how to find a lawyer on thw weekend

Full Answer

How to find a good lawyer near me?

It’s usually a good idea to find a lawyer located in your geographical area. Besides legal knowledge of state and local laws, lawyers also have practical local knowledge. Lawyers in specific cities or towns will also have connections to helpful agencies in that city, which will expedite the process of resolving your issue.

What to look for when hiring a lawyer?

On the practical side, you will also want a lawyer who has an office that is convenient for you to travel to. Some lawyers are willing to travel to meet you, but may also charge for travel time. It’s usually a good idea to find a lawyer located in your geographical area.

Where can I get legal advice about local laws?

Similarly, through their law departments, counties, cities, and townships often have government lawyers who may provide the public with guidance about local laws. Some of these local offices also offer consumer protection assistance.

When do you need a lawyer for a legal issue?

If your issue involves going to court, your lawyer will accompany you, and can speak for you. If your legal matter involves mediation or arbitration, your lawyer will negotiate with the opposing party on your behalf. What type of lawyer do I need? What practice area should I choose?

John Michael Phillips

Using the Find a Lawyer feature on this site may help lead you to some in your area with weekend access information.

Kevin H. Pate

Some specify 24/7 availability. Other attorneys will check phone and internet messages on the weekend.

Andrew Michael Bonderud

Well, your asking a question on Avvo as you just did would be a good start. Finding a lawyer on a Saturday willing to take an appointment on a cold call would be very difficult to do. Many attorneys' websites offer access to a call center where there can be live chat opportunities.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 a lawyer an attorney?

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

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.

What to do after finding a lawyer?

Lastly, after you've found a lawyer to work with, you should research the attorney's discipline record and investigate whether the attorney is currently eligible to practice law.

How to find a good attorney?

Not only can they recount first-hand experience with the attorney, they can give you insight on the attorney's business practices, mannerisms, and handling of fees. Keep in mind, however, that your legal issue may be different than your family member's case, which may affect whether your friend or family member's attorney is right for you. However, it's a start. And your friend or family member's attorney can possibly point you to another lawyer in his or her network if necessary.

How to find a lawyer in your state?

State Bar Associations can be a good way to locate a lawyer in your state. Most bar association's websites contain comprehensive listings of attorneys licensed to practice in the state at best. In most cases, you can search for lawyers by name, location, and legal practice area, but may also conduct more advanced searches, such as languages spoken.

What to do with an advertisement for a lawyer?

While it certainly doesn't hurt to contact a lawyer that you find through an advertisement, you should always be prepared to ask some important questions during the "interview" with the lawyer.

What are some organizations that can help you become a lawyer?

These organizations, which often include minority bar associations, legal aid societies, and others, might focus on representing a certain type of client, such as low-income, or particular legal focus, such as immigration or family law. You can often access the names of volunteer legal organizations through a state's bar association website.

What is a lawyer referral service?

Lawyer referral services can help direct you to lawyers in your area based on certain criteria, mainly practice area or special services, such as immigration, domestic violence or legal aid. Since lawyer referral services are similar to phone book listings, however, you may not receive information regarding the lawyer's experience or qualification levels. As such, you may wish to cross-check attorney names through the State bar or some other lawyer referral service that provides a better perspective of a lawyer's background.

How to find a lawyer?

Location is an important factor in looking for a lawyer to represent you. Since your issue will likely depend on state or local laws and regulations, you will want an attorney who understands the regulations for your location. On the practical side, you will also want a lawyer who has an office that is convenient for you to travel to. Some lawyers are willing to travel to meet you, but may also charge for travel time. It’s usually a good idea to find a lawyer located in your geographical area. Besides legal knowledge of state and local laws, lawyers also have practical local knowledge. Lawyers in specific cities or towns will also have connections to helpful agencies in that city, which will expedite the process of resolving your issue.

What does a lawyer do?

Your lawyer is your most important ally in any legal matter. They provide advice on how to proceed with your legal issue, and prepare important documents for you .

What is an hourly rate for a lawyer?

