How To Find An Attorney
Whether you want some help draft up your will, contract or represent you in various legal matters, hiring an attorney should be one of your first thoughts. But it can be very expensive to hire an attorney, especially in the US. In 2018, according to natlawreview.com, 77% of people who had legal issues in the US did not proceed with hiring an attorney. In today's society things are becoming more expensive by the minute and it has gotten to a point where individuals are being forced to make certain choices or sacrifices just to get by. When it comes to law or legal issues, the everyday consumer should not be burdened with taking the long route to get their matters resolved. In this blog we will look at multiple options, free and paid, for hiring an attorney.
What You To Look For:
1. Free Consultations:
Many law firms offer free consultations that are provided mostly by video or phone conference. A consultation is a short video or phone call where someone form a law firm will talk to you about your legal issue and see if their office is best suited to help you with your matter. During this call you can find out a number of things: how much the firm will charge to resolve your matter, the how long the process would take, how experienced the firm is in regards to your issue, and a various of other topics that would help you gain trust in the firm you are looking into. Some firms do charge for consultations so be sure to ask for the free ones. Just to be clear, a consultation is not an opportunity for free legal advice. This is a designated time to see if the firm you are reaching out to is best suited to handle your case. It would be wise to gather the information you need to better understand your legal issue before proceeding with finding a law professional. Additionally, in regards to the consultation, if the firm you are speaking to is not able to handle your matter you can also ask for a referral and more than likely the office will be able to direct you to another trusted law firm to assist you.
2. The City Courthouse
A few courts give free assistance and have plenty of recourses to the guide consumers that wish to have more direction and guidance with their legal matters. This is also a good source to start with in regards to finding out more information about your legal issue, what your rights are, how the process normally goes and what to do if your case ends up in court. If you don't already have an attorney, it is logical to call the courthouse and ask for the available resources tailored to your subject matter. They also are available to guide you through the legal process to better prepare you for your legal journey ahead.
3. Legal Aid Societies
Legal aid societies are nonprofit organizations that offer free legal services to low-income people. The tricky part here is finding out what is considered low-income per state. Even if you consider yourself to be in a low-income situation or are actually in a low-income situation, it won't necessarily mean you will get legal aid. There may be questionnaires involved that evaluate your income situation to determine your status so please proceed accordingly. Nonetheless, it does not hurt to explore this option and see what you can get to assist you with your case.
4. State Bar Associations
Each state across the US has bar associations. Even within these states, some cities have their own associations as well. On the Bar websites there will be sections for one of two things: Pro-Bono Attorneys and legal aid. Pro-Bono attorneys are those who work for clients with low-income without charge. Each attorney may have a different process for selecting which clients they would like to work pro-bono for and not all attorneys are required to complete pro-bono hours. But there are a good amount of legal professionals who do provide the service and this is a very useful tool when seeking out assistance. The legal aid section on most Bar websites is another great resource tailored to each location with information of how to get financial assistance to best sort out your matter.
5. Law Schools
In many different states there are plenty of opportunities to hire a current law school student who may give you free advice. Some law schools also offer pro-bono programs where students are allowed to give free legal advice. Schools that give such programs will ensure the necessary confidence and hope to pursue the best solution for your legal case possible. If you have a law school in your area, you can check if legal aid is available there and proceed accordingly.
Qualities To Be Aware Of:
There are many different ways to ensure that the attorney and advice you are pursuing is the best route for you to take. Client and website ratings are great resources to validate potential candidates as well as social media platforms. Many attorneys offer their registered bar numbers, which is the certified number assigned to each attorney upon passing the bar exam, and with this number you are able to check the attorney history and verify if the attorney has ever had any hiccups in their career. You may also be able to hire a paralegal or legal assistant to support you in your matter.
Based on your situation, you can find tons of different strategies for free or less-expensive legal help. When it comes to looking for representation, guidance or legal advice please seek the support from an attorney and use what you found useful from our blog post for the best assistance in your journey!
