Can a person consult a norml.com Lawyer without fear?

[chimei]

I have searched the forums here without luck. I have found discussions about this, but no one that has done this or commented on talking with a Norml listed attorney about activities before being in trouble.

I want to know what the best method is to find out from a Norml based lawyer in the county/state I am in what would happen in a given scenario if I explain to him the variables. I am hoping based on cases he has worked with in the past in this area. Like - From what you just described to me Mr X, even though we are only talking about 2 plants and you have 0 priors and are an upstanding citizen that can account for paying your mortgage off, they will take it and there would be nothing I could do about it based on past experiences, etc..

I grow for a family member, don't sell, low plant #'s but now that I realize the state I am in has really f'ed up rules related to seizing property.. with the way the economy is (and local government) I want to make sure given my scenario (that I can show my place is paid by my employment through by my bank statements etc that is all legally done) That they can't steal what I worked my life for, because of a couple of plants for someone I care about.

If I pay a professional attorney off the norml site money, do I have to talk in code, saying all the questions are based on a hypothetical scenario, or am I allowed to say it is already that way, without fear of fallout from that conversation. Jeez this seems asinine

And just to clarify I am just trying to account for the items that can't be controlled like a fire that is unrelated to growing, etc..

Thanks for any information.

These were two questions I found from a previous thread here that are similar to what I want to know that I never saw a good answer for:

1) Is it possible to discuss how one can go about illegal activity with a lawyer, without them being obligated to report the conversation to the police?

2) How best would you suggest one broach the subject?

 

[rhyder]

You should put a attorney on retainer and have a hypothetical talk with him about advice. Always good to have one on retainer in this day an age for any type of reason

 

[thingshappening]

1) Yes dude. It's called attorney-client privilege. It's the reason we non-californian growers have to consult a tax attorney and not a regular CPA. The former is required by law to not spill the beans, and the latter is required by law to spill the beans.

Alas, a kicker: an attorney will not advise you on how to break the law. He will probably say that verbatim to you straight up in your first consult. He/she will then drop hints regarding codified language to cover his ass.

He/she will then advise you on how to break said law. If not, find a better attorney.

2) Find the best lawyer you can by perusing previous cases in your area with good outcomes. Almost, but not all good ones are Jewish males over fifty. Ask him what his retainer is. Pay it. Chat it up. Bring a pen and notepad.

 

[chimei]

1) Yes dude. It's called attorney-client privilege. It's the reason we non-californian growers have to consult a tax attorney and not a regular CPA. The former is required by law to not spill the beans, and the latter is required by law to spill the beans.

Alas, a kicker: an attorney will not advise you on how to break the law. He will probably say that verbatim to you straight up in your first consult. He/she will then drop hints regarding codified language to cover his ass.

He/she will then advise you on how to break said law. If not, find a better attorney.

2) Find the best lawyer you can by perusing previous cases in your area with good outcomes. Almost, but not all good ones are Jewish males over fifty. Ask him what his retainer is. Pay it. Chat it up. Bring a pen and notepad.

Thanks for the information. It should work for me then because I am mainly interested in finding out what I ultimately could expect in my given state/county with what I have if I were caught. To determine if it is just better to buy from someone to provide for my loved one.

And it sounds like if I am lucky the lawyer would be able to give me things I could tweak/change if I had interest in lowering risk in that outcome based on previous cases he has had before.

And not trying to feed the stereo-type, the lawyer I have my eye on from the Norml site is Jewish, is over 50 and based on what info I can find has been very active (and successful for his clients) in the last 20 years.

So I understand it is probably in my best interest if I like the guy after talking to him, to pay whatever it is to keep him a phone call a way.

 

[el dub]

chimie: One important thing I learned years ago.... You don't necessarily have to like your lawyer for him/her to be good at what they do. Unfortunately, some of the traits that make for a good litigator can come off socially as an abrasive personality.

I was hit by an uninsured motorist some years back and the family lawyer took up the case. After meeting with him a couple of times, I decided I didn't like the guy and was going to fire him. However, after arriving home after a conversation with him, I found a letter that he'd recently mailed to me. Inside was a copy of a letter he'd sent to the guy who had hit my car and really messed up my back. The letter was just plain cold, calculating and ruthless. And right then, I knew that abrasive fellow was just the guy for that job.

States with forfeiture laws just plain suck. We currently live in one as well. That shit is no joke.

Good luck.

lw

 

[chimei]

chimie: One important thing I learned years ago.... You don't necessarily have to like your lawyer for him/her to be good at what they do. Unfortunately, some of the traits that make for a good litigator can come off socially as an abrasive personality.

I was hit by an uninsured motorist some years back and the family lawyer took up the case. After meeting with him a couple of times, I decided I didn't like the guy and was going to fire him. However, after arriving home after a conversation with him, I found a letter that he'd recently mailed to me. Inside was a copy of a letter he'd sent to the guy who had hit my car and really messed up my back. The letter was just plain cold, calculating and ruthless. And right then, I knew that abrasive fellow was just the guy for that job.

