Start by asking friends and relatives for recommendations of attorneys they know well; newspaper, telephone directory and radio advertisements may also prove valuable resources.
Some employers, credit unions and labor organizations provide legal aid plans that cover the costs associated with consultation and court representation. Government attorneys serve as prosecutor; public defender; or serve on administrative, executive or legislative staffs.
Referrals
Find an attorney by asking friends and relatives for recommendations, visiting your state bar association website or searching online directories of lawyers. Most offer free initial consultations but some charge fees. Also consider consulting your telephone directory or searching online directories of attorneys in your area.
Lawyers can use referrals to expand their revenue and client base. To expand their network, lawyers can host in-person or online workshops and webinars on legal topics that can provide excellent educational content that they can reshare later for more engagement.
The Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is a membership organization offering attorney referral services to the public. Their website hosts an alphabetized listing of attorneys available to take cases; additionally, an algorithm matches potential clients with licensed, experienced D.C. Bar members who may be able to assist.
Courthouse volunteer lawyer programs
Many courts offer volunteer lawyer programs available to the public. These programs can assist you in finding an attorney willing to take on your case for either a reduced fee or free. Alternatively, try searching in your local telephone book or using online resources such as LawHelp/NY. In addition, make sure that legal aid offices or clinics in your area offer assistance too.
New York State courts operate a Volunteer Lawyers Program which offers legal advice free of charge to unrepresented litigants in consumer debt and housing cases. Volunteer attorneys trained by this project meet with litigants on a walk-in basis for advice-only appointments – meaning no representation in court proceedings or filing of papers on their behalf by volunteers is involved.
The Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project provides pro bono legal assistance to residents of Queens County who cannot afford private counsel in civil matters. The Queens program is managed in partnership with the Queens County Bar Association; other such volunteer lawyer programs may be run by Office for Justice Initiatives, City Bar Justice Center or community organizations.
Government lawyers
Government lawyers provide vital legal representation at the federal, state and local levels. From criminal trials to city planning meetings; administrative law hearings for citizen challenge of agency decisions; to helping draft new legislation or interpret existing ones – government attorneys play an integral role.
They may be able to assist with Social Security, disability and unemployment benefits; provide legal advice regarding family, domestic violence, landlord/tenant issues and consumer protection matters; draft simple wills and probates as well as assist non-profit organizations with incorporation and filing for 501(c)(3) status.
Government attorneys must abide by specific guidelines when participating in pro bono activities, in order to maintain an impartial environment for their work. The American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono and Government and Public Lawyers Division have created the “Pro Bono Project Development: A Deskbook for Government Attorneys”. This publication details any restrictions placed upon government lawyers regarding pro bono participation activities.
