FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers

Marks & Katz, LLC, is in the practice of fighting for justice for all our clients. For us, the practice of law is not some sort of quaint, oligopolistic, self-congratulatory occupation. We fight abuse of power by government and corporations,  push for the fairest and most just outcomes for our clients, and proudly put our clients ahead of money at every turn. Every practicing attorney has the obligation to serve justice, or else has no business practicing law. Our partners Jay Marks and Jon Katz work hand in hand to deliver our clients high quality advocacy for their legal needs, working closely with our clients and empathizing with their needs and concerns at every stage. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT MARKS & KATZ, LLC 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTION

IMMIGRATION LAW

MISCELLANEOUS

ABOUT MARKS & KATZ, LLC 

¤ Question: Where is Marks & Katz, LLC, located? 

Answer:  Marks & Katz, LLC, is at 1400 Spring Street, Suite 410, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 495-4300. We are just one mile from Washington, DC, ten miles from Virginia, and thirty miles from Baltimore. Our location is an easy drive from all of metropolitan Washington, and gets less congested during rush hour than most other Washington-area commercial centers. We are a quick five-block walk from Metro. You will find inexpensive parking within two blocks of our office. For directions, click here. 

¤ Question: What type of legal work does Marks & Katz, LLC, do? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, is a law firm fighting for individual rights, Constitutional rights, and the underdog, including representation for Criminal Defense (White Collar and Blue Collar), First Amendment Protection .and Entertainment Law, and Immigration Advocacy for Individuals and Businesses. For more information, click here. 

¤ Question: In what states does Marks & Katz, LLC, handle cases? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, handles cases throughout the United States. Combined, our attorneys are licensed to practice law by the highest state courts in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Illinois. When required by governing professional conduct rules or client needs, we associate with local counsel in the states where we are not licensed, for such matters as moving our special admission to appear for a particular litigation matter. For more information on our attorneys' numerous bar admissions, see the respective biographies of Jay Marks and Jon Katz.

¤ Question: Can I afford Marks & Katz, LLC's services? 

Answer: Our services are often more affordable than many might assume, particularly when considering the risks of proceeding without a qualified attorney. For more information on our billing practices, click here. 

¤ Question: What is Marks & Katz, LLC's background? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, was founded in 1998 by two partners now with over twenty-four years of combined experience, devoted to representing clients and cases that advance justice. Our partners Jay Marks and Jon Katz insure quality by personally serving each client. For more information, click here. 

¤ Question: Why does Marks & Katz, LLC, call itself Lawyers for Justice? 

Answer: Our partners Jay Marks and Jon Katz entered law school with a dream of doing justice with our legal training. That dream ultimately led us to open Marks & Katz, LLC, in 1998, where we focus on justice and the underdog, put our clients ahead of money, and devote ourselves to winning advocacy. Jay is our immigration partner, and Jon is our criminal defense and individual rights partner. For more information, click here. 

¤ Question: What is Marks & Katz, LLC's law firm culture? 

Answer: Our law firm culture first and foremost is to deliver first-rate legal service for justice and for the underdog. We start with the essential building blocks of substantial experience, skill, and passion for our clients' causes. We add to that our founding partners' (Jay Marks and Jon Katz) strong friendship and trust for each other, and our knowing each other longer than we have known anybody else in the area (since the age of six). We love doing what we do, and today's victory is as exhilarating for us as our first one. 

¤ Question: Is your last answer describing some sort of utopia? 

Answer: Our last answer succinctly describes what Marks & Katz is all about. Visit us and you will see for yourself. 

¤ Question: What does Marks & Katz, LLC, do to assure client confidentiality? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, is committed to strong client confidentiality, above and beyond the standards set by the lawyers' professional conduct rules. We provide confidentiality both to existing clients and to people who meet with us to inquire about legal representation. This means that, absent our clients' consent or conflicting legal provisions, we do not disclose our clients' identity, the subject matter of our representation, nor the information our clients provide us. Marks & Katz, LLC, will vigorously fight any efforts by outside parties to interfere with client confidentiality. 

¤ Question: What foreign language abilities does Marks & Katz, LLC have? 

