The Values & Principles That Define Us.

Lai & Turner Law Firm pledges always to speak the truth. Inside or outside a courtroom, we pledge to embrace the oath that every witness speaks before giving evidence. “I do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare that the evidence I will give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” In law, “truth” presents something of a dilemma that does not always exist in “real life.” In real life, we understand that “truth” simply means that something is undisputedly factual. It is true that the earth is round. It is true that dogs are different than fish. These truths are undisputedly factual. In law, “truth” must be provable in court with evidence. This is why the legal profession and lawyers often get a poor reputation because common sense tells us something is true, but because the lawyer cannot present evidence to prove the truth, the truth is discounted by the court. Sometimes the truth and the facts do not mesh because of the lack of evidence. Adding to the confusion is that criminal and civil courts have different definitions of truth. In criminal court cases, “truth” must be provable “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In civil court cases, truth must be provable on the “balance of probabilities.” This dilemma – defining and establishing “truth” – will depend on the type of legal case you bring to Lai & Turner. However, in all cases, Lai & Turner attorneys will always tell you the truth in every aspect of your case. Often, the truth can be elusive. After all, if you are suing somebody, being sued by somebody, or have been charged with a criminal offense, other people may not be truthful in their allegations or may not have evidence (facts) to support them. Then it is our job to get to the truth – with facts and evidence – when the truth is elusive. This is why Lai & Turner is thorough and detailed in every consultation with a new client and for the duration of any case or action. We avoid many roadblocks in our cases by being totally committed to establishing the truth and presenting the facts and evidence in all matters concerning our clients.

The notion of “justice” is the entire foundation of the legal profession. In fact, “justice” is the foundation upon which The Constitution of the United States was written. Article III of the Constitution, as well as the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments, set forth laws that are intended to protect individuals from “injustice” that can happen when governments are not held accountable for their actions towards their citizens. The very first sentence of the Constitution reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice…” Sadly (and maddeningly), many people firmly believe that real justice does not exist in America, and there is much to suggest that this is true. There is a perception that rich people get favored justice that poor people do not. That minorities get harsher criminal penalties than the majority. That elites and the connected get favored judicial treatment unavailable to the common person. Lai & Turner will not deny that there is most certainly a good reason for people to doubt that equal justice is available to all people in America and around the world. This is a blight on American society and a direct violation of the protections intended by the Constitution. Thankfully, Lai & Turner can do something about the injustice that exists in the American judicial system. In every case that comes to us, a client is seeking some form of justice. Some form of a fair resolution. Whether it is an immigration case, a lawsuit over money, or a criminal defense case, a client is seeking a fair and just result. During a new client consultation, your Lai & Turner attorney will determine all the case facts, evaluate the facts as they relate to the law, and explain the expected outcomes. The goal is to obtain an outcome that is fair, just, legal, and in full compliance with the Constitution of the United States.

In our business, every type of person might walk into our office seeking legal services or representation. And we mean every type! We get wealthy, well-connected, and powerful clients who are always used to getting their way. On the other hand, we also get poor clients, working-class clients, clients who have lived hard lives, and even some clients with very serious criminal histories. They come in every color, race, sex, and age and have different beliefs, attitudes, and prejudices. And believe us, some of these people’s attitudes and prejudices are aimed towards lawyers; they hate us! But the common denominator for every type of person is that they are all human beings. Lai & Turner Law Firm understands that all business relationships start with an attitude of respect for the human beings involved. That is why our attorneys and staff demonstrate full respect for each client’s time, questions, worries, and concerns as follows: All client phone calls and emails will be handled on a priority basis as mutually agreed by Lai & Turner and our clients. This means that high-priority calls and emails received before 1:00 pm on any weekday will be responded to by the end of the same day. Calls and emails received after 1:00 pm will be responded to by noon the following business day. In no event will a callback or email response take longer than one business day. Lai & Turner respects and adheres to all agreed-upon timeframes throughout the course of an action or service provided. We understand that clients depend on their attorneys to complete certain legal tasks by certain deadlines in order to obtain a case or service resolution. Lai &Turner does not delay, defer, or deflect. When we say the task will be done on a certain date and time, the task will be completed by that deadline. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Lai & Turner will answer all questions to educate and reassure our clients about situations, courses of action, and resolution options that apply to every service performed by Lai & Turner. Lai & Turner pledges to always communicate with our clients, under all circumstances, in a respectful manner.

One of the most common complaints we hear about attorneys is that they “don’t care about their clients… they’re just in it for the money… they couldn’t care less that this situation has destroyed our lives… they have no empathy.” There is some truth to this. Many attorneys, by nature, try to distance themselves from the emotional impact of a legal situation on their client’s lives. This lack of emotional connection is typically a lawyer’s defense mechanism and such lawyers often appear cold and impersonal in their dealings with their clients. At the other extreme, some attorneys get emotionally caught up in their client’s legal problems, and this extreme poses its own set of challenges. Simply put, “empathy” is an emotional connection that a person feels when they understand and are sensitive to another person's emotional experiences. Depending on a person’s legal situation, they might be confused, angry, worried, or depressed. These emotions are common, and clients are best served by attorneys who understand these emotions exist and can relate to their client’s emotional needs. Lai & Turner understand and empathize with immigration clients who are both excited and worried about going through the legal immigration process to obtain a green card or work permit in order to emigrate to the United States. We also understand that a person facing a criminal charge or indictment is worried about the outcome. Every legal action or service Lai & Turner provides will have some degree of emotional impact on a client. We understand. And because we understand, you can rest assured that we will help you cope with such emotions along the way, as may be needed. When it is time to celebrate a victory, we celebrate with you. When there are challenges or setbacks, we will be there for you then, too. You will not be alone when you hire a Lai & Turner attorney to walk by your side.