how do i get a free consultation with a lawyer

• AVVO.com’s “Ask a Lawyer” service. Post a question and get free advice from multiple lawyers. Questions are often answered within 12 hours.
• FreeAdvice.com’s “Ask a Lawyer” service. Another free service which allows users to publicly pose questions for attorneys to answer.
• FindLaw’s Legal Answers Forum. An active message board which allows users to pose various legal questions on various legal issues.
• Reddit.com’s Legal Advice Subreddit. This community-driven subreddit is extremely active, and users are quick to give their input on various legal issues.
• LawGuru’s “Ask a Legal Question”. Get free answers to your public (or private) legal questions from multiple attorneys.
• American Bar Association. The ABA website will guide you to a list of resources in your state.

Should attorneys offer free consultations?

Questions to Ask

• What is your legal background?
• What area of law do you specialize in?
• How many cases have you served on?
• How often do you enjoy a successful outcome?
• Do you have any special experiences or training?
• How do you charge for services – by retainer, per hour, or on a contingency?
• Do you take payments by check or credit card?
• Do you offer financing options?

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Can I call a lawyer for free?

Legal advice is free. You do not need to apply for a grant of legal aid to get legal advice and you do not have to meet any eligibility criteria to use the service. However, if you get a grant of legal aid you will probably have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your matter.

How to find a free lawyer?

Try these searches:

• Pro Bono Resource Directory maintained by the American Bar Association. ...
• Contact your local or state bar association (a professional organization dedicated to advancing the careers and education of their members). ...
• Contact the organization or state agency that oversees lawyer licensing in your state. ...
• Visit the local law school. ...
• Call the local courthouse. ...

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What is the phone number for free lawyers?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763), you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with the laws in your state, who’s willing to listen to your concerns, and who can explain the options available to you moving forward. Calls are answered 24 hours a day!

Are free consultations really free?

It's true: Free legal consultations really are free. Don't hesitate to take advantage of them if you were injured and want to find out about your legal options.

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

If you're unable to afford a lawyer, you should start by looking into Legal Aid. Legal aid is an umbrella term for any service which provides legal assistance to those unable to afford it otherwise.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

Can I represent myself in court?

You have a right to represent yourself in court in a civil case. If you choose to represent yourself, the court will hold you to the same standards as if you were a lawyer. Some cases are simple and straightforward.

Who can be appointed as a free legal representative?

In criminal cases, those who cannot afford a lawyer will be appointed a free legal representative by the court. These representatives are usually selected from the local public defender’s office. The main purpose of appointing a public defender is to ensure that people who cannot pay for legal assistance in a criminal case will still receive fair ...

How to find a personal injury lawyer?

In order to find a local personal injury lawyer that may take a case on a contingency fee basis, a person should start by visiting the website for their state or local bar association. While each lawyer may have different conditions for this fee arrangement, a person should be sure to discuss all of the terms of the agreement before they hire them.

What is a legal clinic?

A legal clinic is a service that allows current law students to gain experience by working on real-life cases under the supervision of a faculty advisor (e.g., usually a law school professor who is also a lawyer).

Why can't the government pay for an attorney?

So long as a person qualifies for free legal representation, the government cannot refuse to pay for their lawyer because it would violate that person’s constitutional rights. In criminal cases, those who cannot afford ...

Why do lawyers not give legal advice?

The reason for this is due to special ethical and professional rules that lawyers and those providing legal advice have to follow. In fact, most of them cannot provide actual legal advice. They can only offer free legal information (e.g., where to find a particular court form, etc.). Thus, if an individual needs actual legal advice ...

What organizations handle social justice cases?

Two significant legal organizations that frequently handle these types of claims include the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) and the American Center for Law and Justice (“ACLJ”). Individuals looking to file a social justice claim should also reach out to private organizations that share a similar interest with their case or they should contact their state or local bar association for more information on attorneys who may take their case.

Who is Jaclyn from LegalMatch?

Prior to joining LegalMatch, Jaclyn was a paralegal and freelance writer.

What Is a Free Law Consultation?

A law consultation is an initial meeting with a lawyer that allows you to discuss your issue and their approach before you decide to hire them to represent you. Many attorneys offer free legal consultations for prospective clients, which gives you a chance to explore your options without being charged a fee for their time.

What Is Discussed at a Free Legal Consultation?

