Resources For Fighting Pro Bono Cases
Question: Do Attorneys Ever Work for Free?
The answer is "yes," thousands of attorneys do free legal work for a variety of clients in many circumstances. This is known as "pro bono" work and the American Bar Association urges all attorneys to give at least 50 hours of pro bono time per year; many lawyers give much more.
This kind of free work for those who cannot afford to pay typical legal fees may be done through legal aid societies, law school clinics, bar association organizations, and other non-profits. Such organizations may focus on a particular type of Pro Bono Case such as aiding battered women, immigration matters, landlord-tenant disputes and similar causes. Often, law firms also sponsor their own pro bono programs to enable their attorneys easily to give back to their communities.
Why do lawyers do this work? Most professions do not have a requirement or a goal to give away professional services for free. Our system of justice, however, is heavily based on establishing equal footing under the law, whether someone can afford to pay a lawyer or not. Clients obviously benefit by having representation, especially in situations where the other side may have vast resources and the benefit of heavy-hitting sophisticated lawyers. The system as a whole and society at large are better and fairer when lawyers are matched on both sides.
For the lawyers, Pro Bono Cases are their own reward - the satisfaction of helping someone who cannot afford legal fees to obtain justice and their day in court is fulfilling in and of itself. This type of representation has other benefits as well. Younger and newer lawyers can gain rapid and valuable hands-on experience. Some pro bono cases may enhance a lawyer's reputation and stature in the field and among colleagues and judges. Retirees can keep their skills honed and enjoy a lighter but fulfilling schedule. Above all, keeping the justice system even-handed and functioning well is important to every citizen.
Guide on Finding Attorneys in Your Area
When beginning your search for a Lawyer you should utilize sites such as lawyers.findlaw.com or justia.com. Both sites offer a search function to find lawyers who are available. You can search by city or state (Lawyers.findlaw.com allows you to search by legal issue) and you can search for individual attorneys, or for law firms. If you are looking for pro bono legal assistance, or you have financial troubles, looking for a full law firm is probably your best bet, as they often have pro bono programs or divisions. Give either site a visit to start your search for legal assistance near you.
If you are finding yourself in hard times and can’t afford to hire a lawyer, there are plenty of nearby pro bono lawyers who are ready to help, for no fee. In order to find free local attorneys near you, make sure to contact your local legal offices and ask about pro bono services. You can get immediate information from these resources, as well as using an online free legal aid helper. Please visit LawHelp.org for further information regarding this.
Resources For Finding Finding Pro Bono Attorneys
You can start your search by starting to look for pro bono attorneys by type or by location using the link justia.com. You can also find local pro bono attorneys by contacting your local legal offices and asking about pro bono services.