Answer:  Marks & Katz, LLC  fluently serves the communities speaking English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Partner Jay Marks speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese. Partner Jon Katz speaks fluent French and intermediate Spanish. Our support staff has always included a fully bilingual English-Spanish speaker. 

¤ Question: What is your website's history? How frequently do you update it?  

Answer: We launched our website in 1999, with partner Jon Katz as our webmaster ever since. Our website has extensive free legal information, from in-depth relevant legal links to a wide array of timely articles  (including how to build a website, and how to deal with police stops). Please visit frequently, as we update our site at least monthly. 

¤ Question: What is Marks & Katz, LLC's approach to dealing with the news media? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, frequently appears in the news media through interviews, articles and presentations (click here). We believe strongly in the news media's First Amendment rights and in the public's right to know about the legal system. We openly provide legal analysis and opinions. However, when the questions are about a current client, we decide case-by-case with the client about the extent to which we will disclose information to the media. For more information, click here

¤ Question: Is  Marks & Katz, LLC  hiring?

Answer:  We frequently have job openings, and keep this information updated at www.markskatz.com/jobs.htm. We also wish to know about people interested in handling non-attorney overflow contract work for us on an as-needed basis. 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

¤ Question: What types of criminal defense cases does  Marks & Katz, LLC  handle? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC  represents people and organizations for all criminal cases, including the following: Trials and Appeals; Felony and Misdemeanor Defense; Driving While Intoxicated; Grand Jury Investigations; White Collar Defense of Businesses and Individuals; Financial, Computer, Environmental, and Fraud Cases; Obscenity Defense; Federal and State Post Conviction and Habeas Corpus proceedings; and Immigration Consequences of Criminal Proceedings. For more information, see our Criminal Defense page here. 

¤ Question: What is the importance of hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer?

Answer: A criminal defendant risks loss of liberty, loss of driving privileges (for drinking and driving and certain other cases), deportation for non-citizens from a wide array of convictions, and lost job and civic opportunities in the event of a whole host of convictions. Nothing beats having a highly experienced, qualified, and passionate criminal defense lawyer at your side at every turn. Our Criminal Defense partner Jon Katz has twelve years of in-depth criminal defense experience, and is ready to put that experience to work for you. For representation in criminal cases, call Jon Katz here.  

¤ Question: What should I do if I am arrested? 

Answer: See our articles on Your Rights and the Police and Drunk/Drugged Driving Defense. Call a qualified criminal defense lawyer immediately. That lawyer will explain your options and best strategy depending on your own situation. S/he will fight to dismiss your charges or to obtain your release from pretrial detention, through personal recognizance or a bond that is as low as possible. The lawyer will help assure that you do not mistakenly say or do anything that will prejudice your interests, and will fight hard for the best possible outcome in your case. For representation in criminal cases, call Jon Katz here.  

¤ Question: My business is being investigated for alleged criminal activity. What should my business do? 

Answer: Immediately call a qualified criminal defense lawyer with business knowledge. That lawyer will explain your company's obligations to its owners and shareholders; and to its officers, directors and employees. Our Criminal Defense partner Jon Katz has substantial experience in criminal defense, the financial and business worlds, and legal representation of businesses. For further information, contact Jon here.  

¤ Question: If the police threaten me with arrest or with not seeing my loved ones again outside of jail, should I do what they ask? 

Answer: Too many people do not realize that an arrest ordinarily means nothing worse than being detained until having a prompt pre-trial release hearing before a judge or other judicial officer. Sometimes the police may be bluffing when threatening arrest. Any threat to prevent a person from seeing one's family absent a confession may violate one's rights to remain silent in front of the police. For more information on maintaining your right to remain silent, see here  Ordinarily, it is best for crime suspects not to talk with the police or to consent to any search without first consulting a qualified lawyer.  

¤ Question: I was rejected for court-appointed/public defender legal assistance. What should I do? 

Answer: If you think you were wrongly rejected for indigent defense counsel, consider reapplying or contesting the denial. Simultaneously, immediately start looking for a qualified private criminal defense lawyer.  We ordinarily waive our initial consultation fee for felonies, drug possession (but ordinarily bill if the charge is only for drug paraphernalia possession), and drunk driving charges, so long as there is a pending prosecution and no conviction yet. However, we do bill for an initial jail visit. Sometimes we do not know until an initial consultation is underway whether we will opt to reduce or waive our initial consultation fee.

