Lawyer Referral Online

All About Law Firms

When you need to find a lawyer for a particular legal issue, you can always conduct your attorney search by looking through the Yellow Pages or on the Internet (or the online Yellow Pages for that matter). You can also consule a lawyer directory; the Bar Association in your state or province publishes such a directory every year. If you already have established a relationship with a lawyer who has little expertise in your particular issue, s/he may make a lawyer referral. Alternatively, you may wish to consider law firms, which are basically small (and sometimes large) corporations for which several lawyers in many different fields work.

One Stop Legal Shop

Unlike the lawyer who operates out of a store front in your town, those who work for large firms are salaried employees of that firm (known as associates) or may be partners who take a percentage of the profits. These organizations are common in many large cities, and some may maintain offices across the country and even overseas.

Typically, if an attorney search takes you to a law firm, you can expect to pay a lot more – but not necessarily. Law firms are more likely to take an injury case (known as a tort) on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to pay anything up front; the lawyer(s) involved receive a percentage of any award (typically around 30%). It’s a bit of a risk; if you lose your case, they’ll get nothing. If yours is a strong case however, they are usually willing to do this.

In many states, a law firm is required to contribute a certain amount of hours to pro bono work in order to keep its charter; this means there is no fee for their services. If you are involved in a criminal matter and cannot afford representation, you may wish to investigate this when doing your attorney search.

Find a Lawyer Who’s Right For Your Case

A typical legal firm will have lawyers working in the following areas:
• Criminal law
• Divorce and Family Law
• Traffic and DUI
• Torts (Personal Injury Law)
• Immigration
• Real Estate
• Business and Contract
• Wills and Estate Planning
• Tax Law

When you call such a firm, you’ll need to tell the receptionist the nature of your legal issue; an appropriate lawyer referral will be made. You may also consult the firm’s attorney directory ahead of time and request a particular individual.

Another Option

If you belong to a “legal club” or have a “legal plan” (which is similar to health insurance, except that these plans virtually always cover what it stated in the terms, and they do not “drop” people), you’ll be able to receive consultation from any number of law firms as part of your monthly dues (usually between $12 and $25 per month). It is one way to avoid many of the headaches of having to find a lawyer by sifting through an attorney directory. These clubs have at least one or two law firms in every state and province that can be accessed by members.