States with forfeiture laws just plain suck. We currently live in one as well. That shit is no joke.

Good luck.

lw

Good point, the guy does not have to be personable. I don't have to like him, but like his work.

I guess based on what I have read I already really like the guys work, he gets around.. seems to know allot of people in the legal circle given his track record from what I can find. So it would be safe to assume at this point any advice I get from him would probably be accurate.

Now all I really hope is whatever I pay in retainer other then for what I use for his time for questions/advice, is wasted money

 

[Brother Bear]

Was at a growers party one time. There was a Norml lawyer there to talk to us. I remember sitting out on the large deck about 30-40 deep with this one poor guy. We had questions, he looked scared and ill prepared, and had few answers for us. It was a big disappointment for me. I thought the guy was going to drop some information on us.

 

[Strainhunter]

....

1) Is it possible to discuss how one can go about illegal activity with a lawyer, without them being obligated to report the conversation to the police?

2) How best would you suggest one broach the subject?

1) Yes.
(not that it matters but how would he know anyway if you don't tell him who you are?)

2) Call him/her.

My personal opinion after reading your post:
Although your questions sound legitimate I think you are well overthinking this subject.
As I posted above already all you gotta do is pick up a phone and make that call.
If the first one won't be able/is unwilling to answer your question(s) then the 2nd one will, or 3rd etc.

I have made those calls for someone else who was too afraid to call himself.

 

[chimei]

1) Yes.
(not that it matters but how would he know anyway if you don't tell him who you are?)

2) Call him/her.

My personal opinion after reading your post:
Although your questions sound legitimate I think you are well overthinking this subject.
As I posted above already all you gotta do is pick up a phone and make that call.
If the first one won't be able/is unwilling to answer your question(s) then the 2nd one will, or 3rd etc.

I have made those calls for someone else who was too afraid to call himself.

Yes I probably am way over thinking this, I am not scared just want to do it right and only 1 time, and am probably too focused on all the details.

I assumed that none of these pro's are going to answer my specific questions over the phone. I assumed it would have to be me meeting in his office at which point I assumed I would have to pay the man. And if I wanted to retain his services he would need my name etc for possible later use.

I was under the impression that these client privileges do not apply until after I have paid the lawyer some money, therefore making me his client.

So I can just call and ask how much per hour would it be to come in and ask the lawyer some legal questions? Give them a fake name, come in and pay in cash and get my answers and leave? And if I want to have a retainer for later use, actually use my real information? (That I am not sure I am comfortable with yet)

Thanks

 

[Strainhunter]

...

So I can just call and ask how much per hour would it be to come in and ask the lawyer some legal questions? Give them a fake name, come in and pay in cash and get my answers and leave? And if I want to have a retainer for later use, actually use my real information? (That I am not sure I am comfortable with yet)

Thanks

If you don't want to play the answer lottery game (like I have for someone else, see previous post) then call and ask for a consultation appointment. Those normally are free.
If the Secretary asks you what it is about tell her you would rather discuss that in person only.
The Secretary will ask you for a name to put down...then just tell her it is Tom. Or Frank.

Once you are sitting in front of that lawyer and started talking see if you guys "connect" and take it from there.
If you don't feel comfortable with his answers (and I am not talking about inconvenient answers, I am talking about you just not "feeling him/her") then move on to the next one.

A Lawyer you do feel comfortable talking to you will also feel fine asking the retainer question.
It's not like he's being asked all those questions for the 1st time...
Kinda like a Gynecologist looking @ you know what every day, no big deal for him, just like pumping Gas for you. lol

 

[Rednick]

Normally I think Norml is a joke.
And important questions (pre shit hitting the fan) I would save for the face to face...Not that LEO would ever tap a LAWYER's phone 'cause that will not go unnoticed, but they could tempted maybe relating to another client.

But their lawyer list for Colorado had a lot of recognizable names, so it may be a good start. And just because they are a 'lifetime member' doesn't mean that they are any better, just that they paid (er, donated) more money.

Just don't listen to the Mile High Norml radio show. Really makes us look (er, sound) like a bunch of whiny stoners with no job.

But for real...Just keep it quiet (carbon filters, neg pressure or sealed room, no light leaks, no growroom parties, ect). A lot of the young kids in Colorado forgot that (or never knew), and no matter how good your defense, going to court is still a PITA.

 

[Marshall]

good lawyers may or may not be on NORMLS site

Look for a lawyer who has contacts, been practicing in that area for a LONG time. May have been a prosecutor as well. Alot of times, it comes to WHO you know, not what you know

Small rural counties it is going to be more political and who knows who, versus law. Bigger metro areas relationships are still important but judges will rely more on law and not be scared to turn someone loose.

As far as loosing the house, that is a civil issue and my understanding is that most criminal lawyers dont handle it properly. I doubt the state would try try to take the house as drug profits from a few plants. And that is if the house is paid off or has equity. if you owe quite a bit, it isnt even an issue

 

[DasFox]

If you think that there are not NORML lawyers who are plants for LEO...

You're NUTZ...

Non-NORML layers too..

THANKS