How to Get Free Legal Advice

Legal advice can be expensive, especially if you are dealing with a complicated legal issue. But while the best legal advice always comes directly from your own attorney, you may not be able to afford the costs, or you may want to get free legal advice to save yourself some cash. If you can't afford to hire an attorney yourself, here are some ways to get free legal advice:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check Online for Free Legal Advice
   
   As our desire to take more control over our own problems grows, the help we need to do so has become readily available on the internet. Information on almost every legal problem you run into can be found just by searching online. Many of these website are actually used by attorneys, and are regularly updated by lawyers and law students on a regular basis. Check out some of the free websites below to get started, or trying using a search engine to find more information of your specific issue:
   
   http://www.findlaw.com/
   http://www.nolo.com/
   http://www.lawhelp.org/
   http://www.freelegaladvicehelp.com/
   http://www.abanet.org/public.html

2. Join an Online Legal Forum
   
   There are dozens of free forums online dedicated to helping others find the answers they need. Most of the forums are free to join and use, and are frequented by regular people who have been through similar experiences to yours, paralegals, law students, and even licensed attorneys. While you should always double-check any advice given to you, it's a great place to get started. You can find some free legal forums below, just sign up to get started:
   
   http://www.legalserviceonline.com/forum/
   http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/
   http://forums.legalmatch.com/
   http://community.livejournal.com/law_questions/
   
   Keep in mind that the members on these forums are volunteering their time and effort for free. Please be courteous and understand that your questions will not be answered immediately.

3. Call Your Local Legal Aid
   
   Every state has some form of Legal Aid. Legal Aid is an organization dedicated to helping low-income individuals find the legal support they need. Legal Aid offers qualified applicants a way to get free legal advice and support, and even representation in legal matters by a licensed attorney at low or no cost to you. To find more information about Legal Aid in your state, where to find a local office, and how to contact them, visit one of the websites below and click on the link for your state:
   
   http://www.lawhelp.org/
   http://public.findlaw.com/library/state-legal-aid.html

4. Pick up a Book
   
   There are thousands of legal books available to the general public, including books written specifically in layman's terms to make it easy to understand and follow. There are books available on every topic from business to divorce to torts and back again. You can find legal books at your local bookstore, or check online to get books at a steep discount. Some books offer free legal forms to help you get your case started, and workbooks to help you through the entire process. Check out the “Resources” section of this article for some general legal books to get you started.