Legal Help and Information

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 http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html (American Bar Association) and http://www.nolo.com/ can help you with answers to general legal questions. Contact your employee assistance program (EAP) to see if you may be entitled to other benefits and information.

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, and criminal or personal injury. Be sure the lawyer you are considering has experience in the area for which you are seeking help.

Once you have identified some candidates, here are the next steps:

• Call each attorney and describe your legal issue to find out whether the attorney handles your situation.
• Ask if you will be charged for an initial consultation.
• Ask for an estimate of what the lawyer usually charges to handle your kind of case.
• Ask whether there are hourly charges, or if your attorney accepts a percentage of the settlement as a contingency fee. If the lawyer is paid by a contingency fee, then he or she will receive a payment only if you win your case.

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 cannot 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 for such things as landlord-tenant relations, credit, utilities, family matters (e.g., divorce and adoption), foreclosure, home equity fraud, Social Security benefits, 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.

To find the Legal Aid office nearest to you, check a local telephone directory or contact the following:

National Legal Aid & Defender Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-452-0620
http://www.nlada.org/

To find the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) office closest to you, check a local telephone directory or contact the following:

Legal Services Corporation Public Affairs
3333 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-295-1500
http://www.lsc.gov/

Free assistance may also be available from a local 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. Again, contact your employee assistance program (EAP) to see if you are entitled to additional services.