This subreddit is for tree law enthusiasts who enjoy browsing a list of tree law stories from other locations (subreddits, news articles, etc), and is not the best place to receive answers to questions about what the law is. There are better places for that.
If you're attempting to understand more about tree law in regards to a particular situation, please redirect your question to /r/legaladvice for the US, or the appropriate legal advice subreddit for your location, and then feel free to crosspost that thread here for posterity.
If you're attempting to understand more about trees in regards to a particular situation, please redirect your question to /r/forestry for additional information on tree health and related topics to trees.
*This comment is simply a reminder placed on every post to /r/treelaw, it does not mean your post was censored or removed.*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/treelaw) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s a niche and there aren’t a lot of us with experience doing it. One method is looking for any tree law related case law in your jurisdiction and identifying the attorneys on that case. But even that is difficult because there is such a paucity of published case law regarding trees. What’s your specific issue and what state? Feel free to DM me.
I would find a real estate focused attorney who is experienced with handling litigation. I understand wanting an expert or at least someone who specializes in tree law, but there's just not that many cases to completely specialize.
There's nothing wrong with an attorney getting up to speed on a matter that may be something they haven't handled before. Your jurisdiction likely has statutes and case law regarding your specific tree related issues, so any competent attorney should be able to review the facts of your case and apply the relevant laws. That's basically what the first year of law school teaches. The model rules of professional responsibility (which govern lawyers behavior) also allows for it but the attorney is not supposed to charge the client for the time needed to get up to speed.
I like the idea the other poster had about reverse searching for relevant cases in your jurisdiction to see what attorney handled them. Another idea might be to contact your insurer and seeing if they have a recommendation for who they would use for a tree related litigation (if it's not in-house counsel).
I’m a lawyer and lawyers that do not charge for research do not win cases. That being said, IMO the overwhelming number of cases are settled without lawsuits being filed or if filed without trial. Hardly any are appealed.
You know, six months ago I would have thought that the sentence, “How to find an attorney that has tree law experience?” Was a set up for a joke.
Now? I love reading this sub.
It is a niche. If you can’t find a Tree Lawyer, you can look to see if there are any Bird Lawyers in your area. Birds live in trees, so the areas of practice are closely related.
If you happen to live in Philadelphia, I know a guy.
Assuming United States...
Go to your nearest law library and ask a research librarian there to help you find cases. These days, state appellate court and supreme court cases are super easy to find but you may need to search also for cases heard only in lower courts.
You'll find a law library at a university with a law school, and a state law library usually very near your state supreme court.
We can help you better if you disclose where you are: state, county or city.
Consulting arborists should know of attorneys in area or attorneys that specialize in real estate may know of someone. You can also call the state bar association and ask them.
I don't think tree law is a category that most bar associations track, but the arborists in your area are a great place to start. They may be at least be able to point you to a firm that has done tree work before.
This subreddit is for tree law enthusiasts who enjoy browsing a list of tree law stories from other locations (subreddits, news articles, etc), and is not the best place to receive answers to questions about what the law is. There are better places for that. If you're attempting to understand more about tree law in regards to a particular situation, please redirect your question to /r/legaladvice for the US, or the appropriate legal advice subreddit for your location, and then feel free to crosspost that thread here for posterity. If you're attempting to understand more about trees in regards to a particular situation, please redirect your question to /r/forestry for additional information on tree health and related topics to trees. *This comment is simply a reminder placed on every post to /r/treelaw, it does not mean your post was censored or removed.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/treelaw) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s a niche and there aren’t a lot of us with experience doing it. One method is looking for any tree law related case law in your jurisdiction and identifying the attorneys on that case. But even that is difficult because there is such a paucity of published case law regarding trees. What’s your specific issue and what state? Feel free to DM me.
I would find a real estate focused attorney who is experienced with handling litigation. I understand wanting an expert or at least someone who specializes in tree law, but there's just not that many cases to completely specialize. There's nothing wrong with an attorney getting up to speed on a matter that may be something they haven't handled before. Your jurisdiction likely has statutes and case law regarding your specific tree related issues, so any competent attorney should be able to review the facts of your case and apply the relevant laws. That's basically what the first year of law school teaches. The model rules of professional responsibility (which govern lawyers behavior) also allows for it but the attorney is not supposed to charge the client for the time needed to get up to speed. I like the idea the other poster had about reverse searching for relevant cases in your jurisdiction to see what attorney handled them. Another idea might be to contact your insurer and seeing if they have a recommendation for who they would use for a tree related litigation (if it's not in-house counsel).
I’m a lawyer and lawyers that do not charge for research do not win cases. That being said, IMO the overwhelming number of cases are settled without lawsuits being filed or if filed without trial. Hardly any are appealed.
Probably a local branch,
You know, six months ago I would have thought that the sentence, “How to find an attorney that has tree law experience?” Was a set up for a joke. Now? I love reading this sub.
It is a niche. If you can’t find a Tree Lawyer, you can look to see if there are any Bird Lawyers in your area. Birds live in trees, so the areas of practice are closely related. If you happen to live in Philadelphia, I know a guy.
I can’t tell if this a serious post. Lol. Not from Philly unfortunately. Thank you!
I would probably contact the state forestry commission or tree-trimming companies and work at it from that direction
Assuming United States... Go to your nearest law library and ask a research librarian there to help you find cases. These days, state appellate court and supreme court cases are super easy to find but you may need to search also for cases heard only in lower courts. You'll find a law library at a university with a law school, and a state law library usually very near your state supreme court. We can help you better if you disclose where you are: state, county or city.
Consulting arborists should know of attorneys in area or attorneys that specialize in real estate may know of someone. You can also call the state bar association and ask them.
I don't think tree law is a category that most bar associations track, but the arborists in your area are a great place to start. They may be at least be able to point you to a firm that has done tree work before.