How Do You Get Free Legal Help?
If you are unable to afford a lawyer, both government and private attorneys can offer you free legal assistance to help you with both criminal and civil matters. If you have been charged with a crime and cannot afford to retain a lawyer, you are guaranteed a free lawyer through the public defender’s office. If you have been injured or wish to commence a civil lawsuit, many lawyers will represent you on what is called a “contingency fee” basis. This means that you will only need to pay your lawyer if and when you recover money in your lawsuit. If you find a lawyer to take your case on contingency, you will still need to pay for the lawyers out-of-pocket expenses such as photocopies and court filing fees, so keep this in mind as you proceed with your lawsuit. Most courts have a government-funded legal aid department to answer citizens’ legal questions free of charge. If you choose to represent yourself, legal aid can assist you with research, filing procedures, and provide you with forms
