You’re there when businesses need you most. Against faulty claims, injuries accrued while on the job, potential breaches of contract, a litigation attorney is the bridge between all parties when a single event threatens to overhaul months of hard work. This responsibility, however, requires you be always up-to-date on recent changes. Just like business, law is a field that is as dynamic as it is unpredictable. Local laws, national laws, the appeals process and changes in labor law…it’s all in a day’s work for a litigation attorney.
The construction industry is a field you need to always keep an eye on. Due to its more dangerous day-to-day obligations it boasts a higher average of injuries than other industries. Just the year prior the American construction market exceeded $1,000 billion, cementing it as one of the most lucrative and most intensive industries for a litigation attorney to work in. The time span between 2006 and 2011, to boot, saw the construction industry eliminating more than 40% of its work force. What does this mean for you and your career?
Builders rely on the steadfastness of their company and the assistance of a litigation attorney to get them through their contract. Commercial litigation helps bridge the gap between lawyers and those less privy to the field of law. Builders risk coverage is one such resource that allows workers peace-of-mind as they go from job to job. It is written for a minimum one-year term to properly cover a new building or structure undergoing additions or repairs. The ISO Builders Risk Coverage Form is the most basic avenue written in simplified language to be as accessible as possible.
Arbitration and litigation can cross over, but they are by no means one in the same. According to studies provided by the American Arbitration Association, alternative dispute resolution procedures (also known as ADR) are widely preferred as the best method of resolving conflict in construction industries. This is due in no small part to the shorter amount of time between filing to awarding, with a median average of just eight months. All in all, arbitration cases are resolved faster than litigation and can turn a two or even three year process into something more palatable for all parties.
Although a litigation attorney should be prepared for anything, some issues crop up more frequently than others. Employment law has seen some rather significant patterns over the years. According to a 2005 review concerning civil cases filed in multiple state courts, plaintiffs won bench trials nearly 70% of the time. Breach of contract cases make up over 30% of civil cases, to boot, and every breach of contract claim needs to be filed within four years. The exception is only when the contract specifies a shorter amount of time.
With technology changing as we know it and new laws struggling to catch up, a litigation attorney needs to shoulder this responsibility at all times to remain at the top of the pack. Drones are now helping engineers and architects alike to better tackle complex construction projects, alongside 3D printers that craft concrete materials in a shorter time frame than ever thought possible. How will you stay ahead of the curve over the coming years?
