How to Obtain a Pro Bono Lawyer When You're Incarcerated

When an individual becomes incarcerated, the number of available resources diminishes due to an inability to easily communicate with the outside world. In a community of scheduled visits, phone calls and free time, accompanied with a lack of resources such as the Internet or recent literature it is difficult to know where to turn. Obtaining a Pro Bono Lawyer can be accomplished with a lot of time and research.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper and Pencil
• Envelopes and stamps
• Knowledge and Documentation of Your Case Details
• Time

1. When you first arrive at the jail or prison, find out what days you are allowed to utilize the law library. Many prisons and jails have libraries you can use, or if you are in Ad Seg you can request certain books or resources that are law-related.
2. Find contact information of local lawyers and write them a letter (or use phone time- depending on your level of security) to see if they know any local Pro Bono lawyers. Many times local lawyers are the easiest resource and they have great information at their fingertips.
3. When you write your letter make sure to include as much case information as possible and indicate why you are looking for a Pro Bono Lawyer. If you do not have penmanship that is clear ask an officer or your correctional counselor to help you construct the letter.
4. Indicate why you feel you need a lawyer and add a personal note in the letter to indicate that you will use his/her services in good faith if they are able to help you achieve the purpose for which you are requesting their services.
5. Do not worry if they do not respond immediately. Many times jail/prison mail systems are slow and things can take a little longer to reach and arrive from their actual destinations. So you must have patience. An acceptable amount of correspondence is to write one letter per week. This will show that you are dedicated and truly in need of assistance.
6. Remember to always be polite, avoid slang terminology and thank them for their consideration of services at the end of every letter- after all, this will be free/cheap work they are doing- so they need to know their services are appreciated too.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to ask your family and friends to help research while you are incarcerated. Loved ones will be able to go to law offices and make requests for help and can help with follow-up phone calls as well.
• Ask the correctional counseling staff about resources regarding Pro Bono lawyers- many times they know information because of past experience.