How to Get Legal Advice If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
Given that the average hourly wage for a lawyer in America ranges from $ 100 to $ 300 , many people cannot afford to hire a lawyer. However, there is legal aid available, a generic term for any service that provides legal aid to low-income individuals. Here’s a look at your options.
Public Defenders
This is similar to Miranda ‘s rights clause: if you are arrested and charged with a crime, you have the right to a lawyer. A list of public defender organizations by state can be found here . If not, the judge will appoint an attorney for you when you are officially charged with a felony.
Federal Budgetary Legal Aid
There is a wide range of legal aid options, so qualifications will depend on factors such as your income, health, location, and whether your issue is civil or criminal. To get legal aid in your area, start with this Find Legal Aid tool created by Legal Services Corporation, a government-funded non-profit organization created by Congress.
The Find Law website also has an exhaustive list of legal resources , including government ones. And for military families, this website contains links to legal resources as well as a searchable directory of free legal services in your area. If you are looking for consumer protection, consult your government consumer protection authorities, which can be found here .
Local pro bono programs
Bar associations, law schools and private law firms also offer free legal services, usually focusing on public issues such as civil rights or consumer protection, in so-called pro bono programs (pro bono publico means “for the public good”). … For a list of pro bono programs in your state, start here . Law schools may not be able to offer you a lawyer, but they will provide legal clinics that can provide advice – you can find some of them listed here – although another option is to look for local law schools and contact them directly (this also applies local private law firms).
Self-help clinics
Many states offer self-help law centers that provide attorneys or paralegals who can answer your legal questions and offer advice on specific issues, such as alimony or immigration. It’s not the same as having a lawyer, but it’s a good start, especially if you just want to understand the law better. The American Bar Association lists self-help clinics here by state . Also, check the legal hotline at Google and in your state, as some states have a dedicated phone support team that can also provide practical advice.