how to find who a lawyer represented

A good way to begin a search for legal representation is to ask trusted friends, relatives, or business associates if they know of a reputable attorney or representative. You can also find an attorney by consulting a local telephone directory, or your state’s bar association website.

Full Answer

How do I find a lawyer?

See which law school and the graduation dates appear in many states. Have the state bar refer a lawyer and browse directory of services. Look up a law firm instantly online with instant results.

How can I get a lawyer to refer me to someone?

You may want to seek out a lawyer referral service that participates in the American Bar Association-sponsored certification program, which uses a logo to identify lawyer referral programs that comply with certain quality standards developed by the ABA. My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan.

How do I find out if a lawyer has been disciplinary?

Look up an attorney's education, area of practice or specialty and years in practice. Online access to lawyer databases through a list of individual state bar resources. The licensing and regulatory agencies for attorneys listed below can provide referrals, disciplinary actions taken against an individual attorney.

Do you have a regular lawyer?

Most people don't have a "regular" lawyer, in the sense that they have one or more doctors that they see at least annually. So how do you find the lawyer who's right for you?

Are lawyers public figures?

While an attorney's involvement in a prominent legal case can be sufficient to make the lawyer a public figure, courts have not generally held that attorneys' involvement in other legal matters gives them public figure status.

Can you choose who you represent as a lawyer?

No. If you want to choose your lawyer, you will have to hire them on your own. If you cannot afford to do so, a court will choose a lawyer for you. Courts often appoint a local public defender's office to represent you.

Who represented the defendant?

Criminal Defendant and Attorney In a criminal case, the accused person is called the defendant. Defendants are represented by an attorney, who may be an attorney from the Federal Public Defender's Office if they can't afford a private attorney. There is a Federal Public Defender for each of the federal districts.

Can a lawyer represent you without you knowing?

Minor Wrongdoing vs Felony If you are a perpetrator of a misdemeanor, your attorney is allowed to appear in court for you. He/she may defend your rights without your presence on your behalf at all stages of your case.

Can my lawyer friend represent me?

At present, only solicitors and barristers can represent other people in court. This means that, without leave of the court, you cannot speak for a friend in court, except as a character witness. However, as it can make their job easier, many magistrates and judges will grant such 'leave'.

Can a lawyer refuse to represent someone?

The short answer to this is yes, an attorney can absolutely refuse to defend someone. While lawyers can refuse to defend someone, they are not likely to do so based on whether they are guilty or not guilty. You should have a good relationship with your lawyer because they are the one fighting for you.

Can you represent someone in court without being a lawyer?

In court cases, you can either represent yourself or be represented by a lawyer. Even for simple and routine matters, you can't go to court for someone else without a law license. Some federal and state agencies allow non-lawyers to represent others at administrative hearings.

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 defend myself in court without a lawyer?

You are not required to have a lawyer when you file a criminal case, but you may choose to have one assist you in the process. When filing a criminal case, you will have to prepare your complaint-affidavit accompanied by the affidavits of your witnesses and other evidence proving the alleged violation of a crime.

Can a lawyer go against their clients wishes?

Regardless of the reasons, when your lawyer goes against your wishes, it can constitute legal malpractice. Your lawyer has an obligation to represent your interests, even if you choose a legal option that he or she believes is not the best choice.

Can you sue a lawyer for not doing their job?

A claim of malpractice may exist if your lawyer exhibited negligence in your representation. If your lawyer's negligence caused you to suffer harm or a less advantageous outcome or settlement in your case, you may have a claim to sue your lawyer for professional negligence.

Can represented clients talk to each other?

(A) While representing a client, a member shall not communicate directly or indirectly about the subject of the representation with a party the member knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the member has the consent of the other lawyer.

What to do if you have ever been involved in a lawsuit?

Here are a few suggestions: 1. If they have ever been involved in a lawsuit, their lawyer would have likely filed an appearance in the case. 2. If they own a business, the attorney might be listed on the corporate information... 1 found this answer helpful. found this helpful.

Is an attorney-client privileged?

The attorney-client is Privileged. Unless published in a case or in the news there should be no access to the relationship. You can speak with an Intellectual Property attorney regarding this privilege.

What is the first qualification for 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 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.

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.

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.

Does the Department of Labor endorse or warrant the performance of any particular organization, lawyer, lay representative, or law firm?

The Department of Labor does not endorse or warrant the performance of any particular organization, lawyer, lay representative, or law firm .

Do attorneys offer free initial consultations?

Many attorneys offer free initial consultations, but not always, so make sure you ask if you will be charged for consultation services. If you are unfamiliar with how to work with an attorney, the American Bar Association's Find Legal Help page is a good resource.

Do you need an attorney to represent you before an administrative court?

The Office of Administrative Law Judges does not appoint representatives, refer parties to representatives, or provide legal assistance. 29 C.F.R. § 18.17. Therefore, if you would like to obtain legal services, you must hire an attorney or non-attorney representative yourself. While legal representation is not required to pursue your claim before OALJ, it is recommended that you obtain legal counsel because of the potential complexity of legal issues often present in cases adjudicated by OALJ.

Does AILA provide legal advice?

AILA's Immigration Lawyer Referral Service does not provide legal advice. The Service will only refer you to a lawyer who specializes in your area of need in your geographic area. Legal aid clinics. Many law schools and non-profit organizations have legal aid clinics that provide free or low cost legal assistance.

How to get help in court?

Inquire at the courthouse (I think they are not obliged to help you, so don’t expect much help). Make an appointment with the courthouse Ombudsman, and ask for his help. That’s his job.