Hourly Rate: Lawyers often charge an agreed-upon hourly rate for their work, and the work of their assistants. The hourly rate applies to both face-to-face consultations and behind-the-scenes work on your case. A good lawyer will usually be able to estimate the required number of hours per case in advance.

How many practice areas does Avvo have?

Avvo attorneys handle cases in over 120 practice areas, including divorce, criminal defense, and bankruptcy.

Why is it important to understand a lawyer's previous experience?

Understanding a lawyer’s previous experience is essential to understanding how they can handle your case. You’ll want to ask how many years the lawyer has been practicing. A lack of experience doesn’t necessarily make for a bad lawyer, though, especially if they have experienced lawyers around them.

Why are lawyers important?

Lawyers are also important partners in situations that don’t involve the courtroom, advising clients about their legal rights and obligations for personal or business issues. They are trained to interpret complicated systems of laws and navigate the court system.

How important is it to understand a potential lawyer's availability?

It’s especially important to understand a potential lawyer’s availability. Will they be going on a three-week vacation in the middle of your case? Do they take phone calls after business hours? Do their legal assistants have a way to contact them if they are not in the office? You should have a good sense of how and when your lawyer will be available to communicate with you.

How many hours a day can a lawyer work?

When I worked at a law firm, I generally had at least an 8–6 or 9–7 hour day, with some regular exceptions going longer (and very few exceptions going shorter). During busy times, it wouldn’t be unc

How do attorneys work?

Attorneys work whenever necessary to fulfill their duties and obligations to represent their clients zealously. Whatever type of law an attorney practices, the attorney will face deadlines. Deadlines are the name of the game. Businesses merging or acquiring other businesses want to complete the deal by a certain date. Courts set deadlines for trials or submitting written materials to the court. The law similarly sets deadlines by which people must initiate or respond to claims. There are always emergencies. Something unexpected comes up that has to be done right now. Someone may need immediate help because he or she is suffering physical, emotional, economic or other type of harm and needs prompt court intervention. And lawyers handle multiple cases at a time - no one I’ve ever met can simply work on one matter to the exclusion of all others. Attorneys are jugglers. These factors are merely the tip of the iceberg; many forces conspire to make attorneys’ calendars overflow with deadlines to meet. The effect is that attorneys must often work - not on their schedule, but rather someone else’s. Attorneys must work until the work is done. Weekends, nights, early mornings, holidays, lunch times, and even vacations must yield to an attorney’s obligations. Not every attorney job involves these kind of sacrifices. But the jobs most people envision attorneys doing (especially the higher-profile, higher-earning jobs in practice) often involve considerable sacrifices of one’s time and autonomy. The question of whether these sacrifices are worth it in terms of economic rewards or personal satisfaction is a different question.

What is the job of an attorney?

Attorneys work whenever necessary to fulfill their duties and obligations to represent their clients zealously. Whatever type of law an attorney practices, the attorney will face deadlines. Deadlines are the name of the game. Businesses merging or acquiring other businesses want to complete the deal by a certain date. Courts set deadlines for trials or submitting written materials to the court. The law similarly sets deadlines by which people must initiate or respond to claims. There are always emergencies. Something unexpected comes up that has to be done right now. Someone may need immediate

How many hours do you need to bill a law firm?

At many big law firms, there’s an expectation that you bill 2000 hours. If you figure 80–90% efficiency (i.e., you bill .8 or .9 hours for every hour at the office), then you can do the math from there. Figure you lose at least two weeks a year with vacation, illness, and errands. So you need 40 hours billed per week.

How long does it take to become a partner in a law firm?

If you are lucky enough to be on the partner track, it may take almost a decade to be made a partner, and at that point, you probably have already had two heart attacks and divorced three times.

Do senior attorneys yell at you?

If you're a junior attorney, the seniors might yell at you at anytime.

Is speaking a part of a lawyer's job?

Contrary to the popular belief, speaking is not the main part of a lawyer's job. Reading and writing constitute at least 80% of the job. In the first few years, most lawyers will be a researcher, going through millions of case laws, treaties, and statutes. Document reviews and cite checking are a large part of the job.