Choosing and Working with a Lawyer

If you cannot afford a lawyer, and cannot get free legal services, you might be able to:

Ask the judge to order the other party to pay for your legal fees. This is usually possible in some family law cases. Depending on the state you live in, judges may evaluate both your and the other party’s financial situation, and they can order the other person to pay any legal fees or costs involved in the legal process.

Work out a payment plan with a private lawyer. When looking for a private lawyer, you can ask if they would be willing to make a payment plan. If it is a divorce case where you expect to get a large sum of money in a divorce settlement, perhaps the lawyer may delay getting paid until the case is complete or work out a payment plan.

Consider contingency fee arrangements. For certain cases, such as personal injury or employment discrimination cases, you may be able to find a lawyer who will take your case on a contingency fee basis. In most cases, this means the lawyer would get a percentage of the money from your winnings in the case. In other cases, the judge may order the losing party to pay attorneys’ fees aside from any judgment in your favor.

Contact local law schools. You may also want to contact any law schools in your area, as they sometimes have legal clinics that can take cases for free. In these clinics, law school students provide assistance and representation under the supervision of their professors.