How To Obtain A Good Legal Aid Lawyer Once, Across the country, programs are being established to help persons who need legal assistance obtain the services of a legal aid lawyer at no cost. There are definite criteria that one has to meet in order to obtain legal services without the obligation to pay. MESOTHELIOMA LAW FIRM, Donate Car to Charity,California, Donate Car for Tax Credit, Asbestos Lawyers, Cheap Domain Registration Hosting, Make Money Online Online, Auto insurance, Life insurance quotes, Online college degree, Here are some of the general conditions one has to meet in order to obtain the help of an attorney who offers free legal aid.
One of the first things you have to do is locate programs that provide this sort of legal aid. There are several ways you can check for available programs in your area. Online, you can check the web site of the local chapter of the state’s legal or attorney association. Often, there will be a section on legal aid there, including a list of attorneys who participate in the programs operating in different parts of the state. Locating your city and seeing which programs or attorneys offer free legal aid will provide you with a list of people to contact.
Second, you may also check for lists of attorneys that provide free legal aid at your local courthouse. These lists are usually available at no charge, so you can pick one up and begin to make some phone calls or drop by the offices listed. Usually someone at the office can provide you with basic of the qualifications you have to meet and also give you an application for the program.
Often, as part of qualifying for the services of a legal aid lawyer, you will need to be able to demonstrate your need. This will mean supplying details about how much you make, perhaps by turning in a recent pay stub. If you have outstanding debts, be able to document the current state of those accounts. Also be able to provide what you have to pay in the way of rent or house payments, estimates on food and utilities, and any other regular expenditures that have to be paid out of your net pay. The point is to make sure that persons who genuinely need the help are processed quickly and receive the support they need, and persons who are in fact able to pay but just don’t want to do so will not get into the programs.
1. Searching for a lawyer who can help you
There are a number of ways to find a lawyer. You could, for instance:
Go to our finding a lawyer tool, and type in your location and the area of law in which you need help; you'll get a list of ten lawyers in your area.
Go to the Law Society of Upper Canada online service and choose to make an online request. You will arrive at The Law Society of Upper Canada's Referral Service. Click on "find it here" to arrive at an FAQ page. Scroll to the bottom of that page, choose "next" and fill in the next few pages. Make sure to specify that you are looking for a lawyer, not a paralegal. You will get an email with the names of lawyers you can call.
Call the LSUC telephone crisis line if you cannot use its online service (because, for instance, you are in custody, in a shelter or in a remote community): 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255
Ask for referrals from your local community legal clinic.
2. Choosing the right lawyer
These questions can help you decide on the best possible person:
What area of law is your specialty? Are you a criminal lawyer? Family lawyer? Refugee lawyer?
How much experience with or knowledge about my kind of case do you have?
Here is what I hope will happen รข€“ is this realistic?
What are my legal options?
Will someone else in your office handle an important part of my case, such as appearing in court?
Where is your office?
How can I contact you?
A few other tips
Make sure that the lawyer you choose is right for you. Legal Aid Ontario rarely allows you to change your lawyer once you hire one.
Only give your certificate, or send your certificate number, to the lawyer you want to hire. Once you've done that, you have hired him or her.
If lawyers approach you when you're in court, it's up to you whether you hire them. You are free to choose any lawyer.
Look for a lawyer you can trust to tell you all the facts about your case, stay on top of it as it proceeds, and advise you on your best options.
You may need to meet with a few lawyers before you find one who best meets your needs.
3. Planning for your first meeting
Before and during your first meeting:
Bring all of your court papers.
Prepare a list of questions to ask.
Be prepared to explain your legal issues clearly, and limit the number of emails you send and telephone calls you make. Your certificate gives your lawyer specific hours for each stage of your case. The time spent on emails and talking to you counts toward these hours and uses time that the lawyer could spend preparing for your case.
Bring along paper, so you can write down what the lawyer tells you.
Bring someone to translate if the lawyer does not have an interpreter.
Discuss how and when you will get in touch after this meeting.
Ask whether someone else will handle an important part of your case, such as appearing in court.
If you do not understand something, ask for an explanation.
You can expect your lawyer to explain:
the laws that apply to your legal case
your rights
the court process
how long it may take to resolve your legal case
the range of possible results that you can expect
the risks related to the plea you choose to make (if it's a criminal case)
what's going to happen next
Call ahead if you cannot attend your appointment, and make another date.
4. What to expect from your lawyer
Your lawyer should:
thoroughly review your specific issue or case and explain your options
speak for you and help you get what you are entitled to, based on the law
keep in contact with you on the progress of your case
tell you in advance when you have to come back to court and why
prepare you for every hearing or court appearance
advise you when someone else is coming to court in his or her place, and make sure that person is qualified and prepared
give you contact information for him/her or someone else to call if you can't reach him/her
treat you with dignity and respect
if you are a person with a disability, accommodate your needs behave professionally
