how to afford an attorney

If you can’t afford an attorney, here are some strategies to try:

• Contact the city courthouse.
• Seek free lawyer consultations.
• Look to legal aid societies.
• Visit a law school.
• Contact your county or state bar association.
• Go to small claims court.

Full Answer

How do I get a personal loan to pay for legal fees?

Follow these steps if you’re considering taking out a loan to pay for a lawyer and other expenses:Get an estimate. Talk to your lawyer or a legal e...

Am I eligible for a personal loan?

If you’ve run into some trouble with paying off debt in the past, you could have trouble qualifying for credit from a lender. Generally, you’ll nee...

How much do legal fees cost?

Litigation costs — the total amount of money spent on a lawsuit — vary wildly depending on your specific situation. Seven of the most common fees y...

Pro bono lawyers: Who qualifies?

Not everyone qualifies for pro-bono lawyers or low-income lawyers. There are strict guidelines set so others can’t take advantage of these services. For most organizations, these general situations can qualify you for a pro-bono lawyer:

The Average Cost of Different Types of Lawyers

The cost of a lawyer varies depending on a lawyer’s experience and the type of law they focus on.

Resources if You Need a Pro-Bono or Affordable Lawyer

If you don’t believe you’re able to afford a lawyer, but you’re in desperate need of one, there are resources out there to help you.

How to finance a lawyer?

But that’s not always a possibility, especially if you weren’t expecting to need a lawyer. In those situations, you might want to consider one of the following options. Personal line of credit.

How does an award of attorney's fees work?

Awards of attorneys’ fees work almost exactly like contingency fees. The difference is that instead of your lawyer taking a percentage of your damages, the court orders the defendant to pay your legal fees. This is generally only an option if your lawyer thinks you have a strong legal case.

How much do legal fees cost?

Litigation costs — the total amount of money spent on a lawsuit — vary wildly depending on your specific situation. Seven of the most common fees you might run into include the consultation fee, retainer fee, hourly rate, flat fee, contingency fee, referral fee and statutory fee.

What are the costs of a lawsuit?

Seven of the most common fees you might run into include the consultation fee, retainer fee, hourly rate, flat fee, contingency fee, referral fee and statutory fee.

What is contingency fee?

Instead of paying your fees upfront and out of pocket, a contingency fee allows you to pay your lawyer with a percentage of the damages you’re paid. Contingency fees are generally not available for divorce cases, small settlements, criminal or child custody cases.

How to find a pro bono lawyer?

To find a pro bono lawyer near you, check out the American Bar Association’s list of pro bono programs in your state.

How to pay a one time legal fee?

Sometimes the easiest way to pay a one-time legal fee like a consultation is to put it on your credit card. Most law firms accept them, and it’s an easy way to meet spending minimums and earn miles or points.

What to do if you don't have a lawyer?

Still, whether it's a divorce or you're being taken to court for something else, if you don't have a lawyer, a logical move would be to call the courthouse and ask who they would suggest going to. You think you're the first person who couldn't afford a lawyer? Hardly.

What happens if you can't afford legal assistance?

In a criminal proceeding, if you can't afford legal assistance, a court will appoint an attorney for you. In a civil case, generally described as a dispute between two private parties, to get legal representation, you have to get creative.

How to get free legal consultation?

Some attorneys will offer free consultations – usually by phone or videoconference. You aren't likely to come away feeling like you're ready to try your first case, but even if it's just a 15-minute call, you may at least get enough information to have a better sense of what legal morass you're in for. You might also be able to get some direction as to who can help you for free or a bargain basement price.

What happens if you lose a pro bono case?

That is, if you lose your case, you won't pay money, but if you win, the law firm will take a portion of the money awarded to you.

What law schools offer free legal advice?

Many law schools have pro bono programs in which law students can offer free legal advice. Some of the schools that have such programs include American University, Appalachian School of Law, Arizona State University, Howard University, Tulane University and many others.

What is lawhelp.org?

You can find more ideas at LawHelp.org, a nonprofit aimed at connecting people with low and moderate incomes to free legal aid programs in their communities.

What is legal aid?

Legal aid societies are nonprofit organizations found in almost every corner of the country that provide free legal services to low-income people. While this is certainly worth exploring, the problem for many households is that the individual or couple makes too much money to qualify for help.

What to do if you can't afford a criminal defense lawyer?

If you don't think you can afford to pay for a criminal defense lawyer, you should ask the court to appoint one for you. You will need to provide information about your income, assets, and expenses. If you qualify, the court will appoint a public defender or panel attorney for you.