Because there are so many different reasons for a person to pursue legal counsel from an experienced lawyer, what you discuss during the consultation varies quite a bit. Typically, you and the attorney will talk about at least a few key details in a free legal consultation, such as:

How to Research and Evaluate Your Legal Issue

Some legal matters require professional expertise, while others can be resolved on their own. In order to fully understand your legal issue and determine the kind of help you need, you should follow these steps:

How to Prepare for a Law Consultation

Before you have a free consultation with an attorney, you should make sure that you're appropriately prepared by gathering any documents that you think could be relevant to your claim. The attorney will be able to go through the documents to determine which ones are pertinent. Here are some examples of documents you could bring with you:

Meet some of our Lawyers

Melissa Green joined the American Medical Association (AMA) as an Assistant General Counsel in November 2019. In her role at the AMA, Melissa supports the CPT and Masterfile licensing programs, in addition to supporting the legal needs of the Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability business unit.

What is the best phone number to call for a free consultation?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763), you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with ...

What is the number to call an attorney?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763) , you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with the laws in your state, who’s willing to listen to your concerns, and who can explain the options available to you moving forward. Calls are answered 24 hours a day! 24/7 FREE LEGAL ADVICE: 1-800-ATTORNEY.

How long does it take to get a lawyer's advice on AVVO?

AVVO.com’s “Ask a Lawyer” service. Post a question and get free advice from multiple lawyers. Questions are often answered within 12 hours.

Is there legal advice online?

There are many free legal advice services available online as well, but we strongly advise you to take all online advice with a grain of salt. The law varies from state to state, and those giving legal advice will often have differing opinions, and may not even be licensed to practice law.

Are these Free Consultations Worthless?

No. They’re accommodating. I’ve had some great experiences at lawyer consultations. I found one willing to give me a second opinion after my first consultation didn’t go well. The lawyer helped to figure out the next possible step.

Free Lawyer Consultation Quality over Quantity

The biggest challenge is to keep in mind when finding a lawyer through a website like this one is that you should only use websites that specialize in providing lawyer reviews. A review site will have fewer listings than a general search engine. That means that you won’t be inundated with irrelevant results.

How to Find Free Consultations?

There are numerous ways to find free consultations. Here are some of the best:

What Are The Benefits Of Free Lawyer Consultations?

There are many ways to hire a lawyer through a consultation service. Some of the most popular include:

Choosing the Right Attorney

After you’ve found several lawyers through the methods outlined above, you’ll need to make sure that you choose the right person. You want someone who has experience handling the kind of case you have.

Equal Opportunity for Retaining Counsel

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEO) has recently issued new guidelines regarding retaining counsel. The EEOC now advises employees not to be penalized for seeking representation when claiming against their employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most attorneys will charge a minor fee for initial consultations. This is typically between $200-$300 per hour. After that, there’s no additional charge. Many attorneys also offer flat rate retainer agreements where clients pay a fixed amount each month regardless of how many hours they use.

How to get an attorney consultation?

Before you can have an attorney consultation, you need to find a lawyer who might be a good fit. Look for an attorney who focuses his or her practice on your type of legal question, or someone who lists this as a type of law they regularly practice. Your local bar association may have a referral program. If you have used an attorney in the past for something else, ask him or her for a referral. It is also helpful to ask family and friends for names.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

What to ask a lawyer before a consultation?

When you have your lawyer consultation, one of your primary questions will be about the attorney’s background. Some people feel intimidated asking about this, but the truth is you are going to pay a lot of money for services. You wouldn’t hire an electrician who had never done wiring, so it is wise to ask questions about the attorney’s experience. You can find out basics on the firm’s web site before the appointment, which will save you time. You may want to ask how many of this type of case the attorney has handled. For example, how many divorces has this lawyer done in the past year? A lawyer who has done one or two is not very experienced. You may wish to ask how long the attorney has been practicing law and how long he or she has practiced in your county or area, which will give you an idea how familiar the lawyer is with local judges and procedures. It is generally not very helpful to ask where the attorney went to law school since you can find this information online and it often tells you nothing useful anyhow. Focus instead on experience with your type of case. You can also ask the average verdict the lawyer has obtained in your type of case.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

What is a meeting with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

How long does it take to write a will?

Writing a will is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and for your loved ones, and it can be done in just minutes. Are you ready to get started?