Marks & Katz, LLC, ordinarily does not charge for an initial consultation for a criminal matter that has not yet gone to trial; however, we do charge for an initial jail visit. 

More information on how we bill is here. 

FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTION

¤ Question: What types of First Amendment Protection cases does  Marks & Katz, LLC  handle? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC  represents individuals, companies and organizations for all fights against government infringement of free expression rights. Our First Amendment defense work includes Criminal and Civil Trials and Appeals; Adult Entertainment; Libel Defense; Internet Law; Defense of Students and Teachers in disciplinary matters; and defense of Demonstrators. For more information, see our First Amendment  page here. 

¤ Question: What is the importance of hiring an experienced First Amendment lawyer?

Answer: First Amendment rights are sacred. Moreover, such rights are vital to the life of the news and entertainment worlds, and to the adult entertainment industry. Nothing beats having a highly experienced, qualified, and passionate First Amendment lawyer at your side at every turn, particularly when considering the substantial complexity of First Amendment law. Our First Amendment partner Jon Katz has strong First Amendment defense experience, and has fought for free expression ever since starting his membership and later leadership role with Amnesty International (beginning 1981) and joining the Board of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area (1992-95). For more information on our First Amendment law qualifications, click here.  

IMMIGRATION LAW

¤ Question: What is Marks & Katz, LLC's philosophy behind its Immigration Law practice?  

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC, believes strongly in widely opening the United States' borders to immigrants. The pendulum swings back and forth in this regard, and Marks & Katz does its best to push the pendulum in favor of immigrants, who in so many ways are the backbone of American society. For further information, see here. 

¤ Question: What types of immigration cases does  Marks & Katz, LLC  handle? 

Answer: Marks & Katz, LLC  represents clients for all immigration matters, including: Trials, Hearings and Appeals; Business Immigration; Professional and Education-Based Visas; Spouse-Based Visas; Political Asylum; Deportation Proceedings; and Criminal Implications of Immigration Matters

¤ Question: What is the importance of hiring an experienced immigration lawyer?

Answer: Non-citizens face a highly complex legal minefield in dealing with immigration law. An experienced immigration lawyer can help the client navigate this minefield so as to minimize risks and maximize potential benefits. Immigration benefits (including work authorization, asylum, and citizenship) and immigration risks (including deportation, exclusion, detention, and separation of family members) are too important to leave in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer. Our Immigration Law partner Jay Marks has strong and in-depth immigration experience. This is supplemented by partner Jon Katz's immigration experience, which includes political asylum advocacy and criminal defense of immigrants for allegations of immigration crimes and all other crimes. Jay and Jon collaborate closely on all cases that implicate both immigration law and criminal law, including assisting clients in reducing deportation risks from criminal prosecutions. For more information on our Immigration Law qualifications, click here and here.  

¤ Question: What should I do as a non-citizen if immigration officials, other government personnel, or an employer inquires about my immigration status?

Answer: If you are in the United States unlawfully, ordinarily you should not answer such questions. You usually have a Constitutional right not to answer. If you answer such questions to government officials dishonestly or by using false documents or false social security numbers, you may be exposed to the criminal laws against such activities. When you are in the United States lawfully, what is the legitimacy of asking such questions of you, unless when you are applying for immigration benefits, or when authorities have legitimate probable cause to believe you are in violation of the immigration laws? Federal law strictly limits the circumstances under which private employers may inquire about a potential or actual employee's immigration status. 

Unfortunately, non-citizens face a whole host of deportation risks. It is wise for resident non-citizens to consult with a qualified immigration lawyer to avoid immigration problems before they start, to identify current and future immigration benefits that might be available to the client, and to assist undocumented clients in bettering their precarious immigration status. For representation in immigration cases, call Jay Marks here.  

¤ Question: My business is being investigated for violating the laws against employing undocumented workers. What should my business do? 

Answer: Immediately call a qualified immigration lawyer to try to make the investigation go away, or to assist your company in minimizing its civil and criminal exposure from such an investigation. Among the benefits of hiring Marks & Katz, LLC, for such work is that our Immigration Law partner Jay Marks will work hand-in-hand with our Criminal Defense partner Jon Katz to help you minimize both your civil and criminal exposure from the investigation. For such representation, call Jay Marks here.  

