Top Houston, TX Environmental Law Lawyers Near You

Do You Have an Environmental Law Claim?

There are federal and state laws in place to protect the environment, natural resources and wildlife. If you or your company has questions about complying with these laws, an experienced Houston environmental law attorney will be able to help you.

Different Environmental Law Issues

Often times, a person won’t know they are in violation of an environmental protection law, but with urban planning regulations, water and air rights and pollution issues, it is easy to be in violation of some sort of environmental law without even knowing it.

Whether the issue be the amount of emissions permitted in a certain location or the storage and disposal of chemicals, the fines and potential criminal ramifications can be huge. An environmental law lawyer can help you or business recognize which laws are applicable to your situation as well as comply with existing laws. They will also be able to create policies that will limit any potential liabilities.

How an Attorney Can Help

An attorney can often resolve your particular legal issue faster and better than trying to do it alone. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal system, while avoiding costly mistakes or procedural errors. You should seek out an attorney whose practice focuses on the area of law most relevant to your issue.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

• Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
• It’s important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
• Discuss how the practice’s billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

How will an attorney charge me?

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:

• Bill by the hour
• Contingent fee agreement
• Flat fee agreement

Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. In a flat fee arrangement, an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.