Top San Luis Obispo Health Care Lawyers - California

Health law is complicated by its very nature, and that causes a variety of issues to arise for those in the health care industry: individual providers, physician practices/physician groups, managed care organizations, professional groups, and any other types of health care organizations.

Attorneys in this field can help with legal matters related to contract drafting, business organization issues and questions, audit and defense representation, and medical transactions. They also help with a wide range of compliance matters and defense representation.

It is vital to retain an attorney with extensive experience in the field of health care law when facing issues related to regulatory compliance, health care fraud allegations, Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute matters, False Claims Act issues and any other types of regulatory issues. Getting trusted counsel as soon as issues arise - or even the potential for an issue is realized - is key to minimizing damage to your organization's finances and your professional reputation.

If you are a patient or other type of health care client and have legal issues related to Medicare and Medicaid, medical bills, health insurance, access to care, public health law, medical record confidentiality (HIPAA matters), consent to medical treatment, or anything else, a health care law attorney can help.

Use FindLaw to hire a local attorney to provide legal advice and assist you with your legal issues that involve the provision of healthcare services and healthcare benefits.

FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of attorneys. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from criminal defense to personal injury to estate planning.

Detailed law firm profiles have information like the firm's area of law, office location, office hours, and payment options. Attorney profiles include the biography, education and training, and client recommendations of an attorney to help you decide who to hire.

Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with a San Luis Obispo, California attorney for legal advice.

Consider the following:

Comfort Level

- Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?

Credentials

- How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?

Cost

- How are the lawyer's fees structured - hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?

City

- Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Many people who need to find a lawyer in California have never hired a lawyer before. Talking to a lawyer may be a new experience and you might want some help getting started. Here are some questions you may want to ask a lawyer before deciding who to hire.

• What is your main practice area?
• How many years of experience do you have in California with cases like mine?
• How often do you take cases to trial or settle them out of court?
• Can I take my case through mediation or arbitration?
• Do you offer a free consultation?
• What are your fees and costs?
• Will you be the attorney primarily handling my case?
• How will I be kept up-to-date about my case?

In order to practice law in California, attorneys have to both pass the California bar exam and be admitted by the State Bar of California. Most attorneys in California graduate from an accredited law school but some lawyers are admitted through on-the-job experience for a minimum of 4 years and through passing an additional legal exam. After a lawyer is admitted to law practice in California, they can practice in almost any area of law.

Lawyers in California are held to strict ethical guidelines known as the Rules of Professional Conduct. Attorneys may have duties and limitations in:

• Attorney-client confidentiality
• Duty of client advocacy
• Conflicts of interest
• Duty of candor
• Limitations in soliciting clients
• Restrictions on handling a client's money

Many people avoid calling a lawyer because they are worried it will be too expensive. In many cases, a lawyer can end up saving the client money. This includes getting an increased award, recovering additional damages, avoiding financial problems in the future, and avoiding future disputes and litigation. Some legal areas even allow the lawyer to recover legal fees from the party at fault.