If you’re looking to draw up a contract or begin estate planning, hiring an attorney can be an expensive and time-consuming task. Many lawyers will charge between $100 and $300 per hour for their services which could put you into an awful financial situation.
Fortunately, there are some easily accessible ways to get free legal advice in the US before you have to fork out for a lawyer. For instance, you may want to begin by contacting the team at https://www.resminilawoffices.com/ to see what advice they could give you. However, it is completely up to you.
Finding an attorney to help you and provide legal aid can prove to be a huge out-of-pocket expense. In this article, we will outline some strategies you can try to find free legal help.
Look For Free Consultations
Many law firms in the US won’t charge for an initial consultation. This will typically take place via a video conference or by phone, but may sometimes require you to meet with the lawyer in person. It all depends on the rules set by the firm.
Even a short 10-minute consultation could help you to work out what your exact next steps must be and may also give you more of an idea as to what you’re in for. In some cases, attorneys might even point you in the direction of more affordable attorneys that you can then hire.
Use Your Local Bar Association
A local bar association is an organization for lawyers. County or State Bar Associations usually have a lawyer referral service where lower-income individuals can find a licensed, private lawyer with relevant experience to meet with them.
There may be instances where you can call at a certain time on a particular day of the month as part of an “Ask An Attorney” service. Yet if you require advice that goes beyond the stated window, you could book a 30-minute consultation for a reduced fee of anywhere up to $50. They may even offer a free consultation, depending on the topic of the legal query.
In some cases, these attorneys may set up an initial consultation with you for free, yet this depends on the type of legal advice you’re seeking, your circumstances, and also the rules of the firm where the attorney is employed.
Consider Legal Aid Services
There are legal aid offices or ‘legal services’ throughout the country. These societies are independent nonprofit organizations that provide necessary legal services to individuals with a low income who cannot afford to hire a lawyer to help them out.
The only issue with getting this free legal aid is that the majority of US households make too much money to qualify for the help that they offer. However, this depends on the flexible income rules of the law firm.
These federally funded services are best for handling the following:
- Housing
- Family law
- Domestic violence
- Disability issues
Find Local Law School Programs
Taking a trip to a law school with a pro bono program might also be a good way to get some free legal advice. These free legal clinics allow law students, under the supervision of their professors, to provide free legal help and advice to the individuals that need it the most.
Not only does this help them give something back to the community but it also develops the law student’s understanding, skills, and knowledge of a specific legal area. Essentially, you’ll be getting some invaluable legal advice while also helping the student to better understand parts of the law!
Use Law Websites
All-encompassing law websites such as LawHelp.org are great resources for finding free legal advice programs within a community. These websites are mostly aimed at people with low to moderate incomes and are convenient, time-saving, and extremely useful pieces of technology.
Such websites can help people find answers to questions about legal rights while also providing access to forms to resolve legal problems.
Summary
If you’re wondering how to get free legal advice in the US but can’t afford a lawyer, you should now know that there’s nothing to worry about! Many law firms in the US will offer a free initial consultation to give you more legal insight into your situation and to set you on the right path to achieving success.
If they do not offer this service then there are many other ways of finding that crucial legal advice you so desperately need for free, or at a significantly reduced cost.
Related Posts:
