How to Choose a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Choosing a lawyer for a civil sexual abuse claim involves questions about experience, privacy, communication, and cost. An initial consultation should help you understand what the lawyer would investigate and what working together would involve. You can begin with those practical questions before deciding how much detail to share.

For someone researching counsel in Scranton or elsewhere in Northeastern Pennsylvania, this guide explains seven considerations to discuss. It also provides factual information about Moran Law Group so readers considering the firm can connect their questions to its stated practice.

Moran Law Group and civil abuse claims

Moran Law Group is a family-owned law firm based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The firm’s abuse and crime victim practice describes civil representation involving sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, institutional abuse, and other harms to abuse and crime victims.

Its published practice information discusses investigating the conduct of individuals and the possible responsibility of organizations, including schools, religious institutions, healthcare facilities, and employers. Whether any person or organization could face a claim depends on the facts and applicable law.

Moran lists its Scranton office at 116 North Washington Avenue, Suite 400. It also lists secondary locations in Carbondale and Jermyn by appointment only. When arranging a consultation, confirm the meeting location and who will participate.

If you are considering Moran Law Group, use the questions below to learn how its stated practice relates to your circumstances and which attorney would evaluate your matter.

1 Clarify the work you need a lawyer to do

Ask what a possible civil claim would seek to accomplish, what information is needed to evaluate it, and how it relates to any criminal investigation or prosecution. You should understand which decisions would be yours and what the lawyer would do before recommending a course of action.

You do not need to know the legal name for what happened before asking for an evaluation. Describe what you remember and identify uncertainty. Ask the lawyer to assess any deadlines that could affect your situation.

2 Ask about experience relevant to your circumstances

Ask whether the attorney has handled civil matters involving similar circumstances, such as childhood abuse, an institutional setting, or events from many years earlier. Then ask what that work involved: investigation, negotiation, litigation, or another role.

The person responsible for your matter may not be the person whose name appears in a reported result. Ask who would perform the work and how that attorney’s experience relates to the issues in your case. A past result can describe a different matter; it cannot establish what will happen in yours.

3 Understand how institutional responsibility would be evaluated

If the events involved a school, employer, healthcare provider, or another organization, ask what would need to be investigated about that organization’s role. The discussion might address supervision, earlier reports, policies, or how a complaint was handled.

During a consultation, ask the attorney to separate questions that need investigation from conclusions already supported by evidence. An organization’s connection to an alleged offender does not automatically establish its legal responsibility.

4 Discuss privacy before providing sensitive information

Ask how the firm conducts intake, who can access the information you provide, and how sensitive records should be sent. If you would like a support person present, ask the lawyer about any confidentiality or privilege implications beforehand.

Pennsylvania Rule 1.18 protects certain information received from a prospective client even when representation does not follow. Whether a communication qualifies as a consultation depends on the circumstances. Ask about the intake process before sending extensive details in an unsolicited message.

Also discuss what privacy protections might be available if a claim proceeds. Seek a clear explanation of what can be requested and what cannot be promised.

5 Identify the people responsible for your matter

Ask who would handle the investigation, communicate with you, and answer legal questions. If additional attorneys or another firm might become involved, ask how that would be explained and reflected in the representation agreement.

Discuss practical communication preferences, including whether messages can safely be left and which contact method you prefer. Ask how often you can expect updates and how you would learn about decisions requiring your input.

For someone considering a family-owned firm such as Moran Law Group, these questions help establish the actual working relationship. The ownership structure alone does not tell you who will handle each part of a matter.

6 Compare fees and expenses in writing

Ask whether there is a charge for the consultation and how representation would be billed. If a contingency arrangement is proposed, request an explanation of the attorney’s percentage, expenses, and any amount you might owe without a recovery.

Pennsylvania Rule 1.5 requires a written contingency agreement describing the fee calculation and expenses deducted from the recovery, including whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. Ask for an explanation of unfamiliar terms and a copy of the proposed agreement.

7 Leave the consultation with a clear next step

Before the meeting, ask what the firm needs for an initial evaluation. You may be able to organize approximate dates, relevant names, and records already in your possession. Note gaps rather than guessing, and ask how to provide materials securely.

By the end, you should understand what needs further review, whether the firm is considering representation, and when you can expect to hear back. If Moran Law Group is the firm you are evaluating, ask how those next steps would apply to your matter. Make your decision with a clear understanding of the proposed work, the people responsible, and the written terms.

Paid advertising content for The Moran Law Group, LLC. 116 North Washington Ave., Suite 400, Scranton, PA 18503. 570-955-4516. This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal rights and outcomes depend on the facts and applicable law.