Where can I get Free Legal Advice?

The only way to get good legal advice for free is to talk to a qualified lawyer, who has experience in the specific area of the law in which you have a concern or question  -  and one who will give you a Free Case Evaluation or Free Initial Consultation!  You definitely don’t want to talk to a Divorce Lawyer about an automobile accident, and you will be wasting your time discussing a surgery gone wrong with a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy or immigration or traffic tickets!

www.RiteLawyer.com  is convinced that the best, most convenient and most relevant approach is to seek guidance and counsel from an experienced attorney who has agreed to hear the facts in your case or to consider your concern or legal question  -  and then to advise you, free of charge, of the best course of action for you to take.

Do yourself a big favor  -   It’s as easy as “ 1, 2, 3”

(1)  Click on the area of law which concerns you.

(2)  Enter your email address or telephone number

(3)  Click submit.  

 

Can I handle my legal problem myself?

People without legal training may be able to handle some simple legal problems on their own. Handling a legal problem by yourself can be risky, however, because each step may involve tax issues or other legal consequences that you may not have thought about.

 

Where can I find more information about proceeding on my own?

A number of local courts or non-profit organizations provide guidance to people who want to handle legal matters by themselves. Most court-based “pro se” assistance services are operated by court staff in or near the courthouse, while others are operated by government or non-profit agencies. These organizations help people select court forms, understand court procedures, and file case. (These organizations cannot complete forms for you, or give you legal advice, however.)

 

What should I know about legal documents and forms?

If your legal problems requires you to go to court - to file papers to start a case or to respond if you are the defendant in a case - you will need to use certain documents and forms. In some states, the courts have provided forms that you can use. If forms or model documents are available from an official source in your state or local jurisdiction, we recommend that you use them. If no documents are available from the courts in your state, consider these alternative sources:

 

Customized, lawyer-prepared documents - The best alternative to official forms is to obtain a form or model document that has been prepared by a lawyer in the state or jurisdiction where the legal issue is. Make sure that the lawyer is licensed to practice in your state and with experience in the relevant area of law.

 

Commercial blank forms and model documents - If you can't find an official source for forms or model documents, you may want to consider turning to commercial, Web-based or mail-order businesses that sell documents and forms to use in many types of legal matters. Some Web sites permit you to construct and purchase documents online. Make sure you use forms and documents that are acceptable in your state.

 

Customized documents prepared by non-lawyers - There are a number of document preparation services operated by non-lawyers. These services are supposed to provide only "legal information". In most situations this means letting you select from a list of instructions and blank forms or model documents. Because they are not lawyers, they are not qualified to tell you which documents to use, or to instruct you on how to proceed in the specific circumstances you face. However, many of these "document preparation" or "paralegal" services gather facts from you and then select documents for you and tell you how to handle the matter. Sometimes these services will even customize the documents to your situation. Be very careful in buying documents prepared by such vendors. These providers may be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in your state. If you use one of these services you lose the protections of confidentiality and loyalty that a licensed lawyer provides. You cannot complain to a lawyer discipline agency or pursue a legal malpractice claim if things go wrong. If you use one of these vendors, make sure before you spend your money that the documents are acceptable in your state and in the court/local jurisdiction where they will be used.

 

Can I hire a lawyer for only part of my legal matter?

If you decide you need legal help with a part of your legal problem, consider hiring a lawyer to work only on that part. Some lawyers "unbundle" their services and provide help with just a portion of your case.

The idea that a lawyer can do only part of a case is not universally accepted. Some courts, judges and lawyers don't like this approach. They fear that people will hire a lawyer to prepare some documents, and won't know what the documents mean or will get lost later in the process and do more harm than good. But this view is changing, and even some courts and traditional lawyer referral services will help you find a lawyer to do just part of a case. span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> WWe don't necessarily endorse or recommend any of these, but offer them as examples for your information. This list is far from all-inclusive. There are many lawyers who will provide unbundled services.

 

Should I ask about fees when I hire a lawyer?

Before you agree to hire a lawyer, you should ask the lawyer for details about how he or she will calculate fees, what expenses you will be responsible for in addition to fees, an estimate of the total fees and expenses, and how long the legal matter will likely take to complete. If any of these are not clear to you, this is something you should try to discuss as soon as you realize that there could be a misunderstanding. At the same time, you should realize that a lawyer cannot usually predict exactly how many hours of work will be involved -- especially if the case involves a dispute with another party.

Even with the best preparation, misunderstandings and disagreements can develop between clients and lawyers. If you don't understand something your lawyer has done, or you feel that he or she has not acted in your best interests, you should talk about this with him or her as soon as possible.

 

How is a lawyer paid?

Lawyers normally charge for their work by the hour. Hourly rates vary by region, by the type of case and the experience of the lawyer. There are no guidelines or national standards for hourly fees. Rates may range from $60 to $300+ per hour.

Certain legal matters are handled differently. Personal injury cases are usually handled on a "contingent fee" basis. This means the lawyer will take a percentage (often 1/3) of any amount recovered (plus expenses). Some common types of matters -- such as uncontested divorce or personal bankruptcy -- may be offered on a "flat fee" basis.