how to get a personal attorney

Finding Lawyers Download Article

• 1 Determine what type of attorney you need. ...
• 2 Contact your local bar association for qualified attorneys in your area. ...
• 3 Review online listings of attorneys. ...
• 4 Get referrals and recommendations from friends and family. ...
• 5 Make a list of the potential attorneys you have found in your area. ...
• 6 Review each attorney’s website. ...

Full Answer

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

What is legal group plan?

What does legal insurance cover?

How long can you be in jail for a crime?

Do lawyers use ads?

Do legal aid offices have their own lawyers?

Is there a free legal aid program?

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Bar Directories and Lawyer Finders - American Bar Association

It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. Your membership has expired - last chance for uninterrupted access to free CLE and other benefits ...

List of Attorney Directories by State Bar Associations - Lawyer Legion

How to Search for an Attorney by Speciality. All of these directories allow you to search for the attorney by name. Many of the directories have advanced search features that allow you to search for all attorneys in a particular geographical area or narrow your search based on whether the attorney speaks a specific foreign language or attended a particular law school.

How to Find the Best Lawyer Near Me | Nolo

If your legal problem is complex or involves lots of money, you might not want to attempt to handle the matter without a lawyer. After all, lawyers do more than dispense legal information.

Lawyer Licensing - American Bar Association

Lawyers are licensed by a state agency in each state. That agency can help you to find out if a person has a law license and is permitted to practice in a particular state.

What is a personal injury settlement?

Personal injury cases can be concluded in a number of ways. A personal injury settlement occurs when both parties agree to a resolution outside of court. Your lawyer might be able to negotiate a settlement even before filing an official lawsuit.

Why is evidence important in a lawsuit?

Evidence can be a critical factor in any personal injury lawsuit or settlement, and it’s important to gather it as soon as you can. As time goes by, you and other people may forget critical facts about the event in question, and the evidence itself might be erased.

Do personal injury attorneys offer free consultations?

They do this, in part, because they need to decide to take your case as much as you need to decide to hire them. A consultation provides them a chance to find out more about your case so they know if it might be worth their time or something they can successfully fight for.

How to find an attorney in your area?

Contact your local bar association for qualified attorneys in your area. State bar associations keep public records about complaints and disciplinary actions taken against attorneys licensed to practice in the state. Most local bar associations also have free referral services that can help you find an attorney to suit your case's needs.

What to do if an attorney isn't listening?

Remember that you are interviewing the attorney for a job. Treat your meeting as such, a job interview. If you feel as though the attorney isn't listening to you or isn't answering your questions, pick a different attorney.

What is personal injury law?

Personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys handle cases involving medical malpractice, dog bites, car accidents and any injury to a person that may be the fault of another.

How does wikihow mark an article as reader approved?

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status.

What type of lawyer deals with estates?

Trusts and estates. This type of lawyer deals with issues such as estate planning, qualifying for Medicaid, probating an estate, and obtaining guardianship of an elderly parent or grandparent.

How to ask a lawyer about his practice?

Write out questions about the lawyer's practice. You can generally find out the basic information about the attorney online, such as how long s/he has been practicing, where s/he went to law school, etc. For your in-person questions, ask about matters that are relevant to your specific case. The attorney should not have any problem answering any questions you may have, and should not sound hesitant or unsure. Areas to ask about include questions about the following:

How to win a legal case?

Focus your efforts on finding a lawyer that has dealt with your specific legal issue in the past and that you get along with personally. Taking the time to find the right lawyer will be worth it, as they are more likely to help you win your case.

What is the most reliable reference?

Personal references can be some of the most reliable references you will find. You can also ask a lawyer you know and trust, even if they don’t practice in the area of law in which you need l egal help. They may be able to recommend colleagues who can handle your case.

What to do if something feels off?

If something just feels off, you should move on and find an attorney with whom you have a better rapport.

What is the foundation of a civil lawsuit?

The foundation of every civil lawsuit starts with an injury or a loss. Defining the nature of the injury or loss sets the lawsuit’s course. Find out how to identify your injury or loss and look at the broader context of a lawsuit.

How to get a feel for an attorney?

One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.

Why is it important to have a last will?

You know having a last will is important—it protects your family and provides for your final wishes. Now that you're finally sitting down to write that will, be on the lookout for these common but easy-to-avoid mistakes.

Is it necessary to hire a lawyer?

Although an attorney isn’t always necessary when dealing with legal situations, if you’ve decided you want to hire a lawyer, you may now be wondering how you go about finding a good one. Before you begin your search to find a lawyer, remember there are different types of lawyers, from estate planning to criminal defense.

