How to Get Free Legal Advice

Among the barriers to the legal field is cost. Bypassing legal advice because of cost leads to trouble for many when starting a new business or creating their own will. But how to overcome the financial barrier to the legal market? Here are a few ideas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contact the closest law school. Ask a dean or law professor if the school has any clinics planned. For example, many law schools have a consumer's rights clinic. Law students are tasked with the job of taking on a client and walking the client through a small claims court case. Estate planning clinics help clients create a will. Law schools need guinea pigs, and if you are willing, they are able to help.
2. Military personnel can contact their local JAG office. Many legal services are available to active military personnel and their family, including those related to wills, trusts, traffic and criminal cases.
3. Contact the local chapter of the Legal Aid Society. Each community or greater metro area has free or low-cost legal advice for those who qualify. These organizations are funded through private donations, corporate donations and interest earned from client trust accounts of local attorneys. The staff is well qualified and pro bono attorneys are available.
4. Contact a local attorney's office and ask if it does pro bono work. Pro bono is a Latin phrase meaning "for the public good." It is the ethical duty of each attorney to take on a certain amount of pro bono work. Many of the larger firms have an entire department dedicated to pro bono work.
5. Ask a new bar admittee for advice. Many attorneys fresh out of law school want to start their own practice and will take on clients just for the practice. Ask if they are willing to barter for the legal advice. Don't be afraid of this approach. A new attorney will work just as hard to find the right legal advice as an experienced lawyer.