Do attorneys only do pro bono work for certain cases?
It will be tough to find a pro bono lawyer for the case you describe. A lot of attorneys limit their pro bono cases to domestic violence, divorce, custody or child welfare cases. Your mother should contact the prosecutor’s office or, if there is one, a victim’s advocate office, to see if restitution could be worked into a plea or finding. Otherwise you’re talking about a small claim matter which, with your able assistance, your mother can file. With small claims, however, there is always a chnace your defendant is “judgment proof” and will not have the means to make the payment. If you get a small claim judgment and the judge orders periodic payments, you may need to wait a long time to be fully compensated.
