Choosing and Working with a Lawyer

If you cannot afford to pay a lawyer, you may get free legal assistance from a non-profit legal organization in your area. We have links for legal assistance in each state on our Finding a Lawyer page. However, very often, the demand for lawyers outweighs the capacity of these organizations, so there may be a waiting list, or you may be turned down. If this happens, consider asking the legal assistance program for recommendations on other programs in your county that you can contact. Alternatively, you may be able to get a free consultation with an attorney or ongoing guidance if you need to represent yourself in court.

If you can afford to pay a lawyer, or if you cannot get free legal help and feel that your only option is to figure out a way to pay for a private lawyer, your state’s bar association likely has a program where they will refer you to a lawyer in your area. Oftentimes, lawyers may offer a low-cost initial consultation, and this can help you decide your next steps. You can find a link to your state’s bar association legal referral service on our Finding a Lawyer page. You may also be able to get a referral to an attorney who is sensitive to issues of domestic violence if you call your local domestic violence program or your state coalition against domestic violence – see our Advocates and Shelters page.

For a list of suggested questions to ask an attorney whom you are considering hiring to represent you, see How do I pick the right attorney? What questions do I ask?