¤ Question: If the immigration authorities arrest me, what are my rights? 

Answer: Citizens and non-citizens enjoy most of the same Constitutional rights arising from an arrest, so long as the arrest takes place after the arrestee has already entered the United States. Fewer rights are afforded the non-citizen when detained before having officially entered the United States. United States citizens keep their rights as citizens no matter where in the world they encounter United States government officials. Any time a person is arrested, whether for immigration or other issues, a qualified attorney should be hired immediately. Among the benefits of hiring Marks & Katz, LLC, for such work is that our Immigration Law partner Jay Marks will work hand-in-hand with our Criminal Defense partner Jon Katz to deal with the immigration, criminal, and Constitutional aspects of all such arrests. For such representation, call Jay Marks here.  

¤ Question: My petition for immigration relief was denied. What should I do? 

Answer: Hopefully, you retained a qualified immigration lawyer to assist you with the original petition. If you did, then you should consult with that lawyer about your options for seeking reconsideration or appeal of the denial. If you did not, you should immediately consult with a qualified immigration lawyer, particularly to assure that you do not miss any critical deadlines for contesting the denial.  

¤ Question: What are the risks and benefits of hiring a notary to provide me immigration assistance, rather than hiring an immigration lawyer? 

Answer: In the United States, non-lawyers generally are prohibited from practicing law without a license. Although a certain level of skill is required in some countries to become a notary, no skill is required to be a United States-based notary, which work mainly involves attesting to the authenticity of signatures and documents. If a notary claims otherwise, the notary is committing a disservice, at best, to the non-citizen community. 

¤ Question: My immigration lawyer has advised me to lie in my application or interview for immigration benefits, has created false documents for me, or has knowingly inserted lies into my immigration application. What should I do?  

Answer: You should immediately obtain a new and qualified immigration lawyer. Under no circumstances should you permit an immigration lawyer to commit such lies and fraud, nor should you ever sign as true a document that contains any inaccurate information. Such actions by your attorney can expose you both to criminal penalties as well as to immigration law penalties. You should talk with your new immigration lawyer about the remedies that can be obtained against the dishonest attorney. 

MISCELLANEOUS

 ¤ Question: Where can I find free legal information on Marks & Katz, LLC's website? 

Answer: In addition to this Frequently Asked Questions page, visit our following legal information pages: Links, Articles, Legal Summaries, and Site Map.  

¤ Question: I am interested in becoming an attorney. What suggestions do you have? 

Answer: If your primary interest in the legal profession is to serve true justice, then the path to becoming an attorney can be worthwhile. To fulfill the particulars of applying for law schools, meet with your college's pre-law dean. To find the right law school (or right school of any kind, for that matter), dig deeply; ask the institution, its students, professors and administrators many material questions; and use school rankings and school selection guides only as one of many aids to your search. To find the right career path, find a law school that includes a strong legal clinical program and that is located near many legal employers; get involved with professional associations that deal with your areas of interest; and find mentors among lawyers and professors practicing and teaching in areas of law that interest you. 

 ¤ Question: I am a police officer or other government employee, and have discovered unlawful or otherwise improper or troubling conduct by other government employees. What should I do? 

Answer: If your colleagues are engaged in unlawful activity, you may risk being dragnetted -- through a guilt by association mentality -- into any future investigations, prosecutions or lawsuits involving your colleagues' misdeeds, whether or not you had any responsibility for such misdeeds. That alone, together with your obligations as a civil servant, is good enough reason to consult with a qualified attorney. 

     Marks & Katz fights tirelessly for justice for our clients, with 30 years of combined experience. We are driven to win, put our clients ahead of money, and are ever-passionate for our clients and their causes. Our law partners Jay Marks and Jon Katz serve our clients directly, with caring and understanding. Jay and Jon met in 1969, attended public school together, trust each other deeply, revel in the thrill of victory, and fight side by side. We opened in 1998, and look forward to many more years of doing good for our clients and society. We are dedicated to justice, welcome tough cases, and never shy away from controversy. 

Listed in the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers

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