Small Claims Court & Lawsuit
Finding Free Legal Service
Depending on your situation, you may be able to find help from a government agency or even by a non profit organization.
Here are some situations in which you may be able to get an attorney to represent you pro bono.
Are you facing criminal Charges?
Are you in a pickle where you have been charged with a crime and you just cannot afford to hire your own lawyer, you have constitutional rights to an attorney at the government expense. At your request, an attorney will probably come from the public defender office. An attorney can be appointed to you and represent you when you are formally charged within the court with your criminal offenses.
If you been Injured
If you have been injured and you wish to sue , there will be a lawyer who is ready to agree to represent you on a “contingency fee”. A contingency fee is a sum of money that a lawyer receives as a fee only if your attorney wins your case. While your attorney services won’t be free, you will have to pay the lawyer’s fee only when and if she or he recovers money for you. In addition, your attorney will take an agreed- upon percentage of any recovery as he or she fee. Be aware, however, that even if a lawyer takes your case on a contingency fee basis, you still have to pay costs, which can add up to several thousand dollars. Costs include court filing fees, court reporters' fees, expert witnesses, and jury fees. The good news is that if you win your case, the judge will usually order your adversary to pay you back for these costs.
Are you wondering if you qualify for legal aid?
If you can’t afford an attorney, then you may be qualified for the legal aid which is called legal services. Legal Aid attorneys are usually funded by the government who represent people with low income in a variety of legal situations, including eviction defense, denial of unemployment compensation or other benefits and consumer credit problems.
If you believe that you may qualify for legal service, then you may look in the telephone directory or ask a local attorney or find a lawyer referral service from your nearest legal aid office. Due to the recent cutbacks in federal funding, you will probably find that legal aid is only available for relatively few types of legal problems and that in some programs waits for services can be lengthy.
Does your claim involve Social Justice?
Well, in this type of case if you have a dispute that involves a social justice issue and it has a wide implications beyond your individual situation, an attorney or public interest legal organization with an interest in that issue may represent you on a "pro bono" (no fee or reduced fee) basis. For example, if your claim involves sexual harassment by an employer, abuse by a spouse or partner, discrimination in housing or employment, freedom of speech or religion, environmental pollution, or access to medical treatment, you may find an attorney or organization willing to represent you pro bono.
GET MORE INFORMATION
Contact your local bar association or even better, a private organization that deals with the kind of problem you face.
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