Finding a Lawyer

Since 1976, lawyers have been allowed to advertise their services on television, on radio, in newspapers, etc.  Often the lawyers you see on TV, though, are soliciting a large number of clients and the lawyer himself rarely is the one who works on your case.  Instead, it's most likely that a paralegal will do the bulk of the work.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the more complicated your case, the more you probably need an actual lawyer working on it.  And if you decide to hire a law firm to work on your case, ask who you are paying to do most of the work, a lawyer or a paralegal (paralegals charge considerably less than lawyers).

You can always ask a friend or relative if they know of a lawyer, but if they do and recommend one, make sure the lawyer has expertise in the area in which your problem lies.  In other words, you do not want a real estate lawyer if your legal problem has to do with child custody.   You can look in the yellow pages for an attorney and call to find out their rates and if they offer free consultations.  If so, you can use this meeting to determine if you are comfortable with the lawyer, his experience, his fees, his track record, etc.  

Attorney referral services are an option (you can find these in the yellow pages, too), but the lawyers here are subscribers to the service and usually just starting out.  Their fees may be lower, but they may not have a lot of experience.  Generally, the longer a lawyer has been practicing law, the higher his fees will be (his reputation and the type of law he practices will also come into play here).    You can use the internet to search for attorneys in your local area as well.

There are also legal insurance companies that you can join so that you always have an attorney "on retainer."  These companies are similar to other kinds of insurance in that you pay a monthly premium and receive legal help when needed.  Keep in mind that the extent of help you receive may be limited under these plans. 

If you have been charged with a crime and need an attorney but can't afford one, then the county will provide a lawyer to you at no cost (usually the crime you are accused of committing must carry a punishment of 6 months or longer in jail to receive this free legal counsel).  This attorney will come from the public defender's office and may be overworked, but he will be better than having no attorney at all.

If you have a civil case (need a will drawn up, need to break a lease, etc.), then you might qualify for Legal Aid (found in the phone book) if your income is low enough.  Otherwise, you will have to hire a lawyer on your own.