how to ask attorney with no money

by Ralph Schultz 3 min read

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. Depending on your situation, you can employ a variety of strategies to get free legal advice or cheap legal assistance. Read on for more information on each option.

Full Answer

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

If you cannot afford a lawyer, legal aid may be able to help you. There are legal aid offices (also called legal services) throughout the United States. Legal aid offices are not-for-profit agencies that provide free legal help to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

How can I get free legal advice in NC?

Call 1-800-662-7660 or submit a request online. Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free advice and representation to low-income people in all 100 counties of North Carolina. Apply for help at your nearest Legal Aid of North Carolina office, call the HelpLine at 1-866-219-5262, or apply online.

What is a pro bono lawyer?

To qualify for free legal assistance, a person must comply with a 'means test' (a maximum monthly or no income) and have a legal problem with merit. You will be referred to an attorney by the Legal Practice Council who will assist you free of charge (pro bono).

What does free legal assistance group do?

The Free Legal Assistance Group is a human rights organisation that is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and civil liberties. FLAG works to help excluded and vilified individuals secure legal documents pertaining to citizenship, land ownership, health, and communal development.

What are the different types of legal aid?

There are two types of legal aid: for civil and for criminal cases. All applications for legal aid for criminal cases are means tested. But some applications for legal aid for civil cases are not means tested, for example care cases and Mental Health Tribunal cases.

Does Legal Aid of NC help with child custody?

Legal Aid of North Carolina's free child custody clinics teach participants how to file a child custody action in court without the help of a lawyer. Participants receive all the necessary legal forms and can ask general questions of Legal Aid lawyers.

Where does legal aid money come from?

The Government provides money to help pay for your case. The money comes from the Community Legal Services Fund (CLS) and is administered by the Legal Aid Agency.

How do I get visitation rights in NC?

If two parents cannot agree, the non-custodial parent may file a visitation complaint with the court to request increased visitation time. In some North Carolina districts, the court requires mandatory mediation for parents before the court decides on visitation issues.

How to hire a lawyer on a budget?

One way to hire a lawyer when you’re on a budget is to consider hiring an up-and-coming attorney. There are many law schools throughout the country that have pro bono programs. In these programs, law students can offer legal advice for free.

Why do lawyers charge less?

They likely have fewer clients, so they’ll be able to devote more time to your case. They also might charge less because they don’t have as much experience.

What happens if you win a contingency fee?

This means that you only have to foot the bill if you win the case. If you win, the lawyer will get a percentage of the money you’re awarded.

Why don't people qualify for legal help?

For a lot of households, though, is that an individual or couple don’t qualify for help because they make too much money.

Is small claims court a good option?

If you are involved in a dispute over owed money where it’s not worth risking lawyer fees, small claims court might be a good option. Depending on your state, the maximum amount you will be rewarded varies drastically. Look into this to make sure that small claims court is the right avenue for your dispute.

Do you have to foot the bill if you win a case?

Say You Only Have to Foot the Bill if you Win the Case. Another option is finding out if you can pay a contingency fee. This means that you only have to foot the bill if you win the case. If you win, the lawyer will get a percentage of the money you’re awarded.

Do you have to double check if you are in contingency?

If you’re entering into a contingency agreement with a lawyer, for example, you’ll want to double- check that you won’t be responsible for additional expenses if the court case is lost.

Why do lawyers give free consultations?

Most of the time, free consultations are to help the lawyer and potential client get a feel for one another, but it can be a very helpful way of getting good legal advice without having to fork over an expensive hourly charge.

What is free advice forum?

The site also offers a “ FreeAdvice Forum ” which allows people to ask questions and receive answers and suggestions from other consumers, experts, and attorneys in 50 topics. If you are looking to hire a lawyer, this is a great avenue to begin with, because you can ask a lawyer a question free of charge, without any commitment. If, after getting the answers to your questions, you’d like to proceed with legal action, you can complete a form on the site for a free consultation with an attorney.

What does "pro bono publico" mean?

The phrase is short for a longer Latin phrase, “pro bono publico,” which means for the good of the public. It also indicates work that is undertaken without charge.

Can a lawyer work on contingency?

Not all lawyers will work on contingency, and depending on the legal help you require, you may find it very difficult for someone to represent you this way. But, if you’re suing someone for a lot of money, such as medical malpractice or car accident, you may be able to have a lawyer work with you on this basis.

Is there a free lawyer website?

First off, if you have a legal question but don’t want to drive to a physical attorney’s office just yet, many online sites offer free lawyer guidance to help you understand whether you have a case or not. One such website, FreeAdvice.com, offers hundreds of articles written and updated by some of the top attorneys in America. The best thing about this handy website is that all of the advice available is, you guessed it, free!

Do lawyers work for charities?

There are some lawyers who work as part of a charity, or work part-time with charities, to represent specific populations.

Can a lawyer take your money from your winnings?

You’ll typically either agree on an amount the lawyer will take from your winnings, or the lawyer will bill against your winnings. Once your lawyer takes his or her cut, then you’ll be able to take home the rest.

1. I Have No Money, How Can I Hire an Attorney? – HG.org

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 (1) …

3. Frequently Asked Questions – American Bar Association

When a court decides someone is “indigent” – with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney – generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the (7) …

4. I Need A Lawyer And I Have No Money – Belen Law Firm

Nov 15, 2019 — If you’re considering how to pay for a lawyer with no money, the best thing to do is interview several different law offices and ask about their (9) …

5. Free and Low-Cost Legal Help – California Courts

But if you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, it is always a good idea to try to get help from a legal aid agency in your area. Just do not be discouraged (14) …

9. Find a Lawyer – Minnesota Judicial Branch

Some counties have free legal advice clinics where you may be able talk to en inglés) ofrecen servicios en distintas áreas de la ley, pero no en todas. (27) …

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

If you are not able to pay for a lawyer with no money, then do the next best thing. Get a legal loan. When you get a legal loan, you can pay for a lawyer with no money down. And then you can use the money from the legal loan to pay what you owe for the set up payment plan.

What happens if you are charged with a misdemeanor?

For example, if you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony that could result in jail time, you are entitled to representation. If you demonstrate financial hardship, then the court will assign appointed counsel — a public defender — to represent you.

Do phone calls count as time you need to pay for?

The time they spend with you on each phone call will count as time you need to pay for, so unless something is very important to the case, do not bother your attorney with a litany of phone calls. Ask Questions — If you do not understand a word or theory, ask your attorney.

Can a criminal defense attorney promise a certain outcome?

They cannot promise a certain outcome on your case and, since there are no damages to be recovered, cannot rely on a statute to say how much they will earn. That being said, many criminal defense attorneys, as well as family, immigration, estate, and civil attorneys will work with you, the client, on a payment plan.

Can I Get a Lawyer for Free Through Nonprofit Organizations by State?

If you are looking into options on how to get help paying for a lawyer, you should consider seeking help from nonprofit organizations in your state. There are a variety of organizations that will help you for no fee at all. They will do their work for you “pro bono,” or “for the public good.”

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