How Do I Get a Court-Appointed Attorney?

In a typical case, courts appoint lawyers for eligible defendants at their first court appearance, usually an arraignment. Defendants who want court-appointed counsel must:

Will I Have to Pay Court-Appointed Attorney Fees?

For example, many jurisdictions require defendants to pay a registration fee (like $50) at the beginning of a case to get a court-appointed attorney. At the end of a case, defendants might be required to reimburse the government for part or all of the cost of court-appointed counsel if the court finds that a defendant has the financial resources to do so.

What is a contract attorney?

In states that don't have public defender offices, courts appoint private attorneys who contract (agree) to represent indigent defendants at government expense. Each jurisdiction that employs contract attorneys (also called "panel attorneys") has its own system of appointing and compensating attorneys.

What are the duties of an attorney?

The government does, however, have a constitutional duty to appoint attorneys for people (adults and juveniles) charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes if they are: 1 legally indigent (see below), and 2 facing a potential jail or prison sentence.

Why are public defender fees eliminated?

For instance, a defendant who fears having to reimburse the government at the end of the case might choose to enter a guilty plea rather than go to trial. Some states, including California, have eliminated public defender fees and other criminal fees for these reasons.

Why do judges appoint panel attorneys?

Even in jurisdictions that have public defender offices, courts sometimes have to appoint panel attorneys when the public defender's office can't take a case due to a "conflict of interest." A conflict of interest isn't a personal rejection of a defendant. Conflicts arise when an attorney's ability to zealously represent a defendant could be impaired by their past or present ethical duties to another client (such as a co-defendant). In these cases, judges appoint the public defender to represent one defendant and a panel attorney for the other (s).

How to find a lawyer in your area?

If you want to find an attorney in your area that might be able to help you with your case, visit HG.org and use the attorney search feature. You can search by practice area and location to find someone that can help you with your particular matter right where you live. When you call them, be sure to ask if they handle cases on a contingency fee basis, if they ever take on any pro bono representation, or if they can help you find more information about someone who might be able to assist you. You can also contact local bar associations, pro bono clinics, legal aid societies, and even law libraries to get more information about free and reduced rate legal representation in your area.

How to get legal counsel without paying up front?

There is another way to get legal counsel without significant up-front expenses. This is the “contingency fee” arrangement, whereby one's payment to their attorney is contingent upon that lawyer getting some form of recovery for the client. Generally, the client pays either nothing out-of-pocket, or only some of the costs of the case (like filing and service fees). At the conclusion of the case, if the attorney loses, the client pays nothing, but if the attorney recovers any money for the client, then the attorney takes his or her fees as a percentage of the award.

What is the right of an indigent person to counsel?

On appeal from his conviction, the Supreme Court held that the right of an indigent (i.e., poor) defendant in a criminal case to have the assistance of counsel is a fundamental right essential to a fair trial. Thus, the conviction was overturned and the right to legal counsel in a criminal case was finally and firmly established.

What happens if an attorney loses a case?

At the conclusion of the case, if the attorney loses, the client pays nothing, but if the attorney recovers any money for the client, then the attorney takes his or her fees as a percentage of the award.

What is a public defender?

Most commonly, the defendant receives the services of a Public Defender, an attorney paid by the state to represent clients with no means of representing themselves. These are overworked and underpaid civil servants that often receive an unfair reputation as being less skilled or less concerned than a private attorney.

What is a conflict attorney?

Thus, when someone has a conflict with the Public Defender's office, so-called “conflict attorneys” may be appointed by the court. These are usually private attorneys that have volunteered to assist the court in these situations.

When is a criminal defendant advised of their right to legal counsel?

If arrested, a criminal defendant must be advised of their right to legal counsel. An attorney is typically appointed at the first hearing the defendant attends (usually a first appearance that occurs within 24 hours of arrest).

What happens if you cannot afford a lawyer?

A court will appoint a lawyer to represent you if you can’t afford one. In the United States, everyone has a right to an attorney in a criminal case. This means that the judge will either appoint a private attorney to represent you or an attorney from a public defender’s office. These attorneys are paid by public funds, not you (except for in some rare cases).

How can you obtain a lawyer?

One way to find a lawyer is through friends, family and other people you may know. These people can either recommend an attorney they used previously or help you research for the right lawyer. When it is possible, keeping your family involved can help share the work of getting prepared for a criminal case.

How can a lawyer help you?

In addition, an attorney can assist you even after your case. For example, your lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf if you are in prison. In general, that’s only something that you and your lawyer can do, no one else. Additionally, an attorney may be able to answer certain questions others cannot.