When do I refuse representation?

The only occasions I refuse representation to a person is when the prospective client insists on going ahead with a line of argument or a set of pra

What is PACER in court?

You can check the U.S. federal PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system for info on just about any lawyer, litigant, or criminal defendant in the federal system nationwide. Joining is free; but downloading (i.e. looking at) pageviews costs money (10 cents a page, I think it is now).

What happens if you have no law?

If you have no law, the judge can throw the case out and let you appeal, or the judge can permit the case to go forward and let the other side appeal.

What is the process of requesting information from both parties?

Especially in litigation, both parties request information through a process called discovery. If an attorney in my example had asked the husband about any previous convictions, assuming his wife was unaware, by law he would have had to disclose that conviction. Additionally, is the fact that this husband was convicted BEFORE marriage material in a divorce case in a no fault state? I would say not even relevant in a divorce case.

What if there is no law covering the situation?

But what if there really is no law covering the situation? That’s called “a case of first impression.” Precedent - Wikipedia. Courts have two different options in that situation.

What websites track cases filed?

There are websites which track cases filed, liens filed,etc. Westlaw and Lexis come to mind.

2 attorney answers

This is a common occurrence. A party asks for more time to get a lawyer, and then at the next hearing date does not show up with a lawyer, or they again ask for more time. Judges know this, and were attorneys at one point.

Natalie Hedman

If the other side has filed anything in court, their attorney should be of record. If not, you should have requested the information from the Judge. In the end, however, it likely will not make much difference since your opponent is free to change lawyers anytime. Plus, of course, postponements do not change the facts in the end...

How hard is it to find a law firm?

Finding the right firm is hard to do, as law firms don't do much to help law students. In fact, a lot of firms take great pains to try to make themselves appear more or less the same as everyone else, as though choosing a legal career is like choosing your car insurance. In truth, there are huge differences at the partnership level, but even for associates, experiences can vary wildly. People focus a lot on prestige, when within the same class of law firm, there's really no difference. For example, I summered at Cravath and worked at Quinn Emanuel until I was a mid-level. While I am very grate

What happens if the opposing side is represented?

Further, if the opposing side is represented, you will be communicating only with their lawyers. They presumably realize the value of employing experienced and trained legal representatives, even if you do not.

Why do companies use law firms?

Most companies use a variety of law firms to provide them with different legal services - especially as companies get larger and their legal issues become more diverse.

What is in-house counsel?

Typically, in-house counsel have previous experience practicing law at a law firm, and it is quite common for a company to hire its outside lawyers as in-house counsel.

How to find a registered agent for a business?

Go to the Secretary of State website for the state where the business is located. There should be a “search for a business” feature. Enter the business name and you should see various information about the company, including the Registered Agent. This is where you send process of service or other legal papers.

Is there too many legal issues?

There are entirely too many legal issues in the world, all requiring knowledge of different statutes, case law and pragmatic concerns. You might have a general practice firm, but such firms tend to focus on consumer based areas of practice, by that I mean personal injury, criminal defense, family law and so on.

Is client service a caveat?

Others’ answers, below, citing client service, are correct, with a caveat. Quality service is only apparent after you’ve been hired and have performed. On the front end, for someone trying to choose a law firm, that info isn’t available other than as self-serving claims from the lawyers.

What states have good standing attorneys?

South Dakota - Call the State Bar of South Dakota (605-224-7554) to determine if a person is licensed to practice law and in good standing. Tennessee. Texas. Utah. Vermont - Select the link for "Attorneys in Good Standing". Virginia.

What states have bar associations?

Nevada. New Hampshire - Call the New Hampshire Bar Association (603-224-6942) to determine if a person is licensed to practice law and in good standing. New Jersey.

Who to call when a deceased person is a lawyer?

Call the lawyers who represented other parties in any lawsuits or disputes in which the deceased was involved. Opposing lawyers may remember whether the deceased consulted a lawyer whose name may not have made it on to final documents.

How to contact a lawyer whose name is invalid?

Call the contact telephone numbers that were listed for the attorneys whose names you found in the court records.If the telephone numbers are invalid, call the state bar association for the state in which the lawyers practiced and ask to speak to the person in charge of membership records. If the lawyer is still a member, the state bar association should have her contact information.

How to find a notarized deed for a deceased person?

Get out all the signed legal documents that were found among the deceased's property and look for any signatures that were notarized. Go to the county assessor's office in the county where the deceased person owned real property and search for notarized deed records. Signatures on deeds, divorce settlement agreements and affidavits are examples of documents that require notarization. If the deceased's signature was notarized, that means that he signed the document before a notary public. Where you find a notarized signature, make note of the name, location and commission number of the Notary Public.

How to find out if someone died in court?

Go to the county courthouse in the county where the deceased person lived. Search the civil litigation, family law and criminal court records by party name to see whether any records contain the deceased person's name. If the deceased ever sued someone, got sued by someone, got divorced, got arrested or cited for a traffic violation, the county courthouse should have a file on the event. Ask employees at the records clerk's office how to locate and access the file. Once you have the file, search it for the name of any lawyer or law firm that is listed as attorney of record for the deceased. Copy this information.

What is a state bar ad?

Place an ad that asks any lawyer who represented the deceased to contact you, and list your email address, your telephone number, and your postal address .

How to help a deceased person?

Ask them if they know about events in the deceased's life that would have required legal representation, like an arrest or a lawsuit. Follow up on any leads.