Is a lawyer an attorney?

The terms "lawyer" and "attorney" have a lot in common, but not all lawyers are attorneys.

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

What is law help interactive?

Law Help Interactive - This program helps you fill out legal forms for free, such as those dealing with:

What is an individual lawyer?

Individual lawyers (also called attorneys) are experts in different areas of the law. Some attorneys specialize in a certain field of law, such as business, civil, criminal, or juvenile law. You will need to determine which type of attorney is right for your legal situation.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Keep in mind, Chapter 7 bankruptcy information stays on your credit report for 10 years. This can make it hard to get credit, buy a home, receive life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy, and other options for dealing with debt .

What is Martindale Nolo?

Nolo is a part of the Martindale Nolo network, which has been matching clients with attorneys for 100+ years.

How to hire a personal injury lawyer?

Contact friends or coworkers who have been represented by a lawyer in their own personal injury claims. If they say good things about the experience, put that lawyer on your list of candidates. But don't make any decision about a lawyer solely on the basis of someone else's recommendation. Different people will have different responses to a lawyer's style and personality. Also, at any particular time a lawyer may have more or less energy or interest to devote to a new case. So don't make up your mind about hiring a lawyer until you've met with them, discussed your case, and decided you're comfortable entering a working relationship.

Why won't my lawyer take my case?

Finally, a lawyer might refuse to take your perfectly good case for the same reason that you might not want to hire a perfectly good lawyer. That is, the two of you just might not feel comfortable with each other. If your personality and the lawyer's clash right away, the lawyer may simply decide that handling your claim is just not worth it.

What documents do you need to bring to a personal injury lawyer?

Bring copies of all the documents you have concerning your claim: police report, medical bills, income loss information, and all correspondence with the insurance company, including your demand letter if you have reached that stage. Most personal injury lawyers don't charge for an initial consultation.

Why would a lawyer decline to take your case?

This may be because you were largely responsible for the accident, because it is too difficult to prove that someone else was at fault, or because the person responsible for the accident has little or no insurance coverage.

What to discuss with an insurance lawyer?

After you have discussed with the lawyer the facts of your case and the history of your negotiations with the insurance company, the lawyer may give you a general opinion of how much your case is worth and how difficult it may be to get the insurance company to pay something in that range. This is when you should discuss with the lawyer the different ways your case could be approached, and whether the lawyer would be willing to handle it in the way you prefer. These approaches include:

What is Nolo website?

Websites like AllLaw.com (and Nolo.com) don't just provide you with practical information on all aspects of a legal issue, they're also portals to getting help from a qualified attorney in your area. Use the "Chat" and "Case Evaluation" tools right on this page to tell us a little bit about your situation, and take your first step toward the best outcome for your personal injury case.

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem. No one you listen to and nothing you read will be able to guarantee that a particular lawyer will be the best for you; you must judge that for yourself.

What is legal group plan?

Employers or unions set up a fund to pay the employees’ legal fees, with the employee sometimes contributing a small co-payment. Legal group plans have become much more widespread in recent years. Some retail department stores and credit card companies even offer such plans to their customers.

What does legal insurance cover?

These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters. Other programs cover only advice and consultation with a lawyer.

How long can you be in jail for a crime?

Constitution guarantees you the right to be represented by a lawyer in any case in which you could be incarcerated for six months or more. State constitutions may guarantee your right to a lawyer for lesser crimes.

Do lawyers use ads?

In some ways, yes, ads are useful. However, always be careful about believing everything you read and hear — and nowhere is this truer than with advertisements. Newspaper, telephone directory, radio, television, and Internet ads, along with direct mail, can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs. Some ads also will help you determine a lawyer’s area of expertise. Other ads will quote a fee or price range for handling a specific type of “simple” case. Keep in mind that your case may not have a simple solution. If a lawyer quotes a fee, be certain you know exactly what services and expenses the charge does and does not include.

Do legal aid offices have their own lawyers?

Some legal aid offices have their own staff lawyers, and others operate with volunteer lawyers. Note that people do not have a right to a free lawyer in civil legal matters. I have been accused of a crime, and I cannot afford a lawyer.

Is there a free legal aid program?

Several legal assistance programs offer inexpensive or free legal services to those in need. Look in the yellow pages under topics such as “legal clinics,” “legal aid,” or “legal advice,” or search online. Most legal aid programs have special guidelines for eligibility, often based on where you live, the size of your family, and your income. Some legal aid offices have their own staff lawyers, and others operate with volunteer lawyers. Note that people do not have a right to a free lawyer in civil legal matters.