company. As we enter into the New Year, evaluate your employees' performance carefully. If you have one or two employees who consistently fail to meet deadlines and/or expectations, it may be time to consider letting them go. Removing under-performing employees from your workforce will make room for more top-pe

7 Fun Family Christmas Traditions

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Family traditions are some of the best parts about holiday celebrations. Every family has their own way of celebrating the holidays, but there are some traditions that are observed all across the United States. If you are looking for new traditions to make your own or simply a fun way to shake things up, the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. is here to help you plan a wonderful holiday celebration. Which one of  these family traditions  will you adopt? 1. Christmas Tree Shopping If you prefer a real Christmas tree over an artificial one, why not make the process of searching for the perfect tree a family event? Kick off your day with hot chocolate or apple cider and bring the whole family along to find your dream Christmas tree. Some Christmas tree farms offer other attractions that your little ones are sure to enjoy, such as sleigh rides or hayrides. 2. The Gift Of Giving There is a certain warmth and joy that comes from giving to others. Why n

4 Signs Your Case May Need To Go To Court

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How much do you know about the difference between mediation and litigation and the pros and cons associated with each? For those of you that missed our original blog post on this topic, mediation refers to the process of resolving a case outside of the courtroom and litigation refers to the trial process that occurs within the courtroom. Both mediation and litigation have their own set of advantages and drawbacks, but how do you know which route is right for your unique situation? Should You Pursue Mediation Or Litigation? Mediation has several attractive benefits that make it the first choice for many plaintiffs and their attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks . For example, mediation is typically: Less stressful Less expensive Less time-consuming For these reasons, we often encourage our clients to pursue mediation if at all possible. When Is Litigation Necessary? That being said, there are certain legal situations that cannot be resolved via mediation . The L

Misconceptions About Personal Injury Law

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Most legal fields are confusing and overwhelming for those who are navigating them for the first time, but personal injury law can be one of the most challenging fields. Due to the highly charged emotions that often accompany injuries, it can be difficult for people to maintain calm, objective outlooks when approaching their personal injury cases. As a result, there are many common misconceptions surrounding this particular legal discipline. This week, Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. is here to help clear up some of these misconceptions. Misconception #1: You Are Stuck With The First Settlement Your Insurance Company Offers Personal injury claims require lots of negotiation with insurance companies. Sometimes people assume that the initial settlement offer they receive is the best one they will get, but this is often not the case. In fact, many insurance companies send lower offers initially in hopes that the plaintiff will accept it and they won't have t

Consequences Of Having A Criminal Record

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If you are facing criminal charges, it is imperative that you contact one of our criminal defense attorneys in Camden County MO immediately. Criminal law is complex and involved, and representing yourself can be challenging, overwhelming, and risky. Regardless of whether or not you actually committed the crime in question, being found guilty can negatively impact your life for years to come. Here is a look at some of the consequences that may result from having a criminal record. Difficulty Getting Accepted Into Schools Schools have a moral and ethical responsibility to keep their students, faculty, and staff safe. On the applications for almost every university or college, applicants must list whether or not they have been convicted of a crime in the past. If the answer is yes, the applicants may experience greater difficulty getting accepted into the schools of their choice. These challenges pursuing higher education may, in turn, make it more difficult to find quality