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If you need an attorney to advise or represent you, ask friends and family for
recommendations. You can also contact the Lawyer Referral Service of your state,
county, or city bar association listed in your local phone directory.
Websites such as www.abalawinfo.org
(American Bar Association), www.uslaw.com,
www.thelaw.com, www.freeadvice.com,
and www.nolo.com can help you with answers to
general legal questions.
Tips For Choosing An Attorney
Many lawyers who primarily serve individuals and families are general practitioners
with experience in frequently needed legal services such as divorce and family
matters; wills and probate; bankruptcy and debt problems; real estate; criminal
and/or personal injury. Some have a narrower focus. Be sure the lawyer you are
considering has experience in the area for which you are seeking help.
Once you've identified some candidates:
- Call each attorney on the telephone, describe your legal issue, and find out if
he or she handles your situation.
- Ask if you will be charged for an initial consultation.
- Ask for an estimate of what is usually charged to handle your kind of case.
- Ask whether there are hourly charges or whether your attorney would accept a
percentage of the settlement as a fee contingency.
The initial consultation is an opportunity for you and the lawyer to get to know each
other. After listening to the description of your case, the lawyer should be able to
outline your rights and liabilities, as well as alternative courses of action. The
initial consultation is the lawyer's opportunity to explain what he or she can do
for you and how much it will cost. You should not hesitate to ask about the
attorney's experience in handling matters such as yours. Also, do not hesitate to
ask about the lawyer's fees and the likely results. If you are considering going
beyond the initial consultation and hiring the lawyer, request a written fee
agreement before proceeding.
What If You Can't Afford A Lawyer?
If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for free legal help from a Legal Aid
or Legal Services Corporation (LSC) office. These offices generally offer legal
assistance about such things as landlord-tenant relations, credit, utilities, family
matters (e.g., divorce and adoption), foreclosure, home equity fraud, social
security, welfare, unemployment, and workers' compensation. If the Legal Aid office
in your area does not handle your type of case, it may refer you to other local,
state or national organizations that can provide help. Additional resources may be found
at www.lawhelp.org or www.freeadvice.com.
To find the Legal Aid office nearest to you, check a local telephone directory
or contact:
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
1625 K Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-452-0620
Fax: 202-872-1031
E-mail: info@nlada.org
Web: www.nlada.org
To find the LSC office nearest you, check a local telephone directory or contact:
LSC Public Affairs
3333 K St., NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-295-1500
Fax: 202-337-6797
Web: www.lsc.gov
Free assistance could also be available from a law school program where students,
supervised by attorneys, handle a variety of legal matters. Some of these programs
are open to all. Others limit their service to specific groups, such as senior
citizens or low-income persons. Contact a law school in your area to find out if
such